- Sam Burns extended his and Collin Morikawa’s lead in Saturday’s fourballs
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Sam Burns shocked the European crowd on day two of the Ryder Cup as he looked to spark an American comeback.
Burns, who put in a terrible performance in the foursomes on his Ryder Cup debut on Friday, appeared to seek redemption in the afternoon session on Saturday when he and Collin Morikawa took on undefeated duo Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland.
Burns and Morikawa, dispatched first by Zach Johnson, rallied for Team USA and went 3 through 6 against the European duo that had defeated their American teammates Scotties Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in the morning 9 and 7.
Burns was a bright spark in what was a dismal Ryder Cup for the US in Rome, finally offering a sign of life.
The American rookie rolled in a birdie putt from a few feet on the sixth green to win the hole and extend their lead to three over the Scandinavian duo.
Sam Burns taunted the European crowd on the sixth hole during day two of the Ryder Cup
After sinking a birdie putt to make it three, the American gestured to the raucous crowd
The noise of the raucous European crowd, who had been reveling in their team’s dominance, died down and Burns took the opportunity to retaliate with his own taunting.
Showing shades of Patrick Reed, Burns cupped his ears and shouted at the Roman mob, “What is that? I can not hear you. I can’t fucking hear you.’
Burns and Morikawa led the charge as Johnson’s team finally got a red wave on the board Saturday afternoon.
They led the way, with Max Homa and Brian Harman also following ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard and Tommy Fleetwood, and friends Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas leading Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre.
It was a welcome change for captain Johnson, who, after his team’s brutal thrashing in the first three sessions, claimed they had been struck by an illness that spread through the dressing room.
Burns and Collin Morikawa were in the lead against Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg
“We have some congestion and some are just signs of unfortunate things,” he said Friday. “It has spread through my team. We’re just fighting internally. It’s kind of passed on: caddies, players.’
However, the American captain was quick to reiterate on Saturday that the mysterious ‘congestion’ was not an excuse.
“It’s just part of it (illness), this is sport, it’s not an excuse,” he told Sky Sports. “As I’ve said over and over again, Luke (Donald) and his team have done a great job and that’s the story.”
The Americans faced a bloodbath after the morning session of Day Two, trailing 9 1/2 -2 1/2 heading into the fourballs.