And this is why Hojgaard's birdie was so crucial!

Neither Homa nor Harman can convert - not often that's happened today - and the Europeans reduce the gap to three holes.

Life left in this one yet!

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

A generous smattering of applause for Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa on the 15th green is immediately broken up by a huge cheer from Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard’s match.

Those celebrations didn’t last long.

Nicolai Hojgaard lands a long putt for a birdie and doesn't even celebrate.

Feels like a small consolation for the young Dane, who has not been able to make too much of an impact today.

But that could be a match saver. If he missed and Homa or Harman land their birdie putts then it would be game over.

It misses, Sam Burns converts for par and a point is on the board for America.

it's a muted reaction from the American this time who embraces Collin Morikawa.

Fair play to this duo who went up against Europe's record-breaking pair from the foursomes and initially looked like handing out a thrashing of their own.

Four and three is still a pretty meaty win though and a great start to the fourballs for the Americans.

Two chances for Europe to further erode USA's lead in this duo.

Viktor Hovland is first from the bunker, can he, surely... no it just scoots round the hole. Tremendous effort from the Norwegian who has gone quiet on the back nine.

Partner Ludvig Aberg has been anything but, and he lines up his birdie putt.

The rookie has 10 feet to extend the match.

Time for the Marco Simone officials to get busy on the 11th.

Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark have both gone big at the green on the driveable par-four, the temptation proved too much.

McIlroy, with his back brushing an advertising board on the front of a makeshift stand, might need a chat with a rules official.

Clark needs the help of some stewards to clear some punters out of his way.

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

Image source, BBC Sport

Mary, who is from Chicago, is captain of the 15th hole.

This her third Ryder Cup after also going to Whistling Straits and Hazeltine back in 2016.

She’s just been overseeing an impromptu singing contest between fans sat on the left, in the centre and to the right of the dance floor but says, “This is pretty much the atmosphere you get all the way back into Rome on the bus”.

Having asked where I’m from, she says, “Oh I know Manchester, my nephew supports United.”

Joost, from the Hague in the Netherlands, says it’s all smiles at the moment but he “had to deal with some very drunk people here on Friday."

He adds: “There were only seven marshals on the hole and 17 on the 16th. Some of those who had volunteered had just decided to go off and watch the golf.”

Marshals also said that was bit of an issue at last week’s Solheim Cup

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

Hot diggety-dog (sorry), Ludvig Aberg has found his touch in the past three holes. Give the boy nothing to lose and he just creams it on to the green. 11 feet for birdie.

Turning the screw on the American duo who have already spurned two opportunities to close this out.

Collin Morikawa plays it safe this time and he's on the dance floor but will be surveying 40 feet. Sam Burns? Overshot and in the rough.

Six birdies and an eagle for Max Homa this afternoon, by the way.

That followed four birdies and two eagles in the foursomes with Harman this morning.

Easily Zach Johnson's MVP.

Americans are dreaming of a team of Max Homas.

The lad has been phenomenal.

Tommy Fleetwood gets European hearts beating with a brilliant birdie two on the 13th, but the ice-man Homa matches it.

Even he's celebrating by chuntering at the crowd, pointing to the green and shouting something along the lines of 'This stuff is real'.

Justin Thomas can't believe he's left a putt to win the hole short - neither can I really - and Europe dodge a bullet as Robert MacIntyre halves the hole.

A ripsnorting tee shot from Viktor Hovland on 15, which has been a beast so far.

Ludvig Aberg joins him on the fairway and you sense there's a bit of extra zip all of a sudden about this European duo.

Be professional, go again, for the Americans and both Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa reply with fine drives of their own.

Another birdie putt passes Matt Fitzpatrick by on the 10th. At least he's getting the chances.

Europe still ahead, just, in this tight match.

Too tough to call at the moment.

This lead may not last long for Europe as Robert MacIntyre flies a chip through the green and into the first cut of rough off the back, with the USA in great position.

They couldn't really throw this away... could they?

Prolonging the agony for Zach Johnson.

Ludvig Aberg has to put this birdie putt in the hole to extend the match and he delivers for Europe.

The spotlight turns again on Collin Morikawa. He fluffed it on 12 and it's a similar nerve-shredder this time.

Missed! Again!

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

If one thing positive is going to come out of the American camp after today, it's that they found a pairing potentially for the next Ryder Cup, because Homa and Harman are magnificent playing together.

Not sure even the most optimistic of European fans fancy Tommy Fleetwood to save this hole.

Max Homa has eagled the 12th!

Fleetwood must match it with a 45-foot putt which has the contours to negotiate.

He can't convert and the birdie is not enough.

When he's on song, Collin Morikawa is one of the best - if not the best - iron players in world golf.

And he's proved it again there with a fabulous shot into the 13th green. He'll have six feet to clinch the point for America.

He's followed in by Ludvig Aberg too, who produces his own moment of magic out to nine feet. If he can hole that, it will put the pressure again on Morikawa.