Finally, a disruption to the blue

NEWPORT, Wales -- It's remarkable what qualifies as progress when you began the day behind in all six matches. For the U.S., it is the mere disappearance of one blue flag on the scoreboard.

For that, the Americans can thank Matt Kuchar, whose birdie on the par-3 10th allowed he and Stewart Cink to square their match against the Molinari brothers.

Although Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker lost in spectacular fashion, and Hunter Mahan and  Zach Johnson facing a significant deficit in the other foursomes match, the Americans are 1 down in two matches and square in one, fueling hopes that they can salvage something out of the third session.