Europe takes a record lead into Ryder Cup's Sunday singles

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Team Europe already had demolished and disheartened the Americans in another Ryder Cup romp on Saturday, and it wasn't finished.

The final match of a long, loud and obnoxious day at Bethpage Black was all square when Matt Fitzpatrick blasted out of a fairway bunker and heard European cheers when his ball spun back to 2 feet away. Next to play was Tyrrell Hatton, whose shot into the 18th hole spun back and nicked his teammate's ball.

It summed up how the exquisite golf of Europe, which took on every challenge — starting with a gallery so hostile extra security was required — and wound up in the Ryder Cup record book for the largest lead in the modern format: Europe 11 1/2, United States 4 1/2.

“I didn't really imagine this,” European captain Luke Donald said.

Europe needs only to win three of the 12 singles matches Sunday to take that precious gold trophy back home across the Atlantic Ocean. Donald has turned to 45-year-old Justin Rose to lead off against Cameron Young, followed by Tommy Fleetwood, who can become the first European to go 5-0 on the road.

The main attraction is Rory McIlroy against Scottie Scheffler, the game's top two players who have three majors and 10 victories this year among them.

The real attraction is Europe. The louder and more vulgar it got, the better they played.

“Things got tougher out there, and it fired them up even more,” Donald said. “They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That is what makes me most proud as a captain, just their ability to take the punches and come back even stronger.”

McIlroy caught the brunt of verbal abuse and at one point turned to the spectators and said, “Shut the (expletive) up.” And then he stuffed his shot to 5 feet for birdie that closed out the foursomes match on the 16th hole for another blue point.

There was nothing the not-so-mighty U.S. team could do.

“I think it’s one of the best performances of a road team in any sport. They have played incredible. They have played great. They have putted even better,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said. "They have come into a hostile environment and played great golf.

“You know, sometimes as a competitor, as an athlete, you have to take a step back and again sort of tip your cap to something like that.”

That's about all he could do.

The previous record after the four sessions of team play was 11-5. No team has rallied from more than a four-point deficit on the last day. Europe needs to win only three of the 12 singles matches for the outright win.

Scheffler also made it into the Ryder Cup record book. The world's No. 1 player is the first to go 0-4 under the current format.

The Americans had a lead in only three of the 70 holes played in fourballs Saturday afternoon. U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun hit it tight on the 17th and 18th for birdies as he and fellow San Diego State alum Xander Schauffele squeezed out one of only two U.S. points on the day.

The other belonged to Bryson DeChambeau and Young in the opening foursomes match.

“The course is set up relatively easy, and they’re making a lot of birdies and we’re not,” Schauffele said. “They’re just beating us flat out, and I’m just happy to get a point with J.J. A little bit of red on the board is a win today.”

Europe swept all four team sessions for the first time since its 2006 win at The K Club in Ireland. At stake Sunday is a chance to break the record for the biggest rout — 19-9 by the Americans at Whistling Straits in 2021.

The New York fans didn't turn on the Americans for their performance. They cranked up the noise against Europe, shouting at them in the moments before — but not during — their shots, booing at every turn.

“Look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me,” McIlroy said. “That's totally fine. Give us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have.”

New York State police spokesman Beau Duffy said two fans were ejected. The PGA of America said it added security to the McIlroy match and the other three. It also posted a message on the large video boards on “Spectator Etiquette.”

“Attendees consuming alcohol should do so in a responsible manner. Overly intoxicated attendees will be removed from the premises.” Fans booed when the message was displayed.

McIlroy ultimately got the last laugh. He is unbeaten in his four matches.

It got a little testy inside the ropes, too. Fleetwood and Rose had a 3-up lead on the 15th over Scheffler and DeChambeau. Rose was first to putt from about 15 feet. But he felt DeChambeau's caddie was in his space as he was lining up his putt and he told him so.

Rose made the putt, and DeChambeau matched him from 12 feet. DeChambeau barked at them going to the 16th tee and soon the caddies were involved.

There was warm handshakes a hole later when Europe won.

“I didn’t feel like that space was being honored,” Rose said. "I made my feelings known — asked him to move, maybe not as politely as I could have done, but in the scenario, it’s coming down the stretch. We both have a lot on our minds and it’s intense out there.

“I said to them, ‘If I should have done it a different way, I apologize.’ But other than that, I had to step up and hit a huge putt with a lot going on.”

Bradley was asked what message he would give to his team to keep hopes alive, and the New England native pointed to the Patriots' stunning comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017.

“Twenty-eight to three. I was at that Super Bowl," Bradley said. “I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person.”

The way this Ryder Cup has played out, 11 1/2 to 4 1/2 feels much bigger.

This version corrects to Fleetwood at 4-0

AP Ryder Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/ryder-cup

Europe's Justin Rose celebrates after a putt on the seventh hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

CORRECTS ID TO JUSTIN THOMAS NOT, JUSTIN ROSE - United States' Justin Thomas watches on the 18th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

United States' Bryson DeChambeau and Europe's Tommy Fleetwood talk on the way to the on the 16th tee at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

United States captain Keegan Bradley reacts on the second hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Robert Bukaty)

Europe's Shane Lowry react after their match win on the 18th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Europe's Tommy Fleetwood celebrates after a putt on the seventh hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Europe's Robert MacIntyre hits from the bunker on the 13th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

United States' Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after their match win at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

United States' Scottie Scheffler celebrates after a putt on the 13th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Europe's Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood hug after they won their match at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Europe's Tyrrell Hatton celebrates with Jon Rahm on the sixth hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Robert Bukaty)

U.S. stocks are slipping in early trading Wednesday as Wall Street closes out a banner year for markets driven by both optimism and uncertainty.

The S&P 500 was down 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 111 points, or 0.2%, as of 10:07 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. The stock indexes are coming off a three-day losing streak.

Trading is expected to be light ahead of the New Year’s Day holiday, when markets will be closed. With just one trading day left before the year ends, most big investors have closed out their positions for the year and trading volume has been very thin.

Even after their mini post-Christmas pullback, the indexes are on pace for strong gains for the year.

The S&P 500 is up more than 17% this year, it’s third straight double-digit annual gain. The Nasdaq is up 21.3% and the Dow has gained 13.7%.

Wall Street’s 2025 gains came as investors embraced the optimism surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential for boosting profits across almost all sectors. But the market had no shortage of turbulence along the way amid President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs on imported goods worldwide and uncertainty over the trajectory of interest rates.

The S&P 500 plunged nearly 5% on April 3, it’s worst day since the 2020 COVID crash. It fell another 6% a day later, after China’s response raised fears of an escalating trade war. Worries also gripped the U.S. Treasury market.

Trump eventually put his tariffs on pause and negotiated agreements with countries to lower his proposed tariff rates on their imports, helping calm investors’ nerves.

Strong profit reports from companies and three cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve also helped drive markets higher.

Still, the AI frenzy that drove markets in 2025 did not come without concerns. Chief among them is the worry that artificial intelligence technology may not produce enough profits and productivity to make all the investment worth it. That could keep the pressure on AI stocks like Nvidia and Broadcom, which were responsible for much of the market’s gains this year.

And it’s not just AI stocks that critics say are too pricey. Stocks across the market still look expensive after their prices climbed faster than profits.

On top of concerns that stocks are overvalued, the ongoing impact of the wide-ranging U.S.-led trade war threatens to add more fuel to inflation in the U.S. Despite the Fed cutting rates over concerns about the labor market, inflation remains solidly above the central bank’s 2% target.

Wall Street is betting that the Fed will hold interest rates steady at its next meeting in January.

Traders got an update on the state of the job market Wednesday. The Labor Department reported that fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week with layoffs remaining low despite a weakening labor market.

Technology and communication services stocks were among the biggest weights of the market Wednesday.

Broadcom fell 1.1% and Micron Technology was 2% lower.

Treasury yields were mostly higher in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.14% from 4.13% late Tuesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, rose to 3.46% from 3.45%.

Trading in precious metals continued to be volatile as the year winds down. Silver swung back to a big loss, giving back more than 6% early Wednesday after Tuesday's gain of more than 10%. Following Friday's 7.7% jump, silver lost nearly 9% on Monday. It's still up more than 140% this year.

Gold was down 0.6%, but is still up 65% in 2025.

Elsewhere, global stock markets including Germany, Japan and South Korea were closed Wednesday for the New Year's holidays, while trading was mixed in those that remained open.

U.S. crude picked up 39 cents to $58.34 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 36 cents to $61.69 per barrel.

Hajime Moriyasu, the head coach of Japanese national soccer team, rings the bell during a ceremony to mark the last trading day of the year on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)