2300 GMT:Well that just about wraps it up for the AFP Live Report. Europe won 14.5 to 13.5 in the most extraordinary comeback in Ryder Cup history, taking 8.5 of the 12 points up for grabs on the final day. Misery for US captain Davis Love III, but joy for Europe, who have now won five of the last six clashes.
Europe's skipper Jose Maria Olazabal, who couldn't bare to watch Kaymer's putt, has to wait for the European cheers to erupt to confirm his team's victory. As they did he looked heavenward, no doubt smiling to his old friend Seve and thinking this one's for you.
Later to NBC television, his eyes red from tears, he said: "This one is for the whole of Europe. Seve will be always be present with this team. He was a big factor for this event, for the European side." Olazabal partnered the late, great Seve Ballesteros in many memorable Ryder Cup matches.
2225 GMT: Europe win the overall match 14 and a half to 13 and a half as Molinari ties Tiger up on 18. Pretty redundant information. The corks are popping around Europe as Jose Maria's men snatch victory from the jaws of defeat - Ole !! Ole !! Ole !! rings out around Medinah as the American hordes are silenced by the passionate band of travelling European supporters.
Twenty-one years after Germany's Bernhard Langer missed the vital putt against Hale Irwin that sealed Europe's loss in the 1991 "War on the Shore" at Kiawah Island, it is another German whose stroke completes the most unexpected of victories.
But Seve is the name on everyone's lips. He played a leading role in putting European golf on the map in the 1980s and helped Team Europe to five Ryder Cup wins as player and captain. His death from cancer in May 2011, at just 54, stole a golfing legend too soon. This win will doubtless be dedicated to him.
If any one player personified Seve's never-say-die spirit in this year's memorable clash, it was England's Ian Poulter. His five consecutive birdies on 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 on Saturday night stole back the momentum for Europe and gave them the slimmest of chances to come back in the singles. Showing bulldog determination, he again came from behind on Sunday to eke out an all important point against the in-form US Open champion Webb Simpson and his winning record is now unparalleled on either side. But all the European wins on Sunday were crucial: from Luke Donald opening up, to McIlroy felling US talisman Keegan Bradley despite getting the timings wrong and showing up just 10 minutes before his tee time. Rose's was perhaps the most extraordinary victory. One down with three to play, he needed a long putt to stay in it on 16. He nailed it, then made a monster 60-footer on 17 and another long one on 18 to leave Phil Mickelson shaking his head in disbelief. Lawrie, a 43-year-old veteran who last played in the Ryder Cup in 1999, dialled back the years to thrash the in-form PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker 5&3 in the day's biggest upset. Garcia, again summoning the spirit of Seve, clawed his way back to somehow beat Furyk. Westwood rediscovered his form when the team needed it most as did the out-of-sorts Kaymer against the equally out-of-sorts Stricker.
If Seve had talent and determination, he was also a gentleman and he would have loved the spirit of these matches. The applause from Mickelson on three consecutive greens as Justin Rose drove a dagger into his heart will live long in the memory as a sign of sportsmanship rarely seen in such partisan encounters.
2215 GMT: As the celebrations begin, Tiger looks like a lost man down the fairway on 18. Technically, the match is currently a tie And Europe simply retain the trophy. Can Molinari finish off by squaring up his match and putting the icing on the cake. He strikes it out of Kaymer's same bunker, to almost exactly the same spot as the German before him. Tiger, after watching his team lose, goes left off the green.
2210 GMT: STRICKER MISSES. Kaymer has two for it. He stands over it for what seems like an eternity. Oh no, he's given that a roll. It goes a good five, six feet by. Stricker, though, still has 10 feet to put the pressure on. He simply has to have it or Team USA go down. He lines it up. Kaymer can barely watch. He rubs the imaginary grass of the putter face, now he strikes it......INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. A par it is, but a special one. Pressure all on Kaymer now. If he misses this Tiger just has to hold on to his 1Up lead on the last to regain the Cup. The German stands over the putt, the hopes of a continent rest on his shoulders. Just inside right edge, uphill... EUROPE RETAIN THE RYDER CUP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - The greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history, emulating the Americans at Brookline in 1999 but this time on foreign soil with a hostile crowd on their back. Sensational from Jose Maria Olazabal's team. They had been written off but summoned the spirit of the late Seve Ballesteros to retain the trophy.
2207 GMT: As the shadows length at the Medinah Country Club, outside the great city of Chicago, Molinari stands over a 12-footer to keep his match against 14-time major winner all square. It could be the decisive match of the Ryder Cup. He misses it, way left. Tiger dorme one... but will it matter, back to 18 in a moment with Stricker needing to hole a monster to stop Martin Kaymer having two putts for a Europe win.
2205 GMT: Europe team captain Jose Maria Olazabal has his bowed head clutched in his hands. He can't bear to look as Stricker prepares to putt.
2204 GMT: It's all on Stricker then to give Tiger a chance coming up the last. He hits from the right-center of the fairway. A nice strike but the reaction is muted as it comes down at the back of the green, leaving him with a monster 60-footer for birdie.
2203 GMT: Molinari chips down the hilll at 17, he's chunked it. It goes way long. Tiger odds on to go dorme 1 here.
2202 GMT: What happens on 17 could be immaterial if Kaymer can produce the bunker shot of his life here. Up goes his stick, up comes the sand. Good contact. Left of the pin. Is it a good one? Yessssssss. Lands it 25 feet from the pin. Stricker must get in birdie range to keep US hopes alive.
2158 GMT: The big tee shots over the water on 17 for Molinari and Tiger, locked together all square.
Molinari first, straight at the pin, looks good... pitches just over the flag but a bit heavy and rolls to the fringe at the back. Tiger hits a huge draw, coming in nicely, what a shot, pitches just to the right of the flag and rolls on to about 15-feet. He will have that for birdie and probably to go one up.
2155 GMT: Kaymer, needing just a half on the last to win it for Europe, finds the sand. Stricker hits it up the right safely on the fairway.
2151 GMT: Tiger first at 16, can he make it and put the pressure on the Italian. It's running, just outside right, will it turn....noooo. Back to Stricker at 17. Just inside right, he strikes it, lips out, and that doesn't look like a gimme either. What an opening for Kaymer. Here's Molinari. He hits it too hard and it runs across the lip. Back to Kaymer can he make up for his team-mate's miss behind. YESSSSSSSSS. The former world number one goes dorme one on Steve Stricker. A half on the last will be enough to give Europe the cup. Woods makes Molinari putt his tiddler back. Francesco used to be known for putting wobbles. Not now...nails it. Are we about to see the Miracle of Medinah ????????????????????
2150 GMT: Here's Kaymer on 17. Ooh, nice roll but still a five footer for par. Stricker to come from just off the back, up on the slope. He gives it plenty, it rolls on six feet by. Two clutch putts for par.
2149 GMT: Will it be Molinari. What a shot into the 16th green, about seven eight feet left. Can Tiger respond. Yes he can, great shot, not quite as close but he has a chance to match his Italian rival
2148 GMT: AMAZING FACT: None of these four players in the final matches has won a point so far in this Ryder Cup. One or two of them will be heroes tonight though.
2147 GMT: Tee shots on 17. Stricker and Kaymer both make it over the water and onto the putting surface. Kaymer has a ridge to get over, Stricker a slope to come down. Sinking either at this stage would be remarkable.
2145 GMT: RESULT (All tied at 13-13) Hanson can't hole it. We're down to the last two matches. Remember Team USA needs one and a half points from the last two to regain the Cup, Team Europe needs only one to retain it. Both matches are all square. As it stands Europe take it.
2141 GMT: Hanson's bunker shot goes long on 19. Dufner has two for it. In bright sunshine on the 18th green here at Medinah, outside Chicago, he sends it down the hill. It seems like it should stop, it must stop, but no it carries on rolling down the hill, to around 5 feet. Hanson must hole a 15 footer to make him putt again.
2140 GMT: Kaymer makes a clutch putt on 16th. That wasn't clutch, this is clutch, retorts Stricker nailing his effort into the back of the cup.
2137 GMT: Molinari pulls his putt on 15. Tiger dodges a bullet, holing his six-foot effort to keep it all square. Hanson, who picked up one on Dufner on 17, hits a pour approach on 18, catching the bunker on the left of the green. Here's Dufner, turning left too, not too bad, a bit deep on the green. Advantage Dufner, who only needs a half for the match.
2135 GMT: "We need one more point at least," says Sergio as he can't keep his eyes off the scoreboard. "It's amazing. I don't know how my team did it," he says, correcting himself, "If we do it."
2130 GMT: HE MISSES IT - he places his hands on his knees amd is clearly gutted. He looks Sergio in the face but can only muster a tame handshake. RESULT -- EUROPE TAKE THE LEAD (13-12) they are now one point away from retaining the Ryder Cup and pulling off the biggest upset in Ryder Cup history.
2128 GMT: Kaymer misses a makable par putt on 15th and he and Stricker return to all square. What a nailbiter. The last two matches are crucial as is the putt for Garcia to win the match. He rolls it up... it's on line. Just short! Furyk still has a four footer for par. Can he hold on for a crucial half?
2125 GMT: MOMENTUM SHIFT. RESULT Westwood wraps it up against Kuchar, although the American makes him putt a one-foot effort. 3&2 win for Lee (12-12 overall) From nowhere he has found form when Europe needs it. And Molinari squares it up against Tiger in the final match. If it stays like this, Europe retain the trophy and Garcia could still grab a point on 18.
2120 GMT: Garcia, one the course that was the scene of his famous 1999 showdown with Tiger Woods for the US PGA, fires it down the middle. Great pressure drive. Down the middle with the 3 metal. Furyk's drive drifts right into the bunker. That could be tricky from there but he is arguably the best long bunker player in the world.
2114 GMT: Dufner goes dorme 2 with a steady four-foot hole out at 16. He makes Hanson puts a foot and a half. Bit pedantic that.
2113 GMT: Furyk lines up a crucial putt on 17. Hole it and he is dorme 1, miss it and it is all square going up the last against Sergio, who is looking to summon the spirit of Seve to drive Europe towards an unprecedented Ryder Cup comeback win. HE MISSES IT... all square going up two gritty competitors.
2110 GMT: Westwood goes dorme 3 on Kuchar - a real form turnaround for the Englishman after two miserable days. Kaymer makes a big putt too, taking a one-up lead with four to play on Stricker European dreams hang by a sliver.
2105 GMT: Molinari comes up just short on 13 with his par effort. Tiger left himself some work though... a tricky little four foot slider. He nails it. Tiger one up in the last match. Could we see the 14-time major winner bring it home for Team USA?
2103 GMT: Furyk's putt goes wide, Sergio remains one down with two to go.
2102 GMT: RESULT (12-11 USA lead) - McDowell concedes to Zack Johnson on the 16th green. This has been a poor showing from the Northern Irishman who was such a massive part of Europe's win last time out at Celtic Manor.
2101 GMT: Furyk has a birdie attempt on 16 and Sergio is languishing in the bunker. But what a shot from the Spaniard. It almost goes in and that is a gimme par.
2100 GMT: Dufner drives the par-4 16th in one, taking on the lake on this signature hole. Hanson is short of the green with his effort.
2058 GMT: Westwood stays 2 up with four to play on Kuchar but is made to hole a nasty par putt as the American rolls one in from 30 feet and the roars erupt around the 14th at Medinah.
2057 GMT: And the final two matches suddenly go all square as Tiger and Stricker regain parity with Molinari and Kaymer respectively.
2052 GMT: Molinari misses his chance to stay 1Up in the final match on Tiger. Nervous times await for the likes of Westwood, Kaymer, Molinari. Kuchar, Stricker and Woods. Most felt it would be over before it reached the final matches. It is certainly going to the third last match as even if Johnson, Furyk and Dufner hold onto their leads that only gives Team USA 14 points. They need 14 and a half to regain the Cup, meaning they would require at least half a point from the final three matches. Westwood looking good at 2 up with five to play in the third last match so all eyes could be on those last two.
2051 GMT: Distracted initially by a bird flying overhead, McDowell pulls away. He regains his composure and strikes but that's another bad miss on 16 and Zack Johnson goes dorme 2.
2050 GMT: Sergio misses a chance to go level on 15. Not well struck, he leaves himself a nasty one coming back, but he holes it. One down with three to play.
2045 GMT: So here is where we are as Westwood extends his lead to 2 over Kuchar and Stricker goes one down to Stricker on the 12th. If it finishes as we are the teams will tie at 14 a piece and Europe will retain the Ryder Cup.
2042 GMT: That exchange on the 18th green represents all that is good about the Ryder Cup. Rose, euphoric, breaks off his screams of delight as he sees the outstretched hand of the gutted lose. Phil is all smiles and exhibits great sportsmanship as he disguises his dismay to congratulate his opponent. Rose responds by showing the utmost respect for one of the greats of the modern game. Fantastic stuff. What a hard-fought and potentially crucial point that was for Europe.
2040 GMT: Great chip from Phil to seven feet, keeps him in it. But Justin Rose can end it here if he makes his 12-foot birdie putt. Can he?? YES HE CANNNNNNNN - RESULT, birdie, birdie on 17 and 18 and this is now GAME ON for this Ryder Cup. (Tied at 11 apiece overall). Europe has won the first five matches.
2035 GMT: Mickelson goes way long over the green on 18. Chance for Rose, can he capitalize. Yes he can. Great shot. Puts it in to 12 feet. Lefty needs a great up and down to escape here. This would be momentous for the Europeans if Rose can take it. For the first time the projected score on the course would give them victory. But there is still a lot of golf to play.
2034 GMT: After losing two straight holes, Dufner steadies the ship and goes back to 2Up against the Swede, Hanson.
2033 GMT: RESULT !!! (11-10 USA lead) Colsaerts concedes the first point of the day for Europe as Dustin Johnson completes a gritty 3-2 win. The Belgian missed a lot of putts today and yesterday after holing everything on the opening day.
2030 GMT: Olazabal's men have now won four of the first five matches and the other one is all square between Mickelson and Rose going up the last. This has been a great match, played in the best of spirits. Lefty was applauding Rose on the 16th for his putt. There was more applause though on the 17th when the Englishman's monster effort went in. Too tense, too tense.
2026 GMT: WATCH OUT!!! Brilliant chip from Mickelson on 17. Bradley the other half of their unbeaten four-ball/foursome runs down the bank to slap his big bro's hand. BUT WHAT IS THIS... Rose drains it from 50 feet to go all square. That could be the spark Europe needs to make this comeback a realistic proposition. Is US skipper Davis Love beginning to quake a bit, I wonder.
2025 GMT: RESULT !!! (10-10 USA) Europe dreams still and the US overall lead has evaporated. Simpson concedes after his birdie putt goes long.
2023 GMT: Real to-and-fro, seesaw stuff as Dustin goes 2Up on Colsaerts with three to play but then Sergio squares it up with Furyk. Still, anything could happen.
2020 GMT: What is Poulter made of. He doesn't have that shot. Trapped behind a tree trying to hold on to his 1UP lead, he produces yet another dream shot up and over to about 15 feet. Simpson, under pressure, goes long, just on the putting surface. He needs a miracle to escape defeat.
2018 GMT: RESULT !!! ALL IS FORGIVEN!!! McIlroy closes it out with a 2&1 victory (10-9). The world number one may soon explain why he arrived only 10 minutes before his tee time this morning. If he had lost and Europe had lost by half a point you can imagine the headlines!!
2017 GMT: What a roar as Mickelson slides in a 20 footer to make par and put the pressure on Rose to stay just one behind with three to play. But the Englishman is up to the challenge, he rolls his par putt in and remains one back. Nerveless.
2015 GMT: But further down the scorecard doesn't look so pretty for European captain Jose-Maria Olazabal. Behind Lawrie, Europe trails in four matches. The final three are all tied. This could be a squeaker and a squealer.
2012 GMT: How crucial this might be. Webb Simpson can only make bogey on the 17th and Poulter's par putt is enough to go dorme 1. Can he hang on for another vital early point for the Europeans and can Poulter pull off another win to cap his extraordinary Ryder Cup record??
2010 GMT: RESULT !!!! 10-8. The European fight back continues as Lawrie wins 5&3 against Snedeker. What satisifaction for the veteran 43-year-old Scot, playing in the Ryder Cup for the first time in 13 years after a late bloom in his carerer.
2008 GMT: McIlroy holes a six-footer to go dorme 2 in the third match against the energetic Bradley.
1959 GMT: Talking of clutch. Snedeker with a putt to avoid defeat on the 14th. Great effort. Sinks the 15 foot curler and he has a chance to emulate Bubba's valiant but ultimately unsuccessful comeback effort from earlier. Four down, four to play for the American.
1957 GMT: GREAT RECOVERY from the Englishman. He really has some spirit. He magics a shot into 4 and a half feet and pressure back on US Open champion Webb Simpson as he drains the putt. That is clutch. Overused that phrase, but apt on a stupid number of occasions when watching Poulter in this Ryder Cup. Simpson makes his shorter effort. This one is going the distance. Locked together they head to 17.
1955 GMT: The second match out between Poulter and Webb Simpson lurks as a potential killer for the European effort. And right on Poulter's downswing on his approach at 16 comes the massive eruption of cheers for Mickelson behind. That's a shame, it totally messes up his shot, he squirts it way out left and was clearly put off by that unfortunate timing.
1950 GMT: Mickelson plays a peach of a bunker shot onto the 14th green. Rose messes up his shot. He never hit it. Now Mickelson to go 1Up with just five to play. He does it!! What a strike at the heart of the European comeback effort if "Lefty" can hold on for a win to break up the early European dominance.
1948 GMT: McIlroy fires a beauty into the 15th. He is looking to go 2 up with three to play against Bradley. And he does, the world number one looking good for a point.
1947 GMT: Colsaerts suddenly squares his match with Dustin Johnson on the 13th. That could be key for the Europeans if he can turn that one around.
1943 GMT: Only three of the 11 matches on the course have leads of more than one. Lawrie dorme 5, Dufner 4Up over Hanson and McDowell 2Down against Zack Johnson with seven to play.This is going to be a hell of a finish whatever happens.
1942 GMT: Tiger and Molinari put on a chipping exhibition on the 7th. Both putts are conceded and the final match remains all square.
1940 GMT: No mistake from the world number one. He goes 1Up in the third match with four to play.
1937 GMT: Back ahead on the 14th, Keegan Bradley makes a mess of his trick shot escape from behind a tree on the right of the green. Rory McIlroy makes no mistake of his bunker shot and is odds-on to go 1Up. CHIP-IN !!! Sergio pulls out a stunner on the 11th to go one up on Furyk.
1925 GMT: Tiger gets it back to all square in the final match, still back on the sixth. Westwood pulls back level on the eighth against Kuchar. Hanson now four back on Dufner as Lawrie extends his lead over Snedeker to a similar four hole margin.
1923 GMT: RESULT !! And it's 10-7. Luke Donald gets the first point on the board for Europe - a 2&1 victory over Bubba Watson, whose valiant fight back from 4 down is finally snuffed out after an errant tee shot on the par three 17th.
1915 GMT: Garcia misses his long birdie try on eight, slipping to one down against Furyk. Westwood loses his lead over Kuchar on the sixth. Dufner has extended to 3Up though seven over the Swede, Hanson.
1913 GMT: CHIP IN... this time it's not a European, guess who?? Bubba, Oh bubba, he really has a sense of the theatrics. He chips in from the bunker on 16 and suddenly Donald is only 2Up with 2 to play. What a comeback! Sensational stuff. The Medinah crowd ecstatic, scenting blood
1912 GMT: Lawrie continues his unexpected charge over Snedeker, extending his lead to 3Up after 11.
1907 GMT: McIlroy and Keegan Bradley back to all square. The last two PGA champs duking it out in the marquee match. Bradley runs after his chip contuining to whip up this crowd and be the heart and soul of this US team despite being a rookie. Astonishing scenes on 10 as Colsaerts four putts, transforming an easy win to go 1Up into a 1 down scenario. What a gutting moment for the young Belgian. How will he come back from that.
1903 GMT: Who wrote Bubba off. Poulter misses another chance to end it but the birdie attempt slides by. Can Watson pull off a stunning turnaround. He remains 3 down with 3 to play. Overall everything remains very much in the balance. Europe up in 4. US up in three. Five matches all square.
1856 GMT: ANOTHER Poulter fist pump as he drills in his 15-foot putt on 12!! Simpson misses. Crucial second match back to all square. But in the final tie, Tiger nips one back on Molinari.
1855 GMT: Donald misses a tiddler on the 14th to earn Europe's first point of the day.
1850 GMT: Incredible shot from McIlroy on 11. He has to drill a slapshot onto a six pence from the rough to the left of the green. Coming over a bunker he slaps it onto the dime and it bounces up nicely off the fringe to seven feet. He makes the putt. What a half!!
1846 GMT: McDowell really out of sorts and par is enough for Zack Johnson to go three up over the Northern Irishman after seven. The ever-casual Jason Dufner goes 2Up over Peter Hanson after five. Rose misses a chance to go 2 up over Phil, who makes him putt the short return. Hole 10 halved.
1840 GMT: Bubba misses his par putt on 13 and Donald makes an up-and-down from the drop area to halve the hole. The former world number one is odds-on to take the opening match. Four up with five to go. Having studied in Chicago and now a resident here, this has been something of a home fixture for the Englishman.
1838 GMT: Keegan Bradley, what fire this young man has! He strokes in a 20 footer effortlessly on 10 to halve his deficit with McIlroy, just one down now.
1836 GMT: Tiger belts in a beauty on the third to about five feet as he looks to square off his match with Molinari. But the Italian is no mug and he outdoes the 14-time major winner with a pearler to gimme range. And Tiger misses!! Molinari is made to putt but tucks it in to go 2Up after two.
1835 GMT: Just as we say the first match could be heading blew, Donald goes and puts it in the drink on the 13th. Bubba doesn't take clear advantage though as he finds the bunker on this tricky par-3.
1832 GMT: The out-of-form Lee Westwood forges a surprising 1Up lead over Matt Kuchar in the third last match.
1831 GMT: But back come the Americans as Simpson retakes a 1Up lead over Poulter in the second match. This tie could be crucial if the Europeans want to seize the early momentum they so desperately need.
1830 GMT: Well the Europeans look like they might register the first point unless Bubba can seriously turn things around. The US Masters champion lets a short one go begging on the 12th and Donald goes 4Up with just six to play.
1827 GMT: Molinari takes a 1Up lead over Tiger on the second. How crucial might that match be. Europeans off to a blistering start but struggling in the middle matches.
1826 GMT: Furyk's eagle putt goes begging and he remains all square with Sergio through five after a great bunker save from the Spaniard and a gimme birdie.
1825 GMT: Rose hits it stiff on nine. But Mickelson fires in a beauty. Five feet past the pin and seriously screwing back. Will it hit Rosey's ball... in the end it finds the narrowest of corridors between his opponent's ball and the cup, coming to rest eight feet below the hole. Oohh... he misses the putt. Rose retakes the 1Up advantage.
1820 GMT: Rory McIlroy, who better win or he could face the eternal wrath of the British press after his unexplained late arrival at the course this morning, lets out an uncharacteristic roar as he sinks a 12-footer to go 2Up on Keegan Bradley in the third match out.
1815 GMT: Mickelson gets it back to all square with a nice six-footer on eight. Molinari and Tiger share the honors on one. Donald with a big raised fist as he leaps to a 3Up lead over Bubba Watson through 10. Stricker breaks away from Germany's former world number one Martin Kaymer on the second. Europe have come out fast and are up in four of the first five, but as predicted American taking advantage of the team's soft underbelly, ahead in the middle matches.
1808: Keegan Bradley, Team USA's answer to Ian Poulter in terms of emotional fervour, points his long-stick putter to the crowd and roars with delight after halving his deficit to just one against McIlroy on the eighth. Dustin also goes one up on Colsaerts on the sixth and Dufner opens up a 1Up lead on Hanson on the 3rd. A good passage for the Americans, who only need four and a half points. The Europeans need eight to retain the trophy. As if by stealth, Team USA is suddenly up in 3, down in 4 and three matches are all-square.
1807 GMT: Bubba and Watson trade birdies on 10. Donald remains 2Up in that opening match.
1806 GMT: Rose goes 1 Up on Mickelson after seven.
1805 GMT: And the final two balls are on the course. Tiger Woods and Italy's Francesco Molinari both find the fairway on one.
1804 GMT: At this moment Team USA is up in only one of the 11 matches on the course. Plenty of time yet though for the Americans to rack up the four and a half points they need to snatch the Cup. Tiger tees off in the final match against Italy's Francesco Molinari.
1800 GMT: The trademark fist pump and wide-eyes from the pride of England, Ian Poulter, as he makes no mistake on eight, curling in his five footer for par and levelling the crucial second match with Webb Simpson, who seems to have gone off the boil after a blistering start.
1756 GMT: Rose hits a fantastic shot into par-5 seventh. He will have a chance at eagle to go 1Up on Mickelson.
1755 GMT: Sergio misses on three and Furyk gets that match back to all square. Poulter leaves himself some work on eight but Simpson still has a long par effort.
1752 GMT: Poulter halves the deficit in the crucial early match with Simpson. Then the American miscues on eight, his tee-shot into the par-three going wildly right with the Englishman already on the back of the green. Europe's fightback has started. Up in 4, Down in 2, All Square in 2.
1750 GMT: Earlier the Aberdeen man said this Europe team would never give up as he summed up the indomitable spirit in Olazabal's camp:
"There's still 12 singles matches. We can all win and why not?" Lawrie said. "It's certainly not over. It would be nice to make a big comeback. It's always possible. Until it's impossible to do it, then you fight on, certainly for Jose Maria this week. No one is going to be giving up.
1745 GMT: Snedeker makes a great birdie putt to put the pressure back on Lawrie on the 5th but the Scotsman responds with a fantastic eagle. 2up for Lawrie, who famously won the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie where Frenchman Jean Van de Velde blew a three-shot lead on the final hole.
1743 GMT: Zack Johnson almost hits it in from 120 plus yards on the third. McDowell, looking forlorn and out of sorts, misses a relatively straightforward birdie opportunity to go 2 down.
1742 GMT: CHIP IN - AND IT'S EUROPE AGAIN. That's the third time a European has chipped in these opening salvoes and the second time for one Rory McIlroy. He may have shown up late -- the mystery over a possible timing mix-up continues -- but he is fired up now.
1741 GMT: Paul Lawrie did indeed go one up against Snedeker after chipping in on the fourth.
1740 GMT: And Sergio hits a delightful iron into the par-3 second. But Furyk is up for the challenge as his balls comes to rest 20 foot below the hole. Mickelson, meanwhile, pulls Rose back to all square on the 5th. Europe up in 3, US up in 3. Two matches all square.
1735 GMT: CHIP-IN - Paul Lawrie, the forgotten man on the European side chips in from way past the green on four. Sensational shot. Snedeker could fall behind here. Simpson regains his 2Up lead over Poulter on the sixth. The Europeans must stay in touch in all these early matches to have a realistic chance of pulling off a stunning Ryder Cup recovery.
1734 GMT: But the birdie effort from US skipper Davis Love's veteran wildcard pick is a tough slider and it slips past the whole. Sergio converts his par putt to keep things level.
1732 GMT: Furyk hits a lovely iron into the opening hole and is favorite to take a 1Up lead on European talisman Sergio Garcia on the opening hole.
1730 GMT: Donald caresses in a 20 footer on seven but Watson holes his shorter birdie putt to remain just two down.
1725 GMT:A massive roar from the American crowd, which has been boisterous and vocal all weekend - fuelled by large alcoholic beverage - as Bradley holes a clutch putt against McIlroy on the fifth.
1722 GMT: A good few minutes from Team USA as Mickelson halves his deficit against Rose on four. Zach Johnson makes his par on one, good enough to go 1Up on 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell. The Northern Irishman, the hero as the Europeans claimed victory two years ago at Celtic Manor in Wales, has seemed out of sorts at Medinah.
1715 GMT: Bubba's par putt defies gravity to remain outside the cup on six. Donald retains his 2Up lead in the all-important opening match.
But the Americans are already up in 2 matches and only need 4 and a half points to take back the cup. That said, Webb Simpson is now just 1Up over Poulter after the fiery Englishman gets one back on the fifth. And McIlroy makes a clutch putt to go 1Up on Bradley.
1706 GMT: Dustin Johnson hits a beauty into one as he gets under way against Colsaerts. Colsaerts goes way long with his birdie effort and the American takes a 1Up lead.
The 29-year-old Belgian, a wildcard pick by European captain Olazabal, had an amazing opening round on Friday, shooting eight birdies and an eagle as he carried out-of-sorts partner Lee Westwood to a 1Up victory over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. Stricker then Woods will be the final two off the tee for Team USA after losing all three of their matches over the first two days. Perhaps, US captain Davis Love III hoping it could be all over by the time the out-of-form duo get to the final holes.
1705 GMT: European veteran Paul Lawrie, making his first Ryder Cup appearance in 13 years, squanders a good opportunity to go one up against Snedeker on the second.
1704 GMT: Poulter in all sorts of trouble on the fifth as his bunker shots is thinned and his par return still leaves him with a six-footer for bogey.
1700 GMT: Bubba dodges a bullet as Donald misses a short putt to go 3Up after 5. Still Europe has got off to a solid start, down in the Poulter-Simpson match, but 2Up in two and all square in 2.
1658 GMT: Some color coming in from AFP's Greg Heakes on the first tee:
NBA icon Michael Jordan was on hand at the first tee to see the US players begins the singles. Jordan, coffee cup in hand and wearing a Team USA wind jacket, talked strategy with Fred Couples. He even talked smack with Ian Poulter as the European star was getting ready to hit his first drive. Jordan looked at Poulter and gave him "a your going to lose" gesture. Poulter just looked back and smiled then went on to birdie the hole.
Rory McIlroy's late arrival over a timing mix-up was all the buzz on the first tee box. This verbal exchange was overheard between two US team members: "Rory's squad car just passed my wife. He's not even on the 290 yet."
1654 GMT: Lovely sand save from Lawrie on the first and PGA Tour champ Snedeker's birdie putt goes wide. Hole shared.
1653 GMT: Simpson misses a change to go 2Up over Poulter as his birdie attempt slips by on four.
1651 GMT: Rose hits a beauty into the par-3 second. Six feet if that from the pin. Pressure on Phil. The four-time major winner looks forlorn as his iron comes up short, bouncing off the wooden panels that protect the green and spitting unceremoniously into the drink. Rose 2 up.
1646 GMT: Could this be the beginning of the mother of all comebacks: Rose goes one up on Mickelson on 1 with a long birdie putt. Donald goes two up in the opening match as he makes an easy birdie on four after a stunning approach. McIlroy and Bradley remain all square.
1645 GMT: From AFP Sports Editor Allan Kelly at Medinah: "We could see an early charge from the Europeans with Donald, Poulter, McIlroy and Rose up first but Europe has a soft underbelly in the middle and that could be when it gets away from them. Tiger Woods off last unlikely to be a factor. "
1643 GMT: Mickelson loose with his approach on one. Rose has the better chance for birdie.
1642 GMT: Poulter misses his short par putt on two and Simpson goes one-up. The Europeans can't afford any early slip-ups.
1641 GMT: Phil Mickelson, breaking the Ryder Cup appearance record of Billy Capser, fires it down the middle on one as he sets off on his battle with Justin Rose.
1640 GMT: Bradley doesn't hit it quite hard enough as his birdie putt drifts left down the slope past the hole at one. He shares the opening honors with McIlroy.
1638 GMT: Wow, Poulter fails to birdie a hole for the first time in seven. McIlroy comes up just short of birdie on one. Bradley has a put to go 1Up.
European captain Olazabal has evoked the never-say-die attitude of his great friend and playing partner Seve Ballesteros and clad all the European players in the dark blue-and-white outfit that the Spaniard, who died from a brain tumour in May of last year, favored. US in Tiger Red.
1628 GMT: While that excitement was going on at the green on one, the marquee match of world number one Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley, the American star of this Ryder Cup, gets under way on the tee. Rory fires it into the rough out right. Keegan down the middle.
This came after McIlroy nearly missed his tee following a mixup over times.
The world No.1 was seen being driven hastily into the course with 10 minutes to go. He rapidly pulled his golf shoes on and acknowledged skipper Jose-Maria Olazabal before heading straight to the practice putting green.
US TV reports said that McIlroy in his hotel room had mistaken eastern seaboard time for Chicago time which is one hour later.
1627 GMT: What a reply from Simpson. He drills his putt in from the fringe and the hole is tied.
1626 GMT: AND POULTER CHIPS IN ON ONE!! The 36-year-old Hertfordshire-born man continues his sensational form from last night, when he birdied the final five holes to eke out a crucial point.
1624 GMT: Donald birdies two to go one-up on Bubba Watson. First color on the board is blue for Team Europe.
1622 GMT: Poulter's approach on one hangs up in the wind just short of the green. Simpson not bad, on the fringe.
1614 GMT: Europe's star performer and emotional leader Ian Poulter fires his tee shot on the first. It's a good one, just off the right edge of the fairway. Webb Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, hits a beauty straight down the middle.
1612 GMT: Bubba slides in his very tricky 20-foot slider. The first of many of today's fist pumps ensues. But Donald matches him. Game on!
1610 GMT: Bubba from a good lie in the trees plays a great shot to about 20 feet. But Donald from the fairway trumps that. He will have an 6-8 footer for birdie.
1603 GMT: HERE WE GO: Luke Donald fires his drive down the middle on one, perfect start for the Europeans.
Bubba, as he has done on the first two days, whips up the crowd before teeing off through the roars. His tee-shot, though, goes well right over the spectators. Advantage Donald.
Welcome to AFP's Live Report on the final day of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club just outside the great city of Chicago.
No European team has ever come back from four points down at the start of the final day's play to win the cup and no US team has ever lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since the competition began in 1927. Still, the memory of 1999 at Brookline, Massachusetts remains vivid when the Americans overturned a 6-10 deficit to win by a solitary point.
Team Europe emerged victorious in four of the last five Ryder Cups and six of the last eight, but it is the Americans in the ascendancy here at Medinah after some blistering performances in the opening two days of foursomes and four-balls.
Four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and young gun Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2011 PGA, have set the home crowd alight, including a 7&6 destruction of former world number ones Luke Donald and Lee Westwood in Saturday's morning foursomes.
But Europe held on crucially in the final two four-balls on Saturday afternoon with the fiery-eyed Ian Poulter becoming a Ryder Cup legend as he birdied the final five holes to carry him and current world number one Rory McIlroy to a 1Up triumph over Jason Dufner and Zack Johnson.
The first match gets under way in just under 10 minutes: Luke Donald against the irrepressible reigning US Masters champion Bubba Watson. Back shortly with a complete list of the Sunday singles face-offs as the atmosphere builds on the first tee:
Team USA has never lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since the competition began in 1927.
As promised here is a complete list of the face-offs that will decide the Ryder Cup as huge crowds of between 40,000 to 50,000 fans descending on Medinah Country Club in the western suburbs of Chicago:
(Times are local which is GMT minus 5 hrs) 11:03 am - Bubba Watson (USA) v Luke Donald (Europe) 11:14 am - Webb Simpson (USA) v Ian Poulter (Europe) 11:25 am - Keegan Bradley (USA) Rory McIlroy (Europe) 11:47 am - Phil Mickelson (USA) v Justin Rose (Europe) 11:58 am - Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Paul Lawrie (Europe) 11:58 am - Dustin Johnson (USA v Nicolas Colsaerts (Europe) 12:09 pm - Zach Johnson (USA) Graeme McDowell (Europe) 12:20 pm - Jim Furyk (USA) v Sergio Garcia (Europe) 12:31 pm - Jason Dufner (USA) v Peter Hanson (Europe) 12:41 pm - Matt Kuchar (USA) v Lee Westwood (Europe) 12:53 pm - Steve Stricker (USA) v Martin Kaymer (Europe) 01:04 pm - Tiger Woods (USA) v Francesco Molinari (Europe)
