Walker Cup:Britain and Ireland's amateurs needed a near miracle to win back the Walker Cup at Royal County Down today after being whitewashed in the second series of foursomes.
Level 6-6 overnight the United States marched into a 10-6 lead and required just two of the eight afternoon singles to keep hold of the trophy.
Yet things began so brightly for Colin Dalgleish's side when Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Jonny Caldwell stood four up after only five holes in the top game.
Incredibly, though, they lost seven of the next eight and eventually were beaten two and one by unbeaten Americans Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler.
Welsh duo Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards, one up with six to play, lost on the final green to US champion Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson and England's Jamie Moul and Danny Willett went down four and two to Trip Kuehne and Jonathan Moore.
David Horsey and John Parry, the other Englishmen in the side, stood two up after three, but the tide was flowing only one way soon after that and after Horsey made a 30-footer to stay alive on the 17th they suffered a last hole loss to Chris Kirk and Jamie Lovemark.
Dalgleish had left out one of his stars, fellow Scot Lloyd Saltman, after he lost both of his games on the opening day, but he was back for the concluding singles.
McIlroy, top amateur at the Open at Carnoustie in July, had greatly disappointed as well. From his first three games he had contributed only half a point.
To turn the match around Britain and Ireland, winners of three of the last four contests and not beaten at home since 1991, had to take six and a half of the remaining eight points.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)