Max Homa, Collin Morikawa Post 3 Wins But U.S. Still Faces Big Climb at Ryder Cup

Europeans hold 5-point advantage heading into Sunday's 12 singles matches.

Cal grads Max Homa and Collin Morikawa sparked a U.S. rally and Patrick Cantlay made a 43-foot putt on the 18th hole to win a point in four-ball play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday, but it may be too little, too late to catch the Europeans.

Homa and his partner won twice on Day 2 and Morikawa won his only match but the Americans still trail 10 1/2 to 5 1/2 headed into Sunday’s singeles matches at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club outside Rome.

As defending champion, the U.S. needs to reach 14 points to claim victory on European soil for the first time in 30 years. The host squad needs to reach 14 1/2 points to extend their home win streak that began in 1993.

All 12 players on each team play singles match play on Sunday, but the Americans would need the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history to secure the win.

In 1997 at Spain the U.S. trailed by the same margin entering the final day. The Americans won eight of 12 points in singles, but still fell short, 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

Homa, who came away from Friday’s disastrous day for the U.S. with a half-point in two tries, won both of his matches on Saturday.

He and Brian Harman teamed up to beat Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4 and 2 in the morning foursome competition for the Americans’ first victory of the tournament.

"We needed something to go our way," Homa said. "I felt like we were ready this morning. We were ready to come out and play some great golf which we did. Somebody had to start a spark, so I'm just glad it was us. We obviously are in a big hole but we have the right guys to dig ourselves out of it."

Homa and Harman teamed up again in the afternoon in the four-ball event, beating Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard 2 and 1.

Morikawa, beaten twice on Friday as the Europeans built a 6 1/2 to 1 1/2 lead, did not play Saturday morning. But he Sam Burns beat Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg 4 and 3 in four-ball play.

The day ended with Cantlay and Wyndham Clark rallying from down 1 hole with two play and beat Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick 1up. Cantlay’s 43-foot birdie putt on No. 18 gave the Americans three wins in the afternoon session and at least a little momentum headed into Sunday.

Cover photo of Collin Morikawa by Adam Cairns, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo