It’s not the four-point lead from Friday morning, but Team USA has to feel good about its 9.5-6.5 lead over Team Europe heading into Sunday’s singles matches at the 2016 Ryder Cup. Five more points for the Americans and the Cup is theirs, but things can change quickly in singles, as the Americans learned at Medinah four years ago. It should be an incredible Sunday.

Here are 5 things we learned on Day 2 of the 41st Ryder Cup matches.

Age is just a number for Phil Mickelson

Lefty! …was that a curtsy? #RyderCup https://t.co/UMXh8Avffk

— GOLF.com (@golf_com) October 1, 2016

Mickelson and Fowler lost the last three holes of their match on Saturday morning to lose to McIlroy-Pieters in the morning, who were 11-under in the 17-hole match (can you say buzzsaw?). Mickelson brought his A-game on Saturday afternoon with partner Matt Kuchar, though. The 46-year-old made five birdies to propel him and Kuch to a 2&1 victory over Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia, winning a vital point for the Americans.

And yes, that was a curtsy (see the video above).

Captain’s picks cannot be based on locker-room worth

Put another point on the board for #GoUSA

It's now an 8½-6½ lead. #RyderCup scoring: https://t.co/H8qNi7XE46 https://t.co/tEZTfUaQSN

— PGA.COM (@PGAcom) October 1, 2016

Both sides went risky on captain’s picks in 2016. Lee Westwood was selected for who knows what reason, and he gave the opposing side hope by gassing four putts inside 5 feet on Saturday afternoon’s inward half. Rickie Fowler was selected for his locker-room worth. So far, that translates into a near-loss on Friday morning and a shellacking on Saturday morning. Fowler’s individual game is so inconsistent that he was benched in both fourballs sessions.

Captains, stop picking your friends. Keep it cold, detached and surgical. Why pick these guys who don’t deserve a spot on the team? Darren, Westwood didn’t deserve to make this team. Davis, Fowler is ranked 9th and has shown little evidence of the game that wins once a year at best.

Neither team was in need of locker-room assistance. The Euros have plenty of quality playing leadership in Rose, Garcia, Kaymer and McIlroy. Fortunately for them, they didn’t select Luke Donald over Thomas Pieters or this thing might be over already. As for the USA, we’ll reserve judgement until Sunday evening.

Speaking of Thomas Pieters…

He didn't just make a 3. @Thomas_Pieters just made an eagle-2! #TeamEurope is now 2 up on Kopeka & DJ. https://t.co/fEVcwHsJmP

— PGA.COM (@PGAcom) October 1, 2016

Not since Shigecki “Smiling Assassin” Maruyama’s debut in President’s Cup play has a first-year player had the impact of Thomas Pieters. And to think he almost missed out on a captain’s pick! Pieters has the intangibles (height and length) needed in today’s super-golfer. If not for an abysmal third round in Rio, Pieters would have claimed an Olympic medal. Dude can flat-out play, and Clarke was wise to keep him in for all four partner matches.

What does it say when veterans like McIlroy want to play with the Belgian bomber? I give Europe four points (Rose, Stenson, Pieters, McIlroy) right off the bat tomorrow.

Do you need to play these guys?

Can we sub Rafa Cabrera-Bello in for Martin Kaymer at half time in this match?

— Golf World (@GolfWorld1) October 1, 2016

Kaymer pairs with Sergio after Sergio teamed with Rafa Cabrera-Bello to win two consecutive matches… and they lose. Dustin Johnson pairs with Brooks Koepka after Koepka won two consecutive matches with Brandt Snedeker… and they lose.

Kaymer and DJ are major champions. They can get up for a singles match, trust me! They didn’t need to disrupt the mojo that was taking place here. If the captains are going to play Reed/Spieth four times and Rose/Stenson three times, why should they break up the hot hands? It’s like they don’t understand momentum, despite being professional golfers.

Future captains, take note: Play your successful twosomes until they stop coming through. Don’t throw sand toward a smoothly lubricated engine. History will judge you well.

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth

PATRICK REED JUST HAPPENED. #GoUSA #RyderCup https://t.co/5mZKqAwYpU

— PGA.COM (@PGAcom) October 1, 2016

These two guys might mark the turning point of Team USA’s fortunes in 2016, and perhaps beyond. Immediately after blowing a massive lead and settling for a halve in the morning foursomes, they went back to to work and defeated their Euro equivalent of a nearly-unbeatable duo of Stenson and Rose. The USA duo won six holes and lost four, returning the momentum of the home team.

The real star of the afternoon was Reed. He carried Spieth, winning all six holes for the U.S. and tying four others. Perhaps Captain Davis Love III should send Reed off first tomorrow?