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Europeans dominate morning matches to hold 8-4 lead at Ryder Cup

Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The European party from Friday afternoon continued Saturday morning at the Ryder Cup, as the hosts dominated Team USA with wins in three of four matches to hold an emphatic 8-4 lead heading to fourballs.

After winning the last five matches of the day on Friday, the Europeans emerged victorious in the opening three games on Saturday. According to ESPN Stats and Info, that marks the longest winning streak by either side since the competition took its current format in 1979.

Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy were the first pairing out for Europe and also clinched the first point of the fourball session, holding off a late charge from Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka to win 2&1.

In a shocking upset, the English duo Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton took down the formidable pairing of Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler 3&2.

The Tiger Woods-Patrick Reed experiment was a disaster for the second straight day. Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari moved to 3-0 with their 4&3 drumming of the Americans. Woods and Reed only made three birdies through 15 holes in a better-ball format.

The lone American point was earned by Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who knocked off Ian Poulter and Jon Rahm 2&1 with a birdie on the 17th hole.

Saturday foursome action is currently underway.

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