MIRACLE NEEDED!

Europe on rack despite American’s F-word rant

BROOKS KOEPKA uttered a foul-mouthed tirade at the Ryder Cup referee yesterday, accusing him of endangering his career.

But it was one of the few moments when the Americans didn’t get their own way as they established a record six-point 9-3 lead over the outclassed Europeans after the third session of play.

Europe famously came back from 10-6 to win in the Miracle of Medinah in 2012, but form is against them here in Wisconsin.

Koepka’s rant came in the one match that went Europe’s way in another lop-sided foursomes series. He completely lost the plot at referee David Price after being refused a free drop. He had contended that, in having to play from a bad lie, the path of his swing would see him strike a man-made drain. Price was having none of it, causing the four-time major winner to lose the plot.

The 31-year-old, who almost missed this Ryder Cup with a wrist injury after hitting against the root of a tree two weeks ago, fumed: ‘You have seen me swing a club? How can you say that’s not in my line of swing? If I break my f***ing wrist, it’s on you.’

Koepka didn’t break his wrist but lost alongside Daniel Berger to Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia. For the third series in a row, however, Europe lost 3-1 and you have to go all the way back to 1975 — before the Europeans joined the party — to find the last time they trailed by so many points.

‘It’s disappointing, there’s no getting away from that,’ said Europe captain Padraig Harrington. ‘But the guys are pumped up.’