THE PAIRINGS

12:03 p.m.: Bubba Watson-Luke Donald

12:14: Webb Simpson-Ian Poulter

12:25: Keegan Bradley-Rory McIlroy

12:36: Phil Mickelson-Justin Rose

12:47: Brandt Snedeker-Paul Lawrie

12:58: Dustin Johnson-Nicolas Colsaerts

1:09: Zach Johnson-Graeme McDowell

1:20: Jim Furyk-Sergio Garcia

1:31: Jason Dufner-Peter Hanson

1:42: Matt Kuchar-Lee Westwood

1:53: Steve Stricker-Martin Kaymer

2:04: Tiger Woods-Francesco Molinari

THE WEATHER: One more pretty fall day is expected for the conclusion of the matches though it will be cooler and breezier. The high temperature is expected to be around 65 degrees with the wind blowing 15 to 20 miles per hour.

OBSERVATIONS

• One of the big moments for the U.S. side in the afternoon was Dustin Johnson’s birdie at the par-3 17th hole that allowed him and partner Matt Kuchar to get a 1-up victory over Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie in a match in which they never trailed.

“Matt told me walking up to the green, he goes ‘I think you’re going to do something special right here.’ And, sure enough, I did. Probably one of the best feelings I’ve had on the golf course,” said Johnson, who is 2-0 with Kuchar this weekend.

• Bubba Watson took the noise to a new level on the first tee Saturday when he urged the crowd to cheer while he hit his opening tee shot. It was a roar that would make a jet engine proud.

Could that become a part of the Ryder Cup, a steady roar for players while they tee off to start their matches? Probably not but Bubba likes it.

“Let’s make it fun,” Watson said. “The game should be fun even though you’re trying to beat everybody.

“The European players and coaches said they enjoyed it. Ian Poulter did it with me. We had a blast. If we’re going to grow the game of golf, that’s what we have to do.”

• The Bushes 41 and 43 – presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush – were on site watching the action Saturday.

Also getting up close access inside the ropes were Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan (he’s a Ryder Cup regular), Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and country singer Toby Keith, who was not spotted with a red solo cup.

• Ryder Cup performances can define a career. Ian Poulter’s came into sharper focus with his five-birdie finish Saturday that kept the drama in this Ryder Cup. What’s great is how amused Rory McIlroy seems watching Poulter be Poulter.

THEY SAID IT

“It was hard, very hard to ignore the red on the board. It’s hard to ignore the noise that’s been made around the golf course.” Graeme McDowell.

“Bubba is Bubba. He was pretty special (Friday)…and he was going to do it again (Saturday). So why not stand there and enjoy the fun of what it was. My heart rate went from I would say 100 to 180 pretty quickly.” – Ian Poulter on joining Bubba Watson in revving the Chicago crowd on the first tee Saturday morning.

“It’s intense, it’s very intense. He just gets that look in his eye, especially when he makes one of those big putts and he’s fist pumping and he’ll just look right through you.” – Rory McIlroy on Ian Poulter.

“Sort of like two poker players, too, they don’t show you much, they just got the toughness inside. They’re just the opposite of an Ian Poulter or Bubba Watson. They just keep it quiet and nip at ya.” – Johnny Miller on Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.