McDowell and McIlroy avoided a repeat yesterday's action when they had victory over Cink and Kuchar snatched from their grasp over the closing stretch.

After a superb tee shot from McDowell on the 17th, McIlroy holed from 20ft for a birdie two to seal a 3&1 victory over Johnson and Mahan, Mahan's first defeat in seven Ryder Cup games.

That made the overall score 6-6, but not everything was going Europe's way as Fowler holed a bunker shot on the 11th for an eagle three to close within one hole of Kaymer and Poulter.