Poulter keeps Europe in touch

Europe need to match the biggest last-day comeback in Ryder Cup history if they are to go home with the trophy they brought to Chicago last Monday.

Jose Maria Olazabal's men trail the Americans 10-6, but if more of them - preferably all of them - play like Ian Poulter did on Saturday it might just happen.

Poulter produced a spectacular five closing birdies, the last of them from 10 feet in near darkness, to give himself and world number one Rory McIlroy victory on the final green over Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

The Englishman, winner of all his three games so far, now has a phenomenal record of 11 wins and only three defeats in his cup career.

It followed another last green win for Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia over Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, who is now the joint holder of the record for most defeats by an American in the event's history.

Woods suffered his third defeat of the week after being left out of the morning foursomes - something that had never before happened to him in his Ryder or Presidents Cup career.

Earlier, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, respectively the Masters and US Open champions, hit back from losing to Justin Rose and Ian Poulter before lunch to hammer Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari 5&4.

Paul Lawrie and Nicolas Colsaerts had a chance to grab a half and Colsaerts almost spun his approach to the last into the hole, but still had a chance to grab a half. He missed from 12 feet, though and the match was lost by one hole.