Ryder Cup destiny rests with McDowell

USA and Europe and USA are tied at 13½ points each after a stunning comeback from American Ricky Fowler, leaving Irishman Graeme McDowell needing to win the final game for Europe to triumph.

USA and Europe and USA are tied at 13½ points each after a stunning comeback from American Rickie Fowler, leaving Irishman Graeme McDowell needing to win the final game for Europe to triumph.

Europe's Edward Molinari lost his way down the 18th as Fowler retained momentum for what would be a most unlikely of halves after being three down with three to play.

As Hunter Mahan reduced McDowell’s advantage to one after 15, tension was nearing fever-pitch.

Molinari sent his putt just short of the hole on 18, leaving Fowler with an 18-footer to halve the match, and he displayed nerves of steel to rattle it in.

It finished all square, making it 13½ to 13½, then Zach Johnson saw out his game against Padraig Harrington 3&2.

It tied the match at 13½ each, leaving it all down to McDowell and Mahan in the one game still out on the course.

McDowell needed a win for Europe to taste Ryder Cup glory – Mahan required just a half for a successful United States’ defence – as they walked down the 16th.

McDowell holed his putt to rapturous cheers to lead by two on the 17th hole in one of the tensest finishes in Ryder Cup history.