What we believe is a comfortable team has transformed Europe into an unexpectedly thrilling Ryder Cup finale. They endured a fierce challenge from the team and won the biggest team award in golf in a 15-13 victory that bites the nail.
Europe, a close team that did everything right for two days at Beth Page Black on Long Island, needed two points from 11 singles matches played to hold the Ryder Cup on Sunday, but the Americans sweated to the bitter end.
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“It has to be the most stressful 12 hours of my life,” said Luke Donald of Europe, the first captain to win a serial edition of Bienner events since Tony Jacklyn in the 1980s. “We knew they were tough. We didn’t think they were this tough.”
It was up to the eighth match of the day that Ireland’s Shane Lowry last drained a six-foot birdie, tied Russell Henry, earning Europe to 14 points a week, and guaranteed he would hold the Ryder Cup he won in Rome two years ago.
“I told the 18-year-old walking caddy, “I have the opportunity to do the best thing I’ve ever done today.” And I did it. And I’m extremely proud of myself,” Laurie said.
In the penalty merit match, British man Tyrrell Hutton secured a perfect victory at half points from his battle with Colin Morakawa, placing Europe at the 14-1/2 points needed to win the Ryder Cup.
“It was one of the most struggling days I’ve ever experienced on a golf course,” Hutton said after the nearest Ryder Cup since 2012’s “Miracle of Medina,” when Europe performed an astounding final day comeback.
“It was something to be expected, they’re amazing players. Selfishly, I wanted it didn’t have to come down to me.”
Europe has now won 11 of the last 15 Ryder Cups dating back to 1995, marking their latest victory for the fifth time they won in foreign soil.
Hostile conditions for visitors
The Americans, whom Donald Trump had provided support on Friday, were unable to launch a fight in the first two days of the event, but Lowdy Home fans have launched all sorts of verbal abuse among Europeans.
Despite the hostile circumstances, Europe produced amazing shotmaking and clutches, passing through foursome and fourball sessions.
There was little reason to believe that Europe wasn’t heading for a quick victory on Sunday. Donald’s team quickly started their singles sessions until they suddenly changed.
“The boys really fought today. It was incredible. I didn’t expect anything different,” Captain Keegan Bradley said.
“They showed the world today that anything really is possible. It was a coin flip there for a second. I’m not proud of anything in my life.”
“A day too late”
Bradley sent out Cameron Young and Justin Thomas in the first two games, both birding the final hole to secure a one-up win at Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood each, bringing Americans’ chances to life.
“That’s the momentum we were looking for a week. We did it a day too late,” Thomas said.
Xander Schauffele added another US point in a 4 & 3 victory over Spain’s John Rahm before Swede Ludvig Aberg finally scored blue on the board and marked the only singles match to win all day in Europe with a 2 & 1 victory over Patrick Cantrey.
A while later, Matt Fitzpatrick, who was five years old after seven holes, settled on half points when he halved his match against Bryson Dedanbaux, putting half points with Europe still holding six matches on the course.
However, Europe was left waiting as Scotty Schaeffler scored the next point with one victory over Rory McIlroy in his first Rider Cup single match between the top two players in the official world golf rankings.
JJ Spaun then set the stage for Lowry, closing his 2&1 victory over Austria’s Sepp Straka.
Shortly afterwards, it was Hutton who settled on par in the closed hole to halve the match and begin the celebration. The final match of the schedule was dominated by the tie before the match of the day began, resulting in half the points of each team as European Viktor Hovland retreated before a clash with Harris English due to injury.
For McIlroy, who was a target of verbal abuse throughout the week, the European victory was good with bold predictions after the final Ryder Cup win this year’s road.
“It’s good to be right. It’s not always right,” McIlroy said. “I’m absolutely confident in this team.
“I think we won in Rome, and I think the wheels were moving to try to do something that hasn’t been done for over a decade.”
