Poulter urges Europe to keep wave of blue flooding across scoreboard

IAN POULTER last night laid down the gauntlet for Europe to keep their foot on the pedal as they look to regain the Ryder Cup.

Colin Montgomerie's team produced a stunning display yesterday to win the third session by five points, transforming an overnight deficit of 6-4 into a three-point lead over Corey Pavin's shell-shocked troops.

Europe head into this morning's singles requiring five points to win back the Cup and spirited Poulter is challenging his team-mates not to ease up.

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"The key today was just to try and put your foot on the pedal and keep going," said Poulter, who anchored the charge alongside Martin Kaymer with a 2&1 victory over Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

"We had that lead as a team. They were coming back at us but you know what, it just shows how strong this side is.

"We kept our noses in front and looking up at that board and seeing a sea of blue is huge motivation to keep knocking it close and keep knocking those putts in the hole.

"The job now is to stay focused. They are going to come out tough, they are a great US team and you've got to expect them to come out quick.

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"So we need to keep the blue on the board and hit the right shots at the right time and play some good golf."

The Englishman's words were echoed by the entire European team who sat in the post-match press conference struggling to keep the beaming smiles off their faces.

It was a stark contrast to the Americans, with Pavin left to defend his players while Woods and Mickelson frustrated the visiting media by declining to speak.

Padraig Harrington, who has rediscovered his Ryder Cup touch alongside Ross Fisher after two lean matches by his standards, said: "All of the work was on with us being up in all the games but it was probably the Sunday we all dreamed of at the start of the week.

"Unfortunately there's now a Monday.

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"This feeling now is nice, it's nice to play like we did today, but there's a lot of work to be done to make sure that we are ready for it and focused.

"They have another opportunity (today)."

He had some high praise for his rookie partner Fisher.

"Ross played some fantastic golf," he said. "Quality wise, he certainly played the best golf anybody has probably ever seen in a Ryder Cup.

"He made all the shots, holed all the putts. He really did play awesome."

The United States had an opportunity yesterday which they were never allowed to grasp.

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As Pavin rightly pointed out on Saturday evening, no points are awarded for a match in mid-flow. But his players could not turn the blue tide as a partisan crowd cheered Europe to a commanding position.

A sign had been put up on the European team door – "Team USA are going to come out fast. Make sure we are coming out faster" – and how they did when the action resumed at 1.30pm following more torrential downpours.

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald needed just four holes to end the previously blemish-free record of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 6&5.

Europe captain Colin Montgomerie pinpointed the crushing defeat of Woods and Stricker as the catalyst for his team's superb day.

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"This is what this word 'momentum' is all about," he said. "We've said it all week. Especially Woods. When Woods loses 6&5 that is a serious defeat for the rest of the American team. He is their No 1 guy, of course he is. He's No 1 in the world. But for him to lose, not just lose but to lose that convincingly, helped us today."

Westwood, who now has two-and-a-half points from three matches, said: "It's very difficult when you've got six blues on the board overnight to convert those chances. The lead in six matches is not six points.

"I think to come out with 5.5 was a phenomenal effort."

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell endured a few ups and downs before earning their first full point in a foursomes win against Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan.

The fourballs were not as clear cut. Poulter and Kaymer lost a three-hole lead on Mickelson and Fowler before winning on the 17th.

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Fisher and Harrington made it two out of two with an impressive win over Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson, much to the delight of the gallery on the par three 17th.

"Overall that was a fantastic day," said rookie Fisher. "One of the best days in Europe's history.

"We have a lead, but it will be tough and I think the boys are ready for it."

Although Harrington was in need of inspiration after not contributing a winning point since 2004, it was the three-time major winner who helped Fisher overcome his nerves.

"The help from Paddy was huge," said Fisher.

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"I struggled in the first game with Poults. I was trying to hit good putts. I needed to be patient and once I started holing a couple of putts, it gave me a lot of confidence.

"And when you've got a three-time major champion reading your putts, you've got a fair chance."

The two matches that hung in the balance throughout involved Miguel Angel Jimenez and three of Europe's rookies.

Alongside Peter Hanson, Jimenez holed putts on 16 and 18 to edge out Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton.

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And the only match in which the US salvaged anything still felt like a victory for Europe, as Francesco Molinari won the 18th with a defiant up-and-down from 100 yards when nothing but a win would do for he and brother Edoardo against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar.

That pairing was Pavin's best. Although they matched Woods and Stricker's two points from the three matches, they never lost, and in Cink, the US have a player who they need to inspire them today if they are to retain the Ryder Cup.