Rory McIlroy hailed Shane Lowry a European legend after he rescued them from a potentially desperate situation to win the Ryder Cup on US soil for the first time since 2012.
Tyrrell Hatton might have secured the half point needed to win the trophy outright but it was Lowry’s birdie at the last that ensured Europe retained the cup on a day where they won just one of twelve singles matches amidst a tremendous American fightback.
McIlroy earned four points from five matches, losing to Scottie Scheffler 1UP in the Sunday singles. He cut a jaded figure after a stressful week and he felt indebted to Lowry’s heroics on Saturday night also.
“The big lad sitting to the right of Luke played an unbelievable last four holes and he carried me through yesterday afternoon. Absolute legend along with everyone else sitting up here, just so delighted we could get it done.”
Almost two years ago to the day McIlroy drummed on the press conference table and declared that Europe would achieve the biggest feat in golf and win an away Ryder Cup.
“We won in Rome, and the wheels were set in motion to try and do something that hadn’t been done in over a decade. Eleven of the twelve are the same, the captain is the same, we believed a lot in our continuity,” he said.
“I believe that we had a really special group in Rome and I really felt that we had a better chance than Whistling Straits in 2021. I was bullish about our chances, it’s just been a dream week.”
It was squeaky bum time for the Europeans in Bethpage but Lowry joined Irish Ryder Cup immortals Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth as Europe retained the priceless gold chalice.
Lowry birdied the last to halve his match with Russell Henley and he erupted with joy as Europe reached the 14 points required to keep the trophy. Hatton soon secured the half point needed to win outright.
The Offaly man has had a mixed year. Chances to win for the first time since 2022 have painfully passed him by. But, as McIlroy said, he has etched himself into Ryder Cup folklore as Europe completed the fairytale of New York.
“To be honest, no!” Lowry laughed when asked if he thought he would secure the vital half point. “I had faith in my team that we would win the Ryder Cup early today. Winning our own match was the main goal. You don’t want to take any complacency into that arena against those players. The US team are amazing and we knew it was going to be very hard.
“I didn’t envision myself needing a birdie on 18 to retain the Ryder Cup. The worst two hours of my life, it was horrible. I said to my caddie walking down 18 I have the opportunity to do the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I did it and I am very proud of myself.”
