LOUISVILLE--With a 9-7 lead entering the final day of the Ryder Cup, the United States needs 5 1/2 points in Sunday's 12 singles matches to win the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. (As the defending champion, Europe would retain the cup in the event of a 14-14 tie.) Though the U.S. team historically has been considered stronger in singles, the Europeans have dominated on Sunday in the past three matches. The results in singles since the Great Britain & Ireland team added the rest of Europe in 1979:
__Year/Singles results/Overall winner
__2006: Europe, 8 1/2-3 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
2004: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
2002: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
1999: U.S., 8 1/2-3 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)
1997: U.S., 8-4 (Europe wins cup)
1995: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
1993: U.S., 7 1/2-4 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)
1991: U.S., 6 1/2-5 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)
1989: U.S., 7-5 (Europe retains cup)
1987: U.S., 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
1985: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)
1983: U.S., 6 1/2-5 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)
1981: U.S., 8-4 (U.S. wins cup)
1979: U.S., 8 1/2-3 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)
*--Mike O'Malley
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