Ryder Cup 2014 Standings: Final Predictions After Fourball and Foursomes Results
A dominant Saturday afternoon session gave Europe a 10-6 lead over the United States going into the final day at the Ryder Cup.
The European team won three out of four foursome matches in the late session while halving the other in a match Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose trailed for much of the day. The United States did earn 2.5 points in the four-ball matches earlier in the day but still have a lot of work to do to avoid a third-straight loss at this event.
A comeback is certainly possible, especially after Europe came back from 10-6 down to win in 2012, but it will not be easy. Here is a look at Saturday's results with a breakdown of what to expect in the final day of the tournament.
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| Europe | United States | Result |
| Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson | Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar | Europe wins 3 & 2 |
| Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood | Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan | U.S. wins 4 & 3 |
| Thomas Bjorn/Martin Kaymer | Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth | U.S. wins 5 & 3 |
| Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter | Jimmy Walker/Rickie Fowler | Halved |
| Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood | Zach Johnson/Matt Kuchar | Europe wins 2 & 1 |
| Sergio Garcia/Rory McIlroy | Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan | Europe wins 3 & 2 |
| Martin Kaymer/Justin Rose | Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed | Halved |
| Victor Dubuisson/Graeme McDowell | Jimmy Walker/Rickie Fowler | Europe wins 5 & 4 |
Predictions
| Graeme McDowell | Jordan Spieth | Spieth |
| Henrik Stenson | Patrick Reed | Stenson |
| Rory McIlroy | Rickie Fowler | McIlroy |
| Justin Rose | Hunter Mahan | Rose |
| Stephen Gallacher | Phil Mickelson | Mickelson |
| Martin Kaymer | Bubba Watson | Watson |
| Thomas Bjorn | Matt Kuchar | Kuchar |
| Sergio Garcia | Jim Furyk | Even |
| Ian Poulter | Webb Simpson | Poulter |
| Jamie Donaldson | Keegan Bradley | Bradley |
| Lee Westwood | Jimmy Walker | Westwood |
| Victor Dubuisson | Zach Johnson | Johnson |
| Europe wins 15.5 to 12.5 |
Europe needs 14 points to win, and they appear willing to go after it right away with some of the top players competing in the early rounds.
Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson will compete in the first two matches of the day and are a combined 5-0 so far at Gleneagles. No. 1 player in the world Rory McIlroy will then face Rickie Fowler in the third contest of the day, followed by Justin Rose against Hunter Mahan.
If the United States is not careful, it can lose the entire event before most of the East Coast is even awake.
Rose might be the hottest player right now after he and Stenson set a Ryder Cup record with a score of 12-under in four-ball. He explained after the match, via Steve DiMeglio of USA Today:
"I really got into reading the greens well and I just had the feeling of the anticipation of what it's going to feel like to make putts today. When you get into that mind-set, and you just see the ball going in the hole and you sort of get those positive vibes, today was a day it all happened for me. We knew we were up against it today with two great players. Matt and Bubba played really well.
"
He and Stenson have a chance to help their team once again in the singles, along with McIlroy early on.
However, team USA will not go down easily with rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed starting things off and playing well. ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski broke down the duo so far:
If one of them can get a win, it will keep the team alive because help is on the way. Phil Mickelson will be fresh and ready to prove captain Tom Watson wrong for passing on him during Saturday.
Bubba Watson and his aggressive approach will also be well-suited for singles match play where he can have big shots, while also making up for his own mistakes.
Unfortunately, it will be too little too late as Europe just needs to earn a few more points to secure the win. Joe Posnanski of NBC Sports broke it down in a simple way:
Victor Dubuisson and Lee Westwood have been playing well, while Ian Poulter is due for a win after failing to earn one in the first two days. Between these players and Sergio Garcia, Europe should be able to get enough points to retain the Ryder Cup.
The United States will keep it close for a while on Sunday, but in the end it will be yet another loss in this intense rivalry.
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