McIlroy and McDowell halve their game

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have halved their fourballs game with Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar in the Ryder Cup.

The Northern Ireland duo were down a shot up until the 17th where the biggest roar of the week so far came as McIlroy rolled in a birdie putt from 30ft to level the second match, the 21-year-old punching the air in delight and shouting "Come on" at the top of his voice as the crowd erupted.

That ensured the match would go down to the par-five 18th, a potentially treacherous hole with water guarding the front of the elevated green.

All four players found the 18th fairway but Kuchar and McDowell were too far back to go for the green and sensibly laid up.

Cink and McIlroy went for it in two, but Cink’s came up just short of the green and rolled back down the steep slope into the water, while McIlroy – who hit the longest drive – hit an awful approach which never threatened to find dry land.

“I’ve got you covered, it’s all right,” McDowell said to McIlroy as they walked down the fairway, but his heart was in his mouth moments later when his pitch span back past the flag and was lucky to stop millimetres short of rolling into the water as well.

That left McDowell and Kuchar with putts of around 20ft for birdie, but neither player was able to convert and the match was halved.

Fisher and Poulter remained one down with three to play, Fisher and Stricker making birdie on the 15th after Woods had carved his tee shot deep into the crowd.

Lee Westwood & Martin Kaymer win 3&2 against Phil Mickelson & Dustin Johnson

Rory McIlroy & Graeme McDowell finish all square with Stewart Cink & Matt Kuchar

Ian Poulter & Ross Fisher 1 down to Steve Stricker & Tiger Woods (16)

Luke Donald & Padraig Harrington 3 down to Bubba Watson & Jeff Overton (15)

Europe 1.5 USA 0.5