Things you thought you'd never write...

And, again, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg don't even have to finish the hole as the Americans have to concede the 10th to go eight down with eight holes to play!

This is carnage, it's a golfing massacre - and it's happening to the current world number one and a five-time major champion.

Just when you think Rory McIlroy's having a quiet few hours, he shows up in a big way.

That is a truly magnificent tee shot on the par-four 11th, flighted perfectly onto the putting surface and leaving a mere 10 feet for eagle.

As for Justin Thomas? He's cursing, "Didn't get hold of it" as his ball lands in the bunker.

That hole the US just won? Might be coming straight back across the Atlantic.

Oh dear. Max Homa chunks one from the rough into the bunker on nine.

When this is happening in your *best-scoring group then you know what kind of predicament you're in. Deep doo-doo.

Brian Harman splashes out too strongly and, with Europe holing out for a par five, that splash of American red is likely to be painted over in a neutral white.

* Yes, it is slim pickings

Image source, Getty Images

There's not been much to smile about for this American Ryder Cup team - but that's very much a theme when they play in Europe as it's been 30 years of hurt for them on the road.

As we know, the USA hasn't won on European soil since 1993 at the Belfry, when Tom Watson's team beat Bernard Gallacher's Europe 15-13 after they came from a point down to win six and halve three of the 12 Sunday singles.

It was a strong European team too with the likes of Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros.

It's a VERY long time ago now, and unless they find a spark quickly that long wait will go on...

Image source, Getty Images

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

Image source, BBC Sport

Ian and Paul, from Chorley in Lancashire and Newcastle, to the south west of Dublin, are working up on the 11th and 12th holes this week which have panoramic views of central Rome.

You can see St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City quite clearly from up here but if you didn't book your hotel room early enough and fancied taking in some of the sites in Italy's capital city, it will have cost you a pretty packet to stay during Ryder Cup week.

Paul, who wanted to knock a day off the length of his stay after visiting his daughter in Naples says the price of his accommodation would have actually increased by 1000 euros to do so, which is money he'd rather keep hold of for upcoming trips to Florence and Turin.

At the start of the tournament some hotels were charging well over 10,000 euros for a three-night stay, although you could get some rooms for around 1,000 euros.

While Luke Donald's Europe team are getting a police escort to the course from a location in central Rome, which takes just over half an hour, Paul and Ian's journey to the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club was taking around double that time..

Europe are four under through that front nine which is pretty good in foursomes to say the least - but the Americans have been a disaster.

They're nominally five over but it could be worse had they finished off a couple of holes. It's been nothing short of woeful, especially from players of this calibre.

They're now staring down a possible record Ryder Cup foursomes defeat in the face.

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

Captain Luke Donald scuttles off the back of the seventh green and walks step for step with me for about 15 yards down to the eighth tee.

Then he veers off left, ducks under a rope and heads into masses over by the ninth green.

There is zero emotion on his face but he did high-five an ecstatic fan

I can only apologise for any photos I may have bombed during that 20 seconds.

Fine effort from Jordan Spieth. It doesn't drop but it's inches so Europe concede the hole.

A first grin from the three-time major champion and a bit of a bounce for him and Justin Thomas to kick off the back nine.

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

Rory McIlroy’s dad Gerry has sorted me out with a nice little memento of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

“This has probably been here five years” he jokes as he chucks me a ball buried in the rough to my left.

Always a welcome addition to the golf bag mind.

Image source, BBC Sport

Yikes, Tommy Fleetwood doesn't even get his bunker shot over the rough and onto the green.

It gives Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas a glorious opportunity. They will have minimum two putts to win the hole.

Sepp Straka's driving accuracy is one of the reasons he was picked by Luke Donald, but he's missed the fairway on the par-five ninth.

As a result, Shane Lowry can only chop out before Straka knocks the third on to the green. Expecting two putts from there.

However, the Americans are also in a little bit of bother with Harman pulling their second shot left.

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

Oles and a thunderclap greet Rahm and Hatton to the sixth green. We’re very much back in the guts of the course and the crowds are huge again.

There’s a giant screen behind the green that is showing Europe up in three and tied in the other.

And that board looks even sweeter after that birdie

Cries of "Ole ole ole" follow the players down a lengthy walk to the seventh tee Fred Couple is right beside me, stony-faced, ignoring the shouts of Freddie

If it wasn’t serious at the end of play yesterday, it’s certainly looking that way now.

An opportunity incoming for Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

Lovely approach from Thomas flies onto the green and leaves 21 feet for birdie. Rory McIlroy thins it a touch from the rough and he's into the greenside bunker.

You feel the next putt will be quite important.

Not to be this time for Tyrrell Hatton from long range, but it's a three and a half to remain two up - and giving themselves chances which is what you want.

Image source, Getty Images

Incredible, just incredible stuff as the Americans get in trouble again on the ninth by going in the water. We've the got the sight then of Scottie Scheffler having to hole out from the rough about 40 yards away to save the hole.

Obviously he can't and now these two American golfing giants skulk off the ninth seven down after taking a severe pasting over the front nine.

Andrew Magee
PGA Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

I expected this team to be very strong. The four weeks off and rusty is a great point - it doesn't make much sense to me.

Do we not take this seriously enough? I think we do, but maybe we don't.

It's super disappointing.

Image source, Reuters

A picture that sums up the morning so far from an American point of view.

Think that was the first hole...

Image source, Getty Images

Sepp Straka for a par on the eighth... the groans tell us the ball isn't going south.

That means the Americans have two putts for the hole.

Harman sidles his ball up nice and cosy, they get the nod from the Europeans.

The lone American flag planted once again.

A first fairway of the day for Jordan Spieth and he can finally pick up his tee confidently.

Tommy Fleetwood has length over the Texan but his carves right and Rory McIlroy will be picking up the next shot from the rough.

Tyrrell Hatton doubles the lead for Europe in this one, and as ever the damage is done on the putting green, as the Englishman lands a 25-footer to stick another dagger into the Americans.