Three-time Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan expects a battle...

Pieters to win the seventh and he and McIlroy go four up. The icy Belgian actually played OK this morning, but he was paired with a misfiring Lee Westwood. That's four in a row the Europeans have won in the bottom match.

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Henrik Stenson stands with a three wood - bright blue shaft - on the ninth tee. With a whisk he's in the sand. Justin Rose though is in position A on the fairway of this par four.

Patrick Reed with big swing, his follow through makes him look like Stretch Armstrong. The result is a little wild and he'll need to trawl the rough. Jordan Spieth needs to step up then, he does. Fairway.

Josh RL: Dougland FC 0-3 down in the Tyro Cup final under-15s... come back to win 4-3 with a certain Sam Vokes scoring 2! Scenes!  

Jamie Scott: I'd not beaten my tennis rival in 6 years; lost 20 matches in a row. I took him to a 5th set, saved 4 match points. I won 10-8.  

Jonathan Clark: First win (of five) in Hull GC mixed greensomes knockout. Four down, four to play and won on 19th.

Pieters with his approach at seven and that's a beauty, a little punch under the wind to within 10 feet. Ahead at eight, Snedeker has overcooked his tee shot but there are no mistakes from Koepka, who stiffs his to within a few feet...

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Henrik Stenson has another big putt on the ninth. He's found his touch this afternoon. This would win the hole but he doesn't give it legs and the break takes hold. Will he regret it on the back nine? 

Europe have a great position at the turn.

Koepka at seven for a birdie to go four up... just misses, Willett and Kaymer breathe. Here is Willett for par and in it goes from five feet for a half.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

Rafa is playing with his great friend Sergio and the mood is tremendous. He was playing well in practice and was really looking forward to the weekend.

I love looking at body language on these huge occasions. JB Holmes has a putt to pull a hole back on eight. It's long but he knows if he makes it he wins the hole. Don't leave nothing behind seems the mantra as he commits to it but it just dies at the hole, an inch away. Holmes hunches down, he's practically sat. That's when you know it's hurt, body language gives it all away.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Sergio Garcia walk to the ninth with a three-hole lead in tact.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

There is a mojo going between these two Spaniards right now. That was a great save on the last hole. 

There is a different buzz about the afternoon. Europe are up in three and down in one, that would be a fabulous score at the end of the day.

Only Ryan Moore and Rafa Cabrera-Bello find the heart of the dancefloor of the fourballs on eight. Outside birdie chances, Europe would take a halved hole here to maintain the lead you'd think. If Darren Clarke could stop play now, he'd do so instantly.

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Hole: 8

Yards: 186

Par: 3

Hole locations to the narrow shelves right and rear of the green with a front left bowl and bunkers awaiting errant tee shots.

Kaymer has gone swimming at seven, tough day for the German thus far. McIlroy has a putt to win the hole at six... Europe go three up in the bottom match...  

Iain Carter
BBC Radio 5 Correspondent

There is not much Danny Willett and Martin Kaymer can do about this because the Americans are four under par for the six holes they have completed.

The putts are just not dropping for Willett and Kaymer.

Golf author Dan Jenkins perhaps underlines the standard of golf on offer. Winning doesn't come easy at a Ryder Cup.

Carin Koch
Last year's European Solheim Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 live

There is not much time over lunch, they come in have a quick lunch and go again. So it is not easy to get to all the players. 

They know what they need to do and just being four down will fire you up. You just want to encourage and stay positive and we all know what they can do.

Darren Full: Playing cricket and being bowled out for 42 to then bowl the opposition out for 12.

Grayham Roper: In my first ever matchplay comp I was 5 down with 6 to play. Holed monster put on the last to win the match. 

Effra Academicals: Anglo-Dutch Cup '07 3-3 1st leg; 0-3 down at half time 2nd leg; 3-3 (6-6 agg) FT, last min equaliser. Won 9-3 aet, 12-6 agg! 

JB Holmes is a man of blood and thunder whenever I've seen him play. A big hitter, less refined around the greens. He has a putt to win the seventh hole. His pairing are three down so he needs it but it clips the left lip and runs away. 

Rafa Cabrera-Bello put a solid par putt away on that hole and it proved key. As he walks to the next he salutes some spectators with some fist pumps. The morning nightmare is lost on the man who wasn't involved. He's playing beautifully.