EUROPE'S golfers are just three-and-a-half points away from winning the Ryder Cup after another day of high drama at Oakland Hills, in Detroit.

Gung-ho American captain Hal Sutton and his shell-shocked stars need to pull off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history in today's singles, if they are to snatch the trophy.

Bernhard Langer's team survived an American fightback in yesterday morning's foursomes to enter the third and final day with an 11-5 lead.

The United States won the fourballs 21/2 to 11/2 but their hopes of recovering from Friday's 61/2 to 11/2 hammering were shattered as Europe stormed through the afternoon foursomes 3-1.

Langer said: "We're very very close. I'm thrilled for the guys and I believe we can do it. We've got a nice, comfortable lead, but we've still got work to do."

Sutton said: "We were outplayed. We did well in the morning but the Europeans are a tough team and they came back strongly.

"It's going to be very difficult to win it now."

Copyright 2004 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.