Ryder Cup 2016 - as it happened: A look back at Europe's fight back in the fourballs

Follow the latest from the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course

Garcia celebrates as he Europe fights back (Getty)

The 2016 Ryder Cup pits the United States against Europe once again in golf’s greatest rivalry, with the hosts looking to avoid a record fourth consecutive defeat when they meet at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Minnesota. Follow all the live action here.

• Defending champions Europe face the United States in the 41st Rydr Cup
• US have not won the Ryder Cup since 2008
• European captain Darren Clarke drops Masters champion Danny Willett from Friday foursomes
• Willett’s brother in astonishing foul-mouthed outburst on US fans
• Team USA start as favourites to regain the trophy
• Afternoon fourball pairings will be announced later today

Follow the live action below...

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Read more Ryder Cup news:
Willett sorry as brother calls US fans ‘fat, stupid, greedy b*******’
Mickelson takes thinly-veiled swipe at former captain Watson
Eight things you didn’t know about Hazeltine Golf Course

Teams

Team USA: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, JB Holmes, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Ryan Moore.

Team Europe: Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters.

[30 September 2016 13:36 · Jack de Menezes]

HERE WE GO!

The introductions are underway, with Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose representing Europe, and Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed representing Team USA. The American duo were brilliant on day one in 2014, but in Rose and Stenson, Europe have the Olympic gold and silver medallists, with Stenson also claiming The Open this year. It's time...

[30 September 2016 13:37 · Jack de Menezes]

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Cool as you like. Rose tees off into the early morning fog and finds the fairway beautifully, and Reed follows suit to get the slobberknocker of an opening match underway.

[30 September 2016 13:53 · Jack de Menezes]

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

The four players making up match two are out onto the first tee to another raucous reception. McIlroy is joining in the chants and actually leading them, and he looks to be enjoying every second of it. It'll be Europe's first rookie to tee off in Sullivan though, and he settles in well to find the left of the fairway. Some perfect tee shots so far, and Fowler follows suit to get the second match underway.

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Stenson tees off on the second and looks happy enough with it, as he finds the outside corner of the dog-leg left on the 429-yard par 4. Spieth drives just past Stenson to the fairway at the 300-yard mark.

[30 September 2016 14:44 · Jack de Menezes]

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Mickelson misses his putt! A big chance for McIlroy to strike first blood in the second match. He lands it! Europe go 1 UP.

Dustin Johnson & Kucher vs Pieters & Westwood

Kuch and Johnson are playing very well so far, and the former leaves Johnson a simple putt. He doesn't need it, as Pieters misses another putt and gifts the Americans a 2 UP lead.

[30 September 2016 14:49 · Jack de Menezes]

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Fowler's made a rather big error on 5 as he hits left and into the crowd off the tee.

Dustin Johnson & Kucher vs Pieters & Westwood

Back on 3, Westwood misses the fairway by a long way and the final European pair are struggling.

[30 September 2016 14:52 · Jack de Menezes]

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Mickelson, from the trees, finds the green with a sublime effort that makes up for Fowler's error. McIlroy hits his effort thin and doesn't get the backspin he's after, and Fowler will get a chance to level the match if Sullivan can't hole a long one.

Walker & Zach Johnson vs Garcia & Kaymer

After watching Garcia hit beyond the green on the par-3 fourth, Walker can only find the edge of the green.

[30 September 2016 15:09 · Jack de Menezes]

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Mickelson and Fowler are conceding this hole without doubt. They've taken three before their second actual shot, and Mickelson has to hit right handed (with the club reversed) that goes all of 20 yards.

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Rose and Stenson are fighting back and a good tee shot gets the lucky break they need as the ball trickles out onto the fairway. Spieth is having none of it though, and instead of laying up on the 642-yard sixth, he attacks and gets rewarded with finding the green

Walker & Zach Johnson vs Garcia & Kaymer

Walker finds the green on 5, and that could be the first step to fighting back against the Europeans.

[30 September 2016 15:12 · Jack de Menezes]

Walker & Zach Johnson vs Garcia & Kaymer

The Americans don't get the putt as Johnson misses. Kaymer top win the hole...it's close but no cigar. His ball curls agonisingly left of the hole and the fifth is shared.

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Sullivan still manages to find the bunker, but Mclroy ensures there's no issues when he finds the green and that might be picked up their if Mickelson concedes. He does exactly that, and McIlroy and Sullivan move 2 UP.

[30 September 2016 16:30 · Jack de Menezes]

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

Both Rose and Reed hole their putts to leave it at 2 Up in the Americans' favour.

[30 September 2016 16:46 · Jack de Menezes]

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson

It's confirmed that Rose and Stenson have already been warned once for a time violation since being put on the clock, although they have the better positioning on the fairway with time running out on their hopes of clawing back the deficit. Rose finds the green, but it's not quite what he wanted as it falls about 20-feet short. Reed pulls off a beautiful draw that also finds the green and bails them out of trouble.

Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan

Mickelson has a good lag on 13 but can't find home, and it gives McIlroy a chance to win the hole and retake the lead in this ding-dong battle. McIlroy lands it! He screams "come on!" towards the fans as he and Sullivan move 1 UP to restore the 2-2 scoreline. This could well be the crucial match of the day already.