Ryder Cup 2014 Standings: Foursomes Results and Updated Points for Day 2

You would never know it based on the afternoon sessions of Friday and Saturday's matches, but the United States was once within striking distance in the 2014 Ryder Cup. That's changed dramatically, as the European team ended Day 2 just four points away from retaining the crown and 4.5 points from winning it outright. 

Much like the foursomes at the end of Day 1, which resulted in Europe winning 3.5 of the four points available to take a 5-3 lead in the overall standings, Day 2 was a similarly dominating effort. Paul McGinley's team simply couldn't be stopped. 

Here's a look at the results from Saturday's foursomes, as well as the updated point standings and analysis heading into the final day of this year's Ryder Cup. 

Day 2 Foursome Results

Morning Fourball	Team USA	Team Europe	Result
1	Bubba Watson & Matt Kuchar	Justin Rose & Henrik Stenson	Europe wins 3 & 2
2	Jim Furyk & Hunter Mahan	Jamie Donaldson & Lee Westwood	USA wins 4 & 3
3	Jordan Spieth & Patrick Reed	Thomas Bjorn & Martin Kaymer	USA wins 5 & 3
4	Jimmy Walker & Rickie Fowler	Rory McIlroy & Ian Poulter	Halved
Afternoon Foursome	Team USA	Team Europe	Result
1	Zach Johnson & Matt Kuchar	Jamie Donaldson & Lee Westwood	Europe wins 2 & 1
2	Jim Furyk & Hunter Mahan	Sergio Garcia & Rory McIlroy	Europe wins 3 & 2
3	Jordan Spieth & Patrick Reed	Martin Kaymer & Justin Rose	Halved
4	Jimmy Walker & Rickie Fowler	Victor Dubuisson & Graeme McDowell	Europe wins 5 & 4

Standings After Day 2

Team	Points	Points Needed on Sunday
Europe	10	4
United States	6	8.5

The England-based Sky Sports tweeted out its enthusiasm following Europe's big day at Gleneagles:

Day 2 Recap

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Things look bleak for the United States. You can't sugarcoat the way this event has gone so far, especially in the afternoon sessions. Team USA was plenty respectable Friday and Saturday morning, winning five of a possible eight points, but things derailed quickly both days from there.

In the afternoon sessions, instead of a best-ball format, it becomes an alternate shot format. Europe has destroyed the United States in this portion of the Ryder Cup, capturing seven of the eight possible points to take a four-point lead in the overall standings. 

Before we go writing the eulogy for Team USA, Ashley May of Golf Digest pointed out that two years ago, Europe came back from a 10-6 deficit on the final day:

While history doesn't eliminate the possibility a comeback, there seems to be a lot of confusion on the U.S. side. In particular, captain Tom Watson has endured a lot of criticism for sitting Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed for the afternoon session on Friday after they won their morning match. 

Spieth was confused about the decision, as well, telling Stephanie Wei of Wei Under Par that he assumed he'd be going back out there based on what Watson said earlier in the day:

"

We win 5&4 and figure we’re going to play alternate shot. So I went and asked, ‘Should we go back and get ready, we’re wondering if we’re going off.’ He said, ‘We’re going to sit you guys. It was a decision we made. It was a tough call, coming down to you guys, and Jimmy, Rickie, and Phil and Keegan, but we’re going rest you guys today.’

"

Watson instead sent Phil Mickelson back out for the afternoon after he struggled mightily in the morning session, despite hitting a big par on the 18th hole to get a point for Team USA. 

There wasn't as much confusion or debate on Saturday; it was just a good old-fashioned beatdown from the Europeans in the afternoon. The Longhorn Network did note that Spieth and Reed were still the bright spots for the Americans:

Expectations weren't high for Team USA coming into this event because Europe's roster was stacked and all of the questions about who would play this event were strictly on the American side. Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and co. have held serve thus far. 

Barring some drastic change in the singles matches on Sunday—which is always a possibility because it's essentially every man for himself—Europe will be doing one long victory lap to celebrate retaining the championship. 

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