What looked set to be a comfortable European victory turned into a dramatic Ryder Cup finale on Sunday, as the team withstood a fierce American comeback to win golf’s biggest team prize 15–13 at Bethpage Black, Long Island.
Having dominated the first two days of play, Europe needed just two points from Sunday’s 11 singles matches to retain the Ryder Cup they won in Rome two years ago. However, the United States made them fight until the very end.
“It has got to be the most stressful 12 hours of my life,” said Europe’s captain Luke Donald, who became the first captain to win back-to-back editions of the event since Tony Jacklin in the 1980s. “We knew they would be tough, but we did not think they would be this tough.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry secured the vital half-point with a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole of his match against Russell Henley, taking Europe to the 14-point mark required to retain the trophy.
“I said to my caddie walking down 18, ‘I have got an opportunity to do the greatest thing I have ever done today,’ and I did it. I am very proud of myself,” said Lowry.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton followed up in the penultimate match, halving his battle with Collin Morikawa to push Europe over the line with 14½ points.
“It has been one of the hardest days I have ever experienced on a golf course,” said Hatton. “It was to be expected, they are amazing players. Selfishly, I was hoping it would not have to come down to me.”
The result marks Europe’s 11th Ryder Cup win in the last 15 editions, and their fifth on American soil.
The U.S. team, bolstered by the presence of President Donald Trump on Friday, failed to make an impact during the first two days. Despite the intense atmosphere and often hostile home crowd, the European side produced clinical performances in both the foursomes and fourballs, showing composure, chemistry and precision.
Things changed during the Sunday singles. U.S. captain Keegan Bradley sent Cameron Young and Justin Thomas out early, and both delivered, securing 1UP wins over Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
“That is the momentum we have been looking for the whole week. We just made it a day too late,” said Thomas.
Xander Schauffele kept the pressure on with a convincing 4&3 victory over Spain’s Jon Rahm, before Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg finally stopped the slide with a 2&1 win against Patrick Cantlay – Europe’s only singles win of the day.
Matt Fitzpatrick had been 5UP after seven holes but could only halve his match with Bryson DeChambeau, leaving Europe just half a point from retaining the cup.
However, the U.S. pushed back again. Scottie Scheffler edged Rory McIlroy 1UP in a tense battle between the top two players in the world rankings, and J.J. Spaun beat Sepp Straka 2&1.
Then came Lowry’s clutch birdie and Hatton’s crucial half to seal the win. The final match, between Viktor Hovland and Harris English, was declared a tie before play began after Hovland withdrew due to injury, resulting in half a point each.
For McIlroy, who was targeted by heckling throughout the event, the win fulfilled a bold promise made after the last Ryder Cup.
“It is nice to be right. I am not right all the time,” said McIlroy. “I have absolute confidence in this team. I think we won in Rome, and the wheels were set in motion to try to do something that had not been done in over a decade.”
