If you ever thought golfers were all well-mannered and civilised you've never followed the Ryder Cup.

Lots of effing and jeffing - understandably so with what's at stake.

This time the expletives come from the Europeans on the 17th tee, with both Fitzpatrick and McIlroy missing the green.

McIlroy's effort is enough to ensure the birdie three and the Americans can still match it.

Clark winces as his putt doesn't drop, meaning it is down to Cantlay to save the half and stop the Europeans going two up with two to play.

A confident putt never looks in doubt. The Americans around the green celebrate.

Whether a three will be enough for the Americans all comes down to Rory McIlroy.

Matt Fitzpatrick tries to convert his birdie putt first, knowing if he does then McIlroy can go all in for his eagle putt.

The Englishman can't land the three and so McIlroy knows what he has to do.

Oh! It's a brave effort but just brushes past the left side of the can.

Seeing fans horseshoe around a player when they've gone off piste is always an incredible spectacle.

Even more so when Clark is up in the thick stuff and the crowd is covered by a glint of fading Roman sunshine.

What a scene.

Good recovery from Clark, who chops out and leaves himself with a good chance of a birdie three.

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

Image source, BBC Sport

The atmosphere for the players walking down the 16th is simply incredible.

Every time there’s the slightest hint of a U to start a chant it suddenly becomes Uurope!

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

The European fans, straining to get a glimpse of the action around the 16th green, are singing "can we play you every week?" to the Americans.

This was always going to come down to who held their nerve the best and Wyndham Clark, like we saw on the same final stretch yesterday, seems to have lost his.

The US Open champion swings his driver in frustration before getting some stick from the European fans.

"Wyndham, where's your ball? Wyndham, Wyndham, where's your ball?"

You have to laugh. Even if you're American...

Image source, Getty Images

Yep, that's right Justin, Europe need just four points to win the Ryder Cup...

Blimey! Wyndham Clark has gone halfway to central Rome with his drive. Miles off target and could have clocked one of the fans desperately ducking for cover.

That was tempestuous and it needed a bit more lateral thinking.

Patrick Cantlay steadies the ship with a calmer drive, even though he has to chase it now. He's gone left too.

Europe in pole position thanks to Rory McIlroy.

Europe need four more points for the win. Perhaps it might only be three in another half an hour or so...

Matt Fitzpatrick has the honour, leaking it left with the adrenalin maybe pumping a little too much.

What does Rory McIlroy do? He grabs the three wood. Plenty of club there.

Nailed it! A perfect tee-shot sees McIlroy putting for an a eagle and a chorus of 'Oles' ringing in his ears.

Splendid, splendid shot.

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

Justin Rose has been absolutely fantastic these last two days. I'm surprised he didn't play this morning after his heroics last night.

That was the right decision in the end because he came up trumps today.

I called him the glue to this team.

The first Europe win of the afternoon...

Image source, BBC Sport

This group had the perfect vantage point to see what was happening on the 16th green, looking down the short par-four from the elevated tee.

Watching that putt roll in from Rose, and feeling the energy of the atmosphere, is a boost for Fitzpatrick and McIlroy, no doubt.

And just as I say Justin Thomas has the advantage - Justin Rose says not so fast as he rolls in his putt from 20 feet to clinch the match 3&2.

Rose does have a penchant for the theatrical doesn't he! Yesterday it was 18, today it's 16 but again it's a long putt, just at the right time and this time it seals a point that moves Europe just four away from victory.

I think that's what you call 'clutch'.

Jordan Spieth has a tough chip out of the rough up on the hill above the hole, which he does pretty well with as it settles 10 feet under the hole

Robert MacIntyre elects to chip his from the fringe - which looks the higher difficulty tariff but perhaps the greatest rewards.

It's OK at best so now he has 15 feet from the same line as Justin Rose, from five feet further away, but Thomas is in the driving seat.

Delicately poised, but that splash from McIlroy seems to have tilted this hole towards the half.

Cantlay neatly chips close, leaving Clark able to go all-out attack.

A very solid effort from Clark but it whistles past. The US Open champion converts for the four, allowing Cantlay to pick up and everyone to head off the green.

To the 16th! Europe one ahead.

Superb splash from McIlroy out of the bunker in front of the 15th green. That *should* be a par.

Just as well because Fitzpatrick decides to go with the wedge - maybe after seeing what McIlroy does - from way out west on the putting surface.

You don't see that very often. He's clipped it too clean and gone way past the hole.

Image source, Getty Images

There's a long discussion on the 16th tee, with Zach Johnson having a word with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas - while in the background there's an audible chant of "sacked in the morning" directed at the USA captain from a few mischievous European fans.

After a talk, Spieth ditches his driver and pulls out a three wood instead - and then duly hits it into the water!

Thanks skipper...

A roar heard across Europe from Rors.

Will McIlroy's brilliance at the 14th be enough to secure vital win for the hosts?

Image source, Reuters

Fitzpatrick goes for the relative safety of the back left, before McIlroy finds the sand at the front as he goes for the flag.

Opportunity knocks for Cantlay and Clark... gotta go for it.

US Open champion Clark puts himself into pole position, easing a short iron into the heart of the green.