Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy was the top points scorer at the last Ryder Cup, in 2023, earning four points from his five matches and the Northern Irishman has picked up 2.5 so far in this year's event.

Since McIlroy made his debut in 2010, he’s also played in every session except the Saturday foursomes in 2021.

Europe's talisman? He'll go out with Shane Lowry in the fourballs again against Justin Thomas and Cameron Young shortly.

We'll soon be under way with the fourballs. Here's the pairings.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Bethpage

“Can we play you every week?” Is the cheeky chant from the European fans who are enjoying their morning in New York.

Bob MacIntyre is taking some stick from these fans isn't he? To say he's got thick skin though is an understatement, he's got the skin of a rhino has Bob.

And it helps when he can just roll 20 footer up to the side of the hole to complete a stunning victory over world number one Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.

There's a few voices singing "you don't know what you're doing" in the crowd, no doubt aimed at Keegan Bradley who finds himself well behind the eight ball now.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

Lots of fans left the 17th after MacIntyre’s putt and hotfooted ahead to get a perfect spot on the 18th.

They thought it was an American hole.

Wrong.

Some people watching a big screen on the 18th did not even realise.

They believed the roar they heard behind to be an American one. Wrong again.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Bethpage

Shades of Whistling Straits in reverse here as European fans are singing: ‘Europe’s on fire - USA is terrified’ on the 18th grandstand.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

It just shows no-one is immune to the pressure of the situation. Team USA knew they had to win this hole, try and get the half point.

Viktor just needs to hit the green here.

Losse from Scottie Scheffler, very loose in fact, as his approach shot is well short and drops into those wretched greenside bunkers in front of the 18th.

Viktor Hovland responds with a nice safe wedge to 20 feet.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

What a show these two are putting on.

What a two-putt under those circumstances.

The crowd cheering against them and that fist pump from Viktor when it went in.

Might the fact Rory McIlroy's matches have more or less finished out in the country mean he - and perhaps also Tommy Fleetwood - lead to a change in strategy from captain Luke Donald?

Will Donald be tempted to send his main men out for a fourth session in a row because they haven't been down 18 three times already?

Might it be bad news for the likes if Tyrrell Hatton and Ludvig Aberg, who might not get out this afternoon?

Jon Rahm has played more holes but the Spanish bull has the demeanour of a man who is adamant he will play all five sessions this week.

Image source, Getty Images

Somehow Europe escape with a half!

Bob MacIntyre has a putt from a different zip code with the crowd giving him hardly a moment's silence, and he leaves Viktor Hovland about 12 feet.

Russell Henley can't hole out for the birdie so Hovland can halve the hole with this putt, under all kinds of pressure, the crowd rumbling in the background, but the Norwegian rolls it in!

There's a huge fist pump as Europe go dormie one, with a guaranteed half point coming their way, can they take a full point though?

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

“Attaboy Scottie!”

The most American of satisfied statements sums up the mood around the 17th tee.

MacIntyre comforts Hovland with a hand in the shoulder. Forget about it, son. That’s the message.

The gallery behind the green has burst into life - chanting, booing and generally making a racket.

Then they count how long MacIntyre is taking over his putt.

Shaun Micheel
2003 US PGA Championship winner on BBC Radio 5 live

What a shot from Scheffler. That’s what we have come to expect from Scottie with these iron shots.

The Americans have the advantage here, and the crowd is egging them on.

Poor tee shot on 17 from Viktor Hovland who is miles away, and Scottie Scheffler takes the chance to fire one in nice and close and it looks like this will go level pretty soon.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live at Bethpage Black

Relief for the Americans.

The hole is halved in pars, but halves are all Europe need from this match.

Unrelenting tension in this bottom match.

A couple of nervy looking putts there, Russell Henley probably a better effort from further away, before Robert MacIntyre hits one that lacked any sort of intensity.

He definitely had the thought of not knocking it too far past rather than trying to hole it.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf news reporter at Bethpage Black

Image source, BBC Sport

Not time for lunchtime sandwiches yet. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have got some golf to watch.

After a quick debrief with captain Luke Donald on the 16th green, the trio head to rough on the left of the putting surface to provide support for Vik and Bob.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live at Bethpage Black

It is stadium golf, it is jam packed.

It is a little subdued from the American side after this morning session.

Europe's grip on this Ryder Cup is growing stronger.

Scottie Scheffler with a nice wedge shot, pin high and about 20 feet left of the flag, then Viktor Hovland throws a dart right at the pin, and it lands really close but the spin takes it back down the slope about 15 feet away.

Image source, Getty Images

Think we are exaggerating how good Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are together?

Both Rahm and Hatton - as well as Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood - are now 4-0-0 in career Ryder Cup foursomes.

Rahm has lost just one of his past 13 Ryder Cup matches (9-1-3) and is unbeaten in 10 pairs matches since 2018 (8-0-2).

These pairs deserve to be spoken of in the same breath as the ultimate European pairing, Seve and Ollie.