The public had coronated Team Europe as the victor of the 45th Ryder Cup by the end of Saturday evening.
The Europeans had a seven-point advantage and became the first team to accrue 11 1/2 points through the first four sessions. The greatest Ryder Cup comeback entering the singles session since 1979 (when Team Europe debuted) was four points.
Team USA made a valiant effort Sunday afternoon as the tide began to turn at Bethpage Black — winning five of the first seven matches and earning a half-point in one other — but it was too little, too late.
Europe officially retained the Ryder Cup with Shane Lowry’s 6-foot-3 birdie putt on 18th to halve his match with Russell Henley. Henley missed a 10-foot, 3-inch birdie putt right before Lowry’s attempt. Europe led 14-11 after clinching the result. Europe officially won it when Tyrell Hatton halved with Collin Morikawa, making the score 14 1/2 11 1/2, with the final score 15-13.
The Europeans led 11 1/2-4 1/2 entering the day, a lead that become 12-5 after Viktor Hovland (neck) withdrew and his match was halved with Harris English sitting out for Team USA.
Europe becomes the first team to secure an away Ryder Cup since the 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” in Illinois, a 14 1/2-13 1/2 win for the Europeans after trailing 10-6 entering the final day.
In the first two singles matches, Cameron Young and Justin Thomas each made birdie putts on the 18th hole to secure respective 1-up victories over Europe juggernauts Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
In the third, Bryson DeChambeau surged from five holes down to halve his match against Matt Fitzpatrick.
The fourth match between Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy was the first Ryder Cup match between players ranked No. 1 and 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking System. Scheffler outlasted the Irishman with a 1-up triumph.
Swede Ludvig Aberg defeated Patrick Cantlay, 2-and-1, in the fifth match, and Xander Schauffele defeated Spaniard Jon Rahm, 4-and-3, in the sixth.
Then J.J. Spaun’s 2-and-1 victory over Sepp Straka cut the Team USA’s deficit to 13 1/2-10 1/2, and the belief among the American faithful started to become real, but was ultimately stifled by Lowry’s birdie for a half on the 18th.
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins’ teams.
