Poulter Keeps Europeans in the Hunt at Ryder Cup 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 Poulter's 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 Americans still had a big lead, 10-6. Europe at least had hope. 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. European team captain Jose Maria Olazabal watches from the ninth hole during a foursomes match at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Saturday, Sept. "We're excited about our position," U.S. captain Davis Love III said. But we know it's not over yet. That's 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. That's what Europe faces now. The message Olazabal had for his team Saturday night was simple. Let's 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. Is the Spaniard a big believer in fate? "I believe momentum will come our way," Olazabal said. Why not tomorrow? Olazabal borrowed a page from that '99 Ryder Cup by loading the top of his singles lineup with his best players. Luke Donald leads off against Bubba Watson, followed by Poulter against Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy against Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose against Phil Mickelson. Love put Woods in the anchor positions against Francesco Molinari, whom Woods beat in Wales two years ago. The European strategy was no surprise. Love was at Brookline, too. He realized Europe had no other choice. And he was not the least bit worried that his team would look ahead to winning, or turn tight and play not to lose. "Even if they were in primary school, they know about 1999, and they know the story," Love said. They know Ben Crenshaw. They know Justin Leonard. They know what can happen. And they're going to be having the same kind of team meeting we had in '99. 'All right, boys, we've got to win the first six.' And then the game is one. The final two matches Saturday were a showcase of what the Ryder Cup is all about - one brilliant shot after another, birdies on every hole, suspense at every turn.