Fleetwood's effort is a very admirable one, chugging it down the hill but not quite enough to see his ball disappear south.

Over to Homa... he fancies this.

It's stayed up on the left side. Homa can't believe it.

Birdies for Homa and Fleetwood share the hole.

Brian Harman lays down the insurance policy on the fifth.

With Max Homa lining up an eagle putt, Harman sticks a chip very close for what would surely be a birdie if something goes badly wrong for his team-mate.

Tommy Fleetwood also has a chance of a two, albeit from much further out after a more conservative tee shot (if tee shots which drive the green can ever be considered conservative).

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

Image source, BBC Sport

Normally, the mid-afternoon Rome sun wouldn’t leave the range as a very attractive option to too many players.

But then again Brooks Koepka was on the wrong end of a record 9&7 defeat in the foursomes this morning. He will hope to fare better and maintain his unbeaten record in the singles on Sunday.

The sixth offers an elevated green with some evil slopes but what a strike from Sam Burns. He's inside three feet with a magnificent approach.

Given Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are some way back from the flag, this could be giving that red juice on the leaderboard an extra shot of energy.

Burns looks a new man after taking the past two sessions off.

Crikey, Max Homa is playing computer game golf.

On the driveable fifth, the American talisman flushes his drive to clear the water and almost cans it!!

A very makeable eagle putt awaits...

The Americans have done a bit of a switcheroo here as Justin Thomas fires his tee shot on four into the crowd, while Jordan Spieth has stuck his to eight feet.

It's a one-man show in their group for the USA, but not the man we expected.

This could be a chance for European lads to stick their noses in front.

McIlroy and Fitzpatrick are both striding down the fairways after hitting that with their drives and then locating the green.

Cantlay and Clark have tougher approaches from the rough.

Jordan Spieth again stands up to the pressure with a short putt dispatched to keep this one all square and make sure there's not one bit of blue on the board this afternoon.

Identical tee shots on the par-four sixth from these players and you could throw a Ryder Cup-branded blanket over their four balls on the sixth fairway.

May as well call it a 130-yard par three from here.

Andrew Magee
PGA Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

I know Hovland and Aberg are two young men but they have played a lot of golf and in this heat. They've had some great success but this may be lingering a little bit.

This was so easy. Now, it's not.

It ends up being too much to handle for Hojgaard.

The 22-year-old Dane slides his birdie putt past the hole and the whoops from the fourth green are Americanised.

Incredible putt from Max Homa set that up.

The Americans have finally showed up in Rome...

Blimey! Max Homa has just rattled a birdie putt in from downtown on the fourth!!

Brian Harman grins like he has just landed a turkey for tea.

That's changed the mood somewhat.

Now the pressure goes back onto the young shoulders of Nicolai Hojgaaard...

To be fair to Viktor Hovland he gives his putt a good tickle and it's got a chance, curling the hole's rim but staying dry.

Ludvig Aberg is next up and he's missed it. That's an error, and Sam Burns has a chance to win America's third hole in five.

Pocketed. Back to two ahead.

For the W.

Patrick Cantlay is the only man left with a chance of a birdie on the second green... it is a lovely roll but has a little too much pace.

Another half and this final match stays all square.

Pressure, what pressure?

That's outstanding from Ludvig Aberg as he sends it skyward before plummetting it down and inside seven feet.

Aberg v Burns putts coming up.

Oh, Nicolai Hojgaard. That's a bobby dazzler of an iron shot from the fourth tee.

The Dane got a strong chance of dibs in the twos kitty after going for the flag and ending up about seven feet shy.

It's Ludvig Aberg's turn to be having animated discussion with the on-field referees as Viktor Hovland watches on. Looks like it's plugged and he'll get a drop to free it.

Sam Burns therefore goes first from out right and he digs it out terrifically, releasing it down the hill and leaving himself four feet for birdie.

Pressure back on the Europeans.

Marco Simone gets rougher quicker than a far from salubrious part of town.

The second cut is thick as mince.

Rory McIlroy finds himself there again on the second, chopping out safely and just short of the green.

The other three are all on the putting surface, meaning it appears Matt Fitzpatrick is going to be responsible for Europe's fate.

Wonder if his putter will be a wand today...

Matt Wallace
Four-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

There is something about Jordan Spieth and there is a little pep in his step.

He means business, and he wants to get a point for his team.