Skipper Paul Azinger needs just five and a half points out of 12 in Sunday's singles to crown his two-year long campaign to bring the Ryder Cup back to the United States. The Americans, who lost possession of the small golden trophy to Europe in 2002 and have been desperately trying to win it back since then, take a hard-earned 9-7 lead into the final day.
In the past they have been considered the stronger in singles, but that has changed in recent editions and four years ago in Oakland Hills, Michigan, the Europeans romped away 7.5 to 4.5 en route to a record nine-point win.
Azinger, who has masterminded the US effort after being named as captain shortly after the US suffered a second straight nine-point rout in Ireland two years ago, has taken an aggressive approach by sending out his big guns first. Exciting rookie Anthony Kim leads the way against Sergio Garcia, fellow young gun Hunter Mahan goes up against Paul Casey, then the senior pair of Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson take on Robert Karlsson and Justin Rose.
His european counterpart Nick Faldo has taken a chance by keeping back his top players until last with British Open and USPGA champion Padraig Harrington in the anchor match against Chad Campbell, preceded by Lee Westwood against Ben Curtis and top-scorer Ian Poulter against Steve Stricker.
Azinger predicted a battle to the last. "It looks like once again, there's going to be some great matches out there," he said. "The first match of the day with Kim and Garcia should be pretty energetic, I would think. I'll look forward to another tough day."
Faldo, who has endured a rocky ride at Valhalla Golf Club, but who has the chance to silencing his critics with a come-from-behind win described the situation as "pretty even."
"It was America's day Friday, it was our day on Saturday. We clawed in there, hung in there. That was the goal, to chip at the lead they had " he said.
"We know and we believe we have a great opportunity." The Europeans, who have won the last three straight in the Ryder Cup and five out of the last six, need first of all to win seven of the closing 12 singles to reach 14 points and make sure of retaining the trophy.
A further half point would give them a record fourth straight win and a second consecutive win on US soil for the first time.
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