Hang on though.

This slope is like a ice rink for Tommy Fleetwood as he slides it down and it races away from the hole.

Rory McIlroy will have to find his range from 12 feet...

These two Americans are just turning it on now as Patrick Cantlay arrows in another approach shot that's in nice and tight and pretty much a gimme.

What a way to finish!

Max Homa can win the match if he chips in from the back of the 16th green... he's only gone and done it!!

A sublime touch from the US rookie, securing the first winning point for the visitors.

A beacon of hope.

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

“As it lies” rings out around the 17th. The European fans are making their feelings known very clearly.

A few boos emanate around the 17th green as Jordan Spieth enters in a long discussion with the game referee. Totally unfair but y'know.

Zach Johnson is over there as well and it looks like Spieth is upset that someone stood on his ball while looking for it and plugged it further into the brutal rough.

The European duo come over too and agree for Spieth to redrop the ball. It's still an ugly lie over there though.

It's a decent effort but it trundles off the far edge. Sympathy from Rory McIlroy but the Europeans could be moments from sealing this match.

"Did anyone see it?" Harman asks about his tee-shot on the par-three 16th.

Straight at the flag, mate.

Not sure it's in the Open champion's character to be giving it the big one - especially when his team are being hammered.

Lowry is pumped up either way, nailing his effort and grunting as he marches to the green.

Tyrrell Hatton misses the birdie putt but Xander Schauffele hits his and they've won back-to-back holes to cut the gap to just one hole with still plenty of time left in this one.

This looks like getting really interesting down the stretch.

This for the hole... Straka steps up with the putter but the roar willing his ball home quickly dies down.

That was for a birdie three.

The door is slightly ajar for the Americans. Homa's approach was tight and within striking distance for the Butcher of Hoylake.

Harman is lethal with the putter - especially from this range.

He's buried it from eight feet. Three up with three to play...

What a time to pull that shot out ,Justin Thomas. He discards a spare golf ball in rage as he clunks his effort off the tee into thick rough well away from the 17th green.

Rory McIlroy also leaks slightly right but he's on the edge and actually gets a nice kick out of the main rough into the first cut.

Lovely and safe. Europe tightening their grip.

Plenty of rivalry but also plenty of camaraderie and it's nice to see Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood all in conversation as they leave the 16th green.

Still, we do like the blood and thunder too.

That's why we dragged ourselves out of bed well before sunrise this morning!

They've got it surrounded on 13 with Patrick Cantlay and Jon Rahm hitting it either side of the flag in about the eight-10 foot range.

If Lowry and Straka lose this hole, it's all over.

Straka finds the fairway with his tee-shot, allowing Lowry to hit the green.

With the Americans scrabbling and off the green after their opening two shots, the European pair have a good opportunity here.

Jordan Spieth from three feet tucks in to exploit some scruffy play round the green from Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy.

Back to one up.

So, we've got two chips here over on the short par-fourth 16th.

Rory McIlroy goes first, from the rough behind the flag. He gets it out of there but it's a little short.

Over to Justin Thomas who is on the fairway in front of the green. Nicely judged as he rolls it round the back to inside three feet.

Xander Schauffele rolls in the putt on 12 to cut the lead down to just two. Really well played hole by the USA that one, just as a reminder that these are still some of the best golfers on the planet playing here - even if right now they're struggling to show it.

If Shane Lowry chips in from the side of the 14th green, the European deficit will be reduced to just two in this match.

The right line, has it got the length? Not quite.

The pairs share the hole and that leaves the Americans three up with four to play.

You may think we've not mentioned enough American shots, well, put simply there hasn't been too many of them to shout about.

However, Patrick Cantlay sees to that at the 12th as he throws a dart at the pin and it's near enough stone dead. This should be a hole back for the USA.

That's where this United States team are heading at the moment.

Half??

I don't think so.

Raw emotion from Rory McIlroy who drains his putt and turns to the galleries with fire in his eyes.

Two up with three to go. That may have sealed America's fate in this match.