And the winner was…the Ryder Cup. Yes, writes Ross Biddiscombe, Europe won the trophy, but there was unbelievably high-quality golf that ended in a classic Sunday squeaker – it doesn’t get much better than this for true golf fans. The US team’s remarkable day three fightback kept the match on a knife-edge for over five hours when most commentators were talking of a record win for Europe.
All three days were captivating and the 45th edition of the Cup proved to be another classic to the extent that all the abusive crowds, possible captain’s mistakes, the US team’s pay-to-play controversy, and thoughts of a last day yawn-fest were forgotten by the end of Sunday.
Team Europe was running on fumes when it stumbled over the finishing line with as much relief as joy. Rory and company held on by their fingernails and, in the end, the one player who has more passion for the Cup than anyone else, the beloved Irishman Shane Lowry, fittingly holed a 6ft putt to clinch a tie and retain the little gold trophy for his team.
Last week, I predicted a 14-14 tie for good reason. Although most recent matches have been blowouts, many more over the previous decades have been settled by the smallest of margins. This year’s close score was not conventionally achieved – two massive days for Europe and one electric session for the US rather than a constant nip-and-tuck battle – yet it was the smallest of increments that made the difference
The reason is that, ability-wise, there is less than a cigarette paper between the 24 golfers and both captains say – and mostly do – a lot of the same things preparing the stage for the golfers to perform. They are all so passionate and the science of leadership and the dynamics team sports come from well-worn text books available to everyone. So, what separated the winner from the loser?
As always, the winning captain gets lauded and the losing one battered. Keegan Bradley admitted immediately afterwards that his course set-up with short rough may have been an error – it was a long-hitter’s paradise – especially after the heavy rain that softened and slowed the greens. Others will say some of his pairings were questionable. However, two days of unbelievable putting by almost every European cannot be predicted or that the visitors adapted better to the changed conditions. But did Keegan have his eye on the captaincy as he battled to make his own team? The PGA of America wanted a young, energetic captain and they got one – but there may also have been a loss in that decision in terms of total focus and Bradley cannot talk his way out of that.
Luke Donald (photo credit Ross Biddiscombe)
In terms of being only the second two-time successful captain (Tony Jacklin was the other), Luke Donald brought a consistency to Europe’s plans and his skills in understanding the role of each player are unmatchable. He was Mr Cool who had no distractions during a full two years of build-up, while his counterpart was busy almost playing his way onto the US team. Also, for the three days of matches, Keegan seemed a little jumpy, not as in control.
Luke was the full-time CEO of his team, always thinking of the smallest things in order to gain an advantage – from changing the bedding and shampoos in the team hotel to listening to his stats guru, Edoardo Molinari, an unsung hero among the vice captains. His team thought deeply about a template for an away victory and his team bought in.
But there is so much more and, if you want to read the rest of the explanations behind the result of one of the greatest Ryder Cup matches in history, click here https://rossbidd.substack.com/p/ryder-cup-2025-stories-part-10-the?r=2jbyei
Ryder Cup 2025 Stories Part 10 wraps up this series, but if you missed an episode search the author’s name on Substack and find the rest of the AND subscribe for FREE.
Ross Biddiscombe is the author of Ryder Cup Revealed: Tales of the Unexpected & his regular Ryder Cup posts are on the Substack platform about golfand many other sports.
