Dubuisson pulled out another plum off the tee at four and McDowell leaves his birdie effort just left of the cup. Fowler can't make his birdie effort disappear and that American pair are unable to reduce the deficit...

USA up

... it's coming thick and fast, Reed and Spieth have opened a lead over Kaymer and Rose at the sixth, that rookie pairing is as tough as old boots...

Two pars at the fifth, Garcia and McIlroy inseparable from Furyk and Mahan...

Europe up

Rose from behind the green at six and he's jabbed it miles past, obviously not a great lie. Garcia with a putt from miles out and he starts it too far right, although he finishes close enough... Dubuisson and McDowell go two up on Walker and Fowler...

USA up

Reed on the sixth tee, elevated, and he parachutes in to within 20 feet or so. Kuchar takes the top match back to all square with a steely putt...

Dubuisson with a magnificent iron shot into the third - a wee smile, but he doesn't have to smile much because playing partner McDowell is doing all the smiling for him. Duff from Walker, that was ugly...

Westwood orders his ball to get down at eight but his ball skips gaily through to the back of the green. Johnson with 122 yards and that's a neat and tidy shot, all over the flag. Mahan from the middle of the fifth fairway and he's safely on, although Furyk has got a mission of a birdie putt.

Image source, AP

Who are these likely looking lot? Well, according to Golfweek, external, they are a group of 12 American fans from Minneapolis who are attending their fourth Ryder Cup.

They are decked out in the shirts and novelty headwear of their gridiron team - the Minnesota Vikings - in honour of the fact that they will only have to pop round the corner to Hazeltine National Golf Club to watch in 2016.

The Viking theme is also a nice nod back to their first Ryder Cup at Valhalla in 2008.

Rose with a bit of a duff at five. Furyk at four, chasing his drive down there. Kaymer for par from the apron at five and he misses. Reed with a nine-footer for the hole and it skips over the cellophane bridge, they stay all square.

Garcia for a win at four but that was more of a poke than a putt. McIlroy picks up the ball and strolls off, leaving his partner hanging on his putter like a drunk on a lamp post. Kuchar bombs one down the eighth, not sure where Donaldson went, or even if it was him. I'll soon find out.

Image source, EPA

Saturday's foursomes latest scores:

Donaldson & Westwood (Europe) v Johnson & Kuchar (USA) - Europe 1UP after 7

Kaymer & Rose (Europe) v Spieth & Reed (USA) - A/S after 4

Garcia & McIlroy (Europe) v Furyk & Mahan (USA) - Europe 1UP after 4

Dubuisson & McDowell (Europe) v Walker & Fowler (USA) - Europe 1UP after 2

Donaldson pops in for a half on seven, that was a hole the Americans should have won. It's all looking rosy for Europe at the moment but it's fag paper stuff out there in all four matches.

Europe up

Walker with a five-footer for par and he's over-cooked it, his ball lipping out. Dubuisson and McDowell nick a lead, Europe currently up in three...

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Gleneagles

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Poulter struggled alongside Rory McIlroy this morning before rediscovering some Medinah magic to help secure a half at the end against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler. So what's it like playing with McIlroy?

"Well, when he hits it 350 down the middle, he's kind of useful," added Poulter. "He's a great guy. He's full of energy. He's extremely fit and energetic. I thought I walked fast, but he was trying to walk past me today, which never normally happens. It was nice to have someone striding right by my side.

"I mean, I'm always past my caddie, so I'm kind of normally walking on my own. What more can you say when you've got the world number one playing with you. It's a huge help."

USA up

Kuchar with his approach at seven and that's a peach, leaving Johnson with a short one for birdie. Donaldson can only scuttle his ball up there, advantage Americans. On three, Mahan has a 12-footer for the hole... drags its feet, does a little dance, has a peak through the window, but eventually decides to drop in...

Ian Russell:, external I honestly believe if Garcia had been better advised when young and played euro tour he would also have four majors by now.

Phil Malley:, external If Sergio doesn't come up with a win this afternoon then I'm going to share Sir Nick's opinion of him.

USA up

McDowell has pulled out a glory of glories at two, sending his approach out right and swinging it back in and onto the green. Westwood bludgeons his drive down the seventh as we cut to Kaymer missing his par putt at the fourth and Spieth and Reed drawing level.

McIlroy playing from the rough again, he must be getting a bit sick of this, and he can only find sand. Mahan is in a crater and can only hack out onto the fairway. Over on four, Rose is chipping out of the rough and he races his ball quite some way past the hole.

Europe up

Fourth tee, Kaymer has leaked his tee shot short and right. Kuchar with a 12-footer for a half on six and it curls a little too soon, that's their second bogey of the match and Europe take the lead.

Europe up

Huge roars at the third as Kaymer and Rose land the first blow on Spieth and Reed...