A stand-off between Hojgaard and Harman will settle the third hole.

Putters drawn.

Both are up on the green in two shots, with their partners not as fortunate.

Harman goes first, pushing his left of the hole from 10 feet. Most unlike him from that range.

Hojgaard strides forward quickly with a glint in his eye, but drags his effort too.

As you were.

Funny how the adrenaline of winning a hole can get in your head and it's two mistakes on the par-four fifth from the Europeans.

First, Viktor Hovland is off line and flunks it into a greenside bunker. Then, Ludvig Aberg dunks his tee shot way left - somehow missing the water but finding some truly gruesome rough out there.

Chance for the Americans to go closer - Sam Burns trundles his into the greenside rough and Collin Morikawa overshoots the green and hits the sand.

Elite players eh.

We've seen the last couple of days just how bad the rough can be at Marco Simone - and why finding fairways is your first priority.

But what makes it so tough? Well, our Ken Brown is out on the course and can take you through the different types of rough and just how bad it can get.

Jordan Spieth has started very well this afternoon as he follows up his opening birdie with a nice, solid six-foot putt for par and a half on the second hole.

Woah! Patrick Cantlay is normally very reliable with the short stick... but he's been taking lessons from his mate Xander Schauffele.

He's missed the birdie putt on the first - the raucous, jubilant cheers reinforce it - and that ensures Europe escape with a half.

Stunning from Viktor Hovland on the par-three fourth.

He's drilled his tee shot to a mere five feet, making light of the American duo's fine tee shots of their own.

He watches as Collin Morikawa almost drains from 31 feet - it lips off the cup - and then coolly sinks his to pull a hole back.

Fitzpatrick, everything riding on him, knocks his third on to the first green and within striking distance.

Even sinking the par putt might not be enough.

Patrick Cantlay is eyeing up the birdie...

Zach Johnson, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are not at all [in crisis mode]. Twelve of the 28 points are gone and there are 16 left. Every point is pivotal and our guys are ready. They are anxious, feisty and confident.

On the quality of Europe's play: "I will acknowledge this: I've seen a fair bit of golf and I am obviously very impressed but not surprised by their golf. Shots made, fairways hit, greens hit, pitches hit - they've played them so you have just got to tip your cap."

On resting Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka: "There's a lot of factors. This course is not easy to walk and there are five sessions so rest is a part of it. Tandems are a part of it too. There are lots of reasons and it became pretty obvious this was the best for this session to put us in a position for tomorrow."

On how he can inspire his team: "Just be present. Have a confident posture which is exactly what my mind frame is - and just be there. YThere is something to be said about just being shoulder to shoulder. We're a team and this is legitimately the strongest and most tight team I've ever been part of."

Uh oh. Rory McIlroy is having the sort of hole which makes us mid-handicappers feeling better about ourselves.

With a horrible stance on his second shot to negotiate, he clunks it out of the rough... behind a tree. Ouch.

Over to you Matty...

Just when you thought Max Homa's putter looked hot, he misses a short one on the second.

Not to worry, his buddy Brian Harman has got his back. The par cancels out the one from Nicolai Hojgaard.

A half keeps this match in the red.

Don't forget to include your name on texts, kids.

Chance for Nicolai Hojgaard to win the second hole and level up for Europe.

The Dane dribbles a birdie putt down the gentle slope, but can't quite guide it towards the target.

Bogeys apiece for Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg but Sam Burns is still alive and kicking after setting himself up with a fine shot from behind the green to 11 feet.

Deadeye. The US don't even need Collin Morikawa to polish up in order to take the hole and their lead is doubled.

"Quiet please, thank you."

The more rambunctious European fans are given a polite warning by the first-tee announcer between the American drives.

Takes more than a few rowdy shouts to put off Cantlay and Clark. Both find the fairway.

That's more than their European counterparts. Fitzpatrick goes left, McIlroy right.

Looks thicker than an untamed back garden over where the Northern Irishman is.

Oh dear a horror show from Viktor Hovland.

He compounds his mistake with an underhit chip from off the green that doesn't make it and comes rolling back towards him.

Collin Morikawa clips it in close and there's a real chance here for the Americans to extend their lead.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

Image source, BBC Sport

The BBC Radio 5 Live commentators are heading out for a second loop of the Marco Simone course. But not until they've had a word with presenter Mark Chapman.

Professional golfer Matt Wallace is providing the expert analysis alongside the soothing tones of John Murray. Click on the links on this page to listen in.

High-quality start from this group as Robert MacIntyre and Jordan Spieth both knock in birdie threes to halve the opener.

That'll help the Scotsman to settle - especially on the greens as he admitted to struggling with the putter yesterday, as perhaps the only European who wasn't pleased with his performance.

An aghast stare from Viktor Hovland as he surveys his usually reliable wedge landing shot and trundling back off the green.

No damage done though with both Max Homa and Sam Burns also missing the putting surface.

Let's see some short game magic.

Accurate driving is the name of the game in the Rome countryside, but neither of European pair have found the second fairway.

Tommy Fleetwood is stuck in one of the fairway bunkers, with Nicolai Hojgaard to the right.

Brian Harman is also over there, chopping well out of the rough to find the green.

Hojgaard, from the slightly friendlier first cut, follows suit before Max Homa makes it three from position A.