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Summary Europe sure didn't look like a team trailing by four points in the Ryder Cup.
Under a darkening sky, there was still enough light to see the whites of Ian Poulters bulging eyes and his golf ball disappear into the cup for a fifth straight birdie — and another crucial point Saturday. There was no mistaking the smile of captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who waited from sunrise to sunset at Medinah for hope that this cup was still within reach.Right when it looked like the Americans were a lock to win it back, Poulter came through with a performance so remarkable that it was the only match Europe won when it trailed on the back nine. Right before him, Luke Donald matched a clutch shot by Tiger Woods with one that was even better and it kept Woods winless for the first time going into Sunday singles.Those two matches gave Europe a load of momentum going into the final day, even if all it really changed was the size of the deficit.The endless chants of USA USA gave way at the end to snappy serenades of Ole, Ole, Ole as both sides trudged to their team rooms in darkness, the Europeans in their berry-colored sweaters walking a little taller.Were excited about our position, U.S. captain Davis Love III said. But we know its not over yet.Thats what Ben Crenshaw said in 1999 at Brookline when the Americans trailed by the same score, and then delivered the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. Thats what Europe faces now.The message Olazabal had for his team Saturday night was simple.Lets go out there and play your socks off.Olazabal remembers that American comeback as well as anyone. He was warming up on the range when the Americans sent their best players out early and won the first six matches. He was in the decisive match against Justin Leonard, who holed a 45-foot putt on the 17th hole. And he was in the team room in tears with the rest of the Europeans.
