Europe feeling blue

Europe are expected to be in the blue of the late Seve Ballesteros for the Sunday singles in Chicago - but they need the giant scoreboards to change colour as well if they are to retain the Ryder Cup.

Even without a contribution yet from Tiger Woods, on course to become the joint holder of the record for most defeats by an American in the event's history, the red denoting Davis Love's side has dominated the first two days.

Already 5-3 up overnight, that became 8-4 in the morning foursomes as Woods sat out his first session in either the Ryder or President's Cup.

That followed two first-day defeats and a third was on the cards as he and Steve Stricker trailed Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia by two after 12. It had been four after nine.

But it hardly seemed to matter for America's hopes - and going back to the very first match in 1927 they have never lost more than a two-point lead on the final day.

Love even had the luxury of giving Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, winners of their first three games, a rest so they would be fresher for the concluding 12 games.

Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, respectively the Masters and US Open champions, hit back from losing to Justin Rose and Ian Poulter before lunch to hammer Rose and Francesco Molinari 5&4 and make it 9-4.

"On our own ball we got back into a rhythm," Watson said. Simpson certainly did - he had seven birdies in the game against his partner's two.

Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie trailed Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar by one with five to go, while world number one Rory McIlroy - with only one win out of three so far - and Poulter were two down after 10 to Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.