Undefeated world number two Rory McIlroy will face winless world number one Scottie Scheffler in one of Sunday’s 12 concluding singles matches at the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Pairings for the decisive matches in the biennial golf showdown between Europe and the United States were revealed on Saturday after Europe won 3-1 in foursomes and four-ball sessions to seize an 11.5-4.5 lead.
Largest ever lead
It’s the largest lead entering singles in Ryder Cup history, eclipsing the 11-5 leads by the United States in 2021 and Europe in 2004.
Europe need only two wins and a draw to keep the trophy while the Americans need 10 points to reclaim the cup.
England’s Justin Rose faces Cam Young in Sunday’s opening singles match at 18:02 (SA time).
England’s unbeaten Tommy Fleetwood will play Justin Thomas in match two and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick meets Bryson DeChambeau in match three.
McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam, meets four-time major winner Scheffler, an American whose six wins this year include the PGA Championship and British Open, in match four.
Neck injury
American Patrick Cantlay plays Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg in match five, followed in order by Spain’s Jon Rahm against Xander Schauffele, Austrian Sepp Straka against US Open winner J.J. Spaun, Irishman Shane Lowry against third-ranked Russell Henley and Dane rookie Rasmus Hojgaard against Ben Griffin.
The last matches send England’s Tyrrell Hatton against Collin Morikawa, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre against Sam Burns and Norway’s Viktor Hovland against Harris English.
Matches will go off at 11 minute intervals.
The status of Hovland, pulled from a Saturday fourball match with a neck injury, will not be known until Sunday after an MRI is examined.
