ROME — It seems like only a matter of time now.
The end result is inevitable.
Even with 16 more matches to play before the closing ceremony at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
The U.S. Ryder Cup team, which staggered back to the team hotel in center city Rome on Friday night after being ripped 6 ½ to 1 ½ on Day One, needed a big, tone-setting performance on the Saturday morning foursomes.
All the Americans got, though, was one point of the possible four out of the morning, losing 3-1 and trailing 9 ½ to 2 ½.
There are 16 points still in play and Europe needs just five of them to win the Ryder Cup back.
The day began ominously with Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka crushed, 9&7, by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in what was the most lopsided defeat in the 44-year history of the Ryder Cup.
Long after Koepka and Scheffler, the world No. 1 ranked player, were done and dusted, the U.S. finally won its first full point of the week when Max Homa and Brian Harman defeated Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4&2. That pulled the Americans to within 7 ½ to 2 ½ at the time.
A short time after that, though, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood — affectionately nicknamed “Fleetwood Mac’’ — defeated Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, 2&1, to take an 8 ½ to 2 ½ lead.
That left one morning-session match still on the course — Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele were 1-down to Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton through 13 holes.
The Americans, who were 3-down through 11 holes, won 12, 13 and 14 to tie the match.
They went to the 16th, a short, drivable par-4, all square with the U.S. absolutely needing to come away with a full point to halve the morning foursomes 2-2 and remain five points down entering the Saturday afternoon four-balls.
Schauffele, however, failed to match the 10-foot birdie putt Hatton made when he lipped out a six-footer for the halve.
That left the U.S. 1-down headed to the 17thhole and reeling.
Moments later, Rahm would stuff his tee shot to within inches of the cup on the par-3 17th for a tap-in birdie
Cantlay answered with a beautiful tee shot that got to within six feet for a chance to halve the hole and stay in contention for a half point.
As he did on 17 though, Schauffele failed to make the putt he had to make and it gave Europe yet another win.
“Obviously, that’s what you plan for, but stuff you dream of’’ Rahm said.
“This guy (Rahm) is like a walking highlight reel,’’ Hatton said. “It’s just incredible. That shot he hit on 17 was out of this world. What a partner to have.’’
And what partners Hovland and Aberg were.
As it turns out, there is crying in golf, because they left Scheffler, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, in tears after the humiliating loss.
Scheffler and Koepka, the reigning PGA Championship winner, a five-time major champion and one of the most mentally-tough players in the game, were hammered by Hovland and Aberg, a 23-year-old Ryder Cup rookie who just turned pro in June.
The loss left Scheffler in tears as he sat with his wife and teammates after it was over.
