Ryder Cup Day 3 singles schedule
— -- GLENEAGLES, Scotland -- Both captains heavily front-loaded this Sunday match schedule, so we're going to know pretty early whether the possibility of a miracle comeback can happen. There are those who say "I can't," and those who say "I can." They are both right. Which one are you?
Sunday Singles
Match 17: Team USA's Jordan Spieth vs. Team Europe's Graeme McDowell; 6:36 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Didn't take long for a good fight to break out. Where the advantage here lies is in the fact that G-Mac has played only foursomes, so he hasn't always had to play his own bad shots. On the other side, both of Spieth's wins came in four-ball and this kid loves the big stage.
USA wins the point: 10-7
Match 18: Team USA's Patrick Reed vs. Team Europe's Henrik Stenson; 6:48 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: This will be the match that decides the outcome. Sorry to put that kind of pressure on you, Patrick Reed, as a Ryder Cup rookie, but ? after missing that 2-foot putt Saturday afternoon, you could've folded. Instead, you stepped up and smashed a perfect drive on 18. Stenson was half of the greatest four-ball scoring round in history, but a bad back kept him from playing Saturday afternoon. His back will hold up for 18 more holes.
Match is halved: 10½ - 7½
Match 19: Team USA's Rickie Fowler vs. Team Europe's Rory McIlroy; 7 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Funny, this is the match people are most looking forward to, but these guys have already faced off twice this week, tying both times. The problem here will be fatigue for Fowler. Three of his four matches went 18 holes, and by Saturday evening he was spent. Having him go out this early will be costly on the back nine. McIlroy is not playing great, but he only has to beat one guy.
Europe wins the point: 11½ - 7½
Match 20: Team USA's Hunter Mahan vs. Team Europe's Justin Rose; 7:12 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Rose did his best impression of Ian Poulter from Ryder Cups past on Saturday morning, then followed it up by sinking a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the afternoon foursomes, keeping the U.S. from getting a full point in the session. Even with four matches played, Rose still looks fresh and raring to go. Mahan's one win did come in four-ball, but Rose will be too strong in the end.
Europe wins the point: 12½ - 7½
Match 21: Team USA's Phil Mickelson vs. Team Europe's Stephen Gallacher; 7:24 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Gallacher hasn't played since the first match on the first day, and Mickelson was bench for all of Saturday. If you're going to follow this match, I suggest a hard hat or some goalie equipment because there's a good chance you're going to be hit by a golf ball. You might even get a new watch! That also plays right into Mickelson's wheelhouse.
USA wins the point: 12½ - 8½
Match 22: Team USA's Bubba Watson vs. Team Europe's Martin Kaymer; 7:36 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Even with the worse record of the two, it's Watson who's playing the better golf right now tee to green. Although Kaymer has hit the ball OK, his putter has not looked the same as the guy who made everything at the U.S. Open earlier this year and made the winning putt in the last Ryder Cup win for Europe.
USA wins the point: 12½ - 9½
Match 23: Team USA's Matt Kuchar vs. Team Europe's Thomas Bjorn; 7:48 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: There is absolutely nothing appealing about this match whatsoever. If there's a silver lining, it's that two of Kuchar's losses came in foursomes, so he can say he didn't hit all the bad shots. Bjorn, looking as if he needs a Heisenberg hat, has made only three birdies in two matches. Maybe on the first tee they can look at each other and say, "good, good?"
Point is halved: 13-10
Match 24: Team USA's Jim Furyk vs. Team Europe's Sergio Garcia; 8 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Do-or-die time, and it's up to the guy who just tied Mickelson for the most losses ever in the Ryder Cup. The irony here is that Furyk's only win came in four-ball and Garcia's only win came in foursomes. I feel really bad for Furyk because this whole year has come down to disappointing Sundays. This will be the most disappointing of them all.
Europe wins the point. Sergio keeps the Ryder Cup in Europe. 14-10
Match 25: Team USA's Webb Simpson vs. Team Europe's Ian Poulter; 8:12 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: After getting trounced in the first match of the first day, Simpson has been relegated to cheerleader. That also gave him plenty of time to get his game straight on the practice tee, and with no pressure on him at all. Yes, Poulter has been and is the heart and soul of this team, but he hasn't been playing great golf and can be beat. Or ?
Match is halved: 14½ - 10½
Match 26: Team USA's Keegan Bradley vs. Team Europe's Jamie Donaldson; 8:24 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: With two commanding wins, you'd think Donaldson would be a lock for at least a half point going into singles, right? Not if he played a PO'd Bradley who spent all of Saturday on the bench after losing a format on Friday that he and Phil had no business playing. I expect this match to be over before the 15th hole.
USA wins the point: 14½ - 11½
Match 27: Team USA's Jimmy Walker vs. Team Europe's Lee Westwood; 8:36 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: Although Walker and Fowler played some fantastic matches the first two days, the amount of holes walked and the mental grind that is this event have caught up to the 35-year-old who logged a lot of golf this season. Westwood has more in the tank, having played one less match and will play knowing the Ryder Cup is secure for Europe again.
Europe wins the point: 15½ - 11½
Match 28: Team USA's Zach Johnson vs. Team Europe's Victor Dubuisson; 8:48 a.m. ET
Michael Collins' analysis: It's unfortunate that it will never get this far because this would have been a very compelling match with their records in this Ryder Cup so far. But in the face of sportsmanship, having already secured the Cup, Dubuisson's teammates will allow him to concede the match before it can be played out.
USA wins the point: 15½ - 12½
Walking into the course Saturday morning, I saw a guy dressed as Captain America. If the U.S. is going to have any chance of winning the Ryder Cup on Sunday, it's going to need: Superman, Batman and Robin, plus all of the Avengers to show up. Even then, I have a sinking feeling it'll still finish up like the second movie in every trilogy: not a happy ending.