Paul McGinley's team need only four points from tomorrow's 12 singles matches to retain the trophy, although the US will still have hopes of a comeback given they surrendered an identical lead two years ago at Medinah and also came back from 10-6 down at Brookline in 1999.

Despite losing the morning's fourballs 2 ½ to 1 ½ for the second straight day, Europe hit back to win three of the foursome clashes and halve the other.

England's Lee Westwood and Wales' Jamie Donaldson beat Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar 2&1 before France's Victor Dubuisson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell thumped Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker 5&4 in the last match out.

McDowell's compatriot Rory McIlroy and Spain's Sergio Garcia saw off Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan 3&2, before England's Justin Rose holed a pressure putt at the last to ensure he and Germany's Martin Kaymer halved with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

"We are not finished," said the Republic of Ireland's McGinley, Europe's captain, who is refusing to get carried away by the scoreline. 

"We have a lot of work to do and we have to be on it in the morning."

Europe's Sergio Garcia (left) and Rory McIlroy (right) beat Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan 3&2 in the afternoon foursomes ©Getty Images






US captain Tom Watson, who left out Phil Mickelson for an entire day for the first time in 10 Ryder Cups, said: "We have come back from 10-6 before. 

"They know it and I'll reiterate it.

"Our rookies played some magnificent golf and we have the players to come back.

"Credit to the Europeans, they played some great golf.

"It seems the foursomes is their forte."

Having trailed 5-3 after day one, the US reduced the deficit to one point after the morning fourballs.

Furyk and Mahan comfortably overcame Westwood and Donaldson 4&3, while Spieth and Reed were even more convincing in beating Kaymer and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn 5&3.

McIlroy and England's Ian Poulter finished all square with Fowler and Walker, while Rose and Sweden's Henrik Stenson put some blue on the board by beating Bubba Watson and Kuchar 3&2.

Reflecting on his success with Donaldson in the foursomes, Westwood, who is now the joint-fifth most successful player in Ryder Cup history, said: "It was hugely satisfying 

"It's tough to win a point in the Ryder Cup." 

The 41-year-old has scored 23 points in nine Ryder Cups and leapfrogged the late Seve Ballesteros to move level with US legend Arnold Palmer.

Another point in tomorrow's singles would put him joint-second with Germany's Bernhard Langer, with only Sir Nick Faldo ahead of them on 25 points.