Finally, after a frenetic afternoon in a febrile New York, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry felt the love as they celebrated earning a point which edged Europe closer to a seismic Ryder Cup away win.

And it was down to the pair largely keeping calm in the face of American abuse, rarely rising to the bait and, ultimately, letting their golf do the talking.

McIlroy and Lowry received crude barbs at Bethpage – related to romantic relationships and their appearance – as well as the home fans ignoring golfing etiquette by shouting out as they were about to hit their ball.

Lowry had to be restrained from confronting a fan on the 10th tee. McIlroy, who was forced to back away from shots, described the whole experience as a “really challenging day”.

“What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines,” said European captain Luke Donald.

“That did happen a little bit. It’s happened at other Ryder Cups.

“It’s something we prepared for and I can see how well [McIlroy and Lowry] have dealt with it.”

The tension spilled over elsewhere, too.

Justin Rose was unhappy that Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie strayed too close when he was ready to putt on the 15th green – another no-no in golfing circles – leading to an exchange of words which also involved Rose’s playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and his and Scottie Scheffler’s caddies.

“I asked him to move. Maybe not as politely as I could have done but in the scenario, coming down the stretch, it’s intense out there,” said Rose, who regretted the incident might detract from a fabulous match that they won 3&2.

“If I should have done it a different way, I apologise.”

In the face of adversity, close friends McIlroy and Lowry tamed the Bethpage bear pit with a vital fourballs win, setting Europe on the path to a commanding 11½-4½ lead going into Sunday’s 12 singles – 14½ is the magic number for victory.

Sealing victory on the 18th green allowed the pair to finally cut loose emotionally, grabbing each other tightly in a vice-like grip before demonstratively expressing their delight.

Instead of hostility, they could only hear the sound of European fans sweetly serenading them.

“We knew what we were going to get coming here,” said Lowry.

“It was a very tough day. Being out with Rory doesn’t make it any easier. I think he’s getting the brunt of it.

“But, look, we dealt with it very well.”

The continued abuse overshadowed one of Europe’s most outstanding days on American soil as they moved within three points of a first away victory since 2012.

There were a number of unsavoury exchanges with world number two McIlroy receiving the majority of the stick.

It started early from an unexpected source. A Bethpage MC joined in with an expletive-led abusive chant about the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland as she warmed up the crowd before the opening tee-shot at 7:10am local time.

McIlroy grinned as he was told where to go by hundreds of home fans, blowing them kisses in response.

Heather McMahan later apologised to McIlroy but she will no longer perform her duties on the final day.

In a statement released to BBC Sport, the PGA of America said: “Heather has extended an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup.”

But the exchange set the tone of the day. McIlroy lost his cool towards the end of his morning foursomes win alongside Lowry, swearing at American fans during a heated moment on the 16th fairway.

With some members of the crowd fuelled by all-day drinking, things became reached boiling point in the afternoon fourballs.

The atmosphere simmered over the opening few holes before becoming a tinderbox on the par-five fourth green.

McIlroy backed off a putt for an eagle three after a shout disrupted his concentration. He missed his effort but Lowry holed his chance – and then erupted with a passionate and pointed celebration towards the offender.

When Lowry stuck away another putt for a birdie on the fifth, he let rip with another vocal celebration. Only his dad Brendan, watching from the side, shouted louder.

Things ignited again on the sixth green when McIlroy backed off another putt. “Can’t take it, Rory?'” bawled one New Yorker.

A crowd in a city known for its brash and harsh sports fans clearly felt this was all fair game.

By this stage, the exasperated European pair – as well as vice-captain Eduardo Molinari – were pointing out hecklers to the police officers, who had visibly moved in tighter in a bid to calm the mood.

American opponents Justin Thomas and Cameron Young sensibly appealed for calm, but also stoked emotions with wild celebrations when they won holes seven and nine to leave a tense match all square again.

The PGA of America, who organise the Ryder Cup, beefed up security around all four matches and the sight of police officers trailing the players was a clear warning sign of the threat they faced.

Messages warning fans of a zero tolerance approach to abusive shouting flashed up on huge screens across the course, saying they would “continue to closely monitor fan behaviour and take appropriate action”.

Shortly after Lowry lunged towards the fan on the 10th tee, one of these reminders was booed by the American fans around the 11th green.

At this point, an attritional match – which had quality but saw more grind – remained deadlocked.

Finally McIlroy landed a hot putt on the 14th, earning a birdie which put Europe into a lead they would not relinquish.

By the time they had navigated themselves to the 18th, thicker clouds gathered over Bethpage. The metaphor was clear.

Moods darkened to the point where a fist fight broke out between two spectators in the grandstand behind the final green.

Police quickly moved in and kicked out the offenders. Officers told BBC Sport that no arrests had been made over the course of a fiery day.

“I’m going to sleep well tonight,” said McIlroy on the 18th green.

With Bethpage Black turning to Bethpage Blue, Sunday could be a mercifully short day for the Europeans.

Luke Donald stands on the precipice of Ryder Cup greatness.

Four wins out of four as a player and the Englishman is now on the verge of becoming just the second European captain – after Tony Jacklin – to win both home and away matches.

Europe will take a record 11½-4½ lead into Sunday’s 12 singles matches, needing to secure three points to win on the road for the first time since 2012.

If the statistics that followed Friday’s 5½-2½ scoreline lent weight to the belief that this was going to be Europe’s year, Saturday’s 6-2 demolition job has seemingly made Sunday a formality.

No side has ever come from more than 10-6 down to win – Europe’s ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012 and the US’ infamous ‘Battle of Brookline’ in 1999.

A home comeback on Sunday could well be dubbed the ‘Battering at Bethpage’, although that too would be an apt naming for Europe’s dominance so far.

Of course Donald was saying all the right things on the eve of Europe claiming a fifth away win, following 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012.

“Their job is not done yet. I’m not going to be complacent. They will have plenty of fight. We’re trying to get to 14½ points first,” he said, trotting out the usual platitudes you’d expect from a captain who has planned meticulously for this moment since winning in Rome two years ago.

But even he let slip that he “didn’t really imagine this” as a scenario at the end of day two.

And what a scenario it is.

This is the largest lead a European team has held at this stage, eclipsing the 11-5 advantage they built at Oakland Hills in 2004, when they closed out a record 18½-9½ away triumph.

For the US to overturn this, they will need to win 10 of the 12 points on offer. The most secured by either team on the final day is 8½ – the US in 1979 and 1999, and Europe in 2006 and 2012.

Only four of the 22 Ryder Cups since Europe joined in 1979 has seen a team come from behind at the end of day two to win – 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2012.

It is also the largest lead by any away side as Europe look to buck the trend of huge home wins – although the run of big blow-out victories looks set to be extended to six.

The past five have been won by the home team by five points (Europe, 2014), six (US, 2016), seven (Europe, 2018), 10 (US, 2021), five (Europe 2023).

Eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups have been won by a margin of five or more points. The gap was never more than three points in each of the previous eight editions (1987 to 2002).

The average margin of victory between 1983 and 1999 was 1.3 points, since then it has been 5.5.

Despite facing a potential record defeat on home soil – nine points in 2004 – US skipper Keegan Bradley was doing his best to put a positive spin as he looked to draw on a record Super Bowl comeback.

Bradley is from this north-east corner of the United States and supports the New England Patriots.

When asked what he would say to his players before Sunday’s singles, he replied: “28-3. I was at that Super Bowl. I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person.”

Bradley was referring to American football’s showpiece in 2017, which saw the Patriots rally from 28-3 down in the third quarter to beat Atlanta 34-28 in overtime.

However, the Ryder Cup doesn’t go to extra holes and a 14-14 tie, while marking a remarkable comeback, would still see holders Europe retain the trophy.

Bryson DeChambeau, who, along with Cameron Young, picked up one of the US’ two points on Saturday, is backing Bradley’s narrative.

“Anything can happen,” said the two-time major winner who has been a huge crowd favourite this week.

“I know it’s quite lopsided, but it would make for a great comeback story.”

And Xander Schauffele and JJ Spaun, who won the home side’s solitary point in the afternoon fourballs, were concise in their thoughts of how to overcome the deficit.

“Win your point,” was Schauffele’s answer, while US Open champion Spaun added: “Just go for broke.”

The heavyweight match-up of the world numbers one and two stands out in a list that has sees Bradley go do what Spaun suggested and “go for broke”.

Scottie Scheffler is having a torrid Ryder Cup. He is the first player since Peter Alliss in 1967 to lose a match in each of the first four sessions. And now he faces a fired-up Rory McIlroy, who has picked up 3½ points from the same number of outings, despite being continually heckled by opposition fans.

The top match sees New Yorker Cameron Young, the US team’s joint top scorer with two points, head out first in a ploy Bradley is surely using to whip up some early support and in the hope he can get some early red on the scoreboard.

But he is facing Europe’s grinder. Justin Rose may have only played twice, but he has won both his fourball matches with Tommy Fleetwood and looked particularly sharp on Saturday, with a string of birdies.

Fleetwood, who also has a 100% record, from four matches, is out second against Justin Thomas – a man with a 100% record in singles, having won three out of three.

Patrick Cantlay has played two, won two in previous singles matches and will take on a Ludvig Aberg who has not had the best of weeks with one win from three.

The other standout match features Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm. Schauffele is the only other US player to score two points, while Rahm has looked back to his best in picking up three points this week.

Europe have hidden the injured Viktor Hovland in the bottom match. He is expected to play despite having a neck issue but if he is unfit to face Harris English, both sides will pick up half a point each.