Two solid threes from the pair of them on the sixth, with Tyrrell Hatton keeping the pressure on by holing out from 10 feet and although it's not the cleanest stroke from Brian Harman he gets his seven-footer to drop for the half.

What a reply from Sepp Straka on four to Justin Thomas winning the previous hole.

He has just sunk from 25 feet to put the pressure back onto JT.

Steady on though, Thomas has done very similar. A touch of the ear for Thomas. He at least is feeling the atmosphere.

Two cracking putts and the American stays ahead.

After that precise start, Rahm has been a little wayward in the past four holes.

But he's still in the hunt for the 10th hole after that outrageous second shot.

Scheffler has the par in the bag and Rahm, after putting a long birdie putt close, escapes with a gutsy half.

A bit more red now but still very much advantage Europe.

Image source, BBC Sport

Only an outside chance for Patrick Cantlay from 20 feet but you're still a bit surprised when he doesn't hole out from anywhere on the greens. Justin Rose is finding this tough going but he's just about still in touch for now.

Great opportunity for Rickie Fowler on the first green to keep America's lower half motoring.

He has 12 feet for birdie but he's just sent his putt sketching past the hole so will halve with Tommy Fleetwood to open up.

My word. Jon Rahm blasts out the rough on the 10th like he's just fired a bazooka.

Incredible strength to chop out near the water hazard, even shouting a 'Woah' as his ball miraculously hits the green.

Nick Faldo describes Rahm's action like baseball swing. Well, he's certainly knocked it out of the park.

Shane Lowry might have been licking his lips when he heard last night he was playing Jordan Spieth.

Spieth has been playing like a 12 handicapper, not the 12th-ranked player in the world.

But it is the American who draws first blood, knocking in a birdie on the first hole to go ahead.

A bit of fight down the leaderboard from the Americans as Justin Thomas edges ahead against Sepp Straka.

He's got an unblemished record in singles - and he's got off to a good start.

A fine birdie on nine from Viktor Hovland lays the challenge down again for Collin Morikawa to see it home.

He's so close to the challenge from 19 yards off the green but his chip just doesn't drop.

Birdies apiece to close out the front nine.

Maybe Rory McIlroy should get into a slanging match on the eve of every round at Augusta next year.

He's fired up and playing fantastically.

Three birdies through seven holes and Sam Burns doesn't know what's hit him.

Tyrrell Hatton booms his drive over the back of the short par-four fifth, then finds the bunker with his second, before chipping out and knocking in for par.

Meanwhile, Brian Harman has hit a beauty off the tee just on the fringe, and although he duffed his chip he's got eight feet for the win - which he converts to get the lead back down to just two.

Only two blobs of American red have been flicked on the palette, with Brooks Koepka responsible for one of them.

The five-time major champion birdied the first hole to nudge ahead against European rookie Ludvig Aberg and has maintained his advantage going into the fifth.

These two are trading blows over on the sixth.

Both Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick have stiffed it to inside 20 feet to snag a birdie.

Fitz first - inches! Homa misses too and the Englishman retains his advantage.

Even the big, burly biceps of Jon Rahm find it difficult to rip out of the rough on the ninth.

He's missed the green and, unless he chips in, will be walking off with a par.

Scheffler knocks his third from the side of the green to about six feet - this is a golden opportunity for the world number one.

He takes it confidently and the opening match is all square once again.

Justin Rose finds a tough spot in the bunker on seven and when he can't save par Patrick Cantlay is able to roll in from seven feet to go two up. The American certainly doesn't waste chances like that when he gets them.

One of the few bits of red on the board gets a bit stronger.

Image source, Getty Images

I almost forgot Rickie Fowler was here.

He hasn't suited up since the opening foursomes on Friday where he and Collin Morikawa were dominated by Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka.

To be fair to this year's comeback king, Fowler has been under the weather all week, but his team absolutely need him to deliver here.

Provided it's not all over by then that is.

As for Tommy Fleetwood, he's won two, lost one so far. He's pretty popular in his own right.

Back on the sixth, McIlroy can't match a pearler of an approach from opponent Burns.

The Northern Irishman is unable to convert a long birdie putt, giving Burns a chance of the hole from about 17 feet.

Ball start right and stays right.

Halved.

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

Image source, BBC Sport

If you walk around Rome, it is packed with gelaterias but not the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

Instead there's very much an British flavour to ice creams in this part of the world to the north east of the 'Eternal City'.

Paul drove for three days to come over from Liverpool along with 10 ice cream men from the UK and has pitched up on the right of the ninth fairway with views to the eighth green.

"I've got a TV in the van to watch the rest of the action," he tells me.

"We've not done quite as well as expected but you take your chances as ice-cream men," he adds.

Fish and chips is also being served on site for more than 20 euros a pop if you fancy some other British-style cuisine.