Team Europe held their nerve to secure a 15–13 victory over the United States at Bethpage Black, clinching back-to-back Ryder Cups in dramatic fashion. What looked like a dominant triumph after two days of commanding play turned into a nail-biting finish on Sunday, as the Americans staged a spirited comeback that nearly rewrote history.
Two years ago in Rome, Rory McIlroy boldly predicted Europe would win the next Ryder Cup away from home. On Sunday evening in New York, that promise became reality. “Not just win here in America, but in New York,” McIlroy said. “To be able to do what we’ve done in Rome and then here, it shut a lot of people up.”
Europe’s Narrow Escape
After storming into a record seven-point lead heading into Sunday singles, Europe seemed poised for a landmark away victory. Yet the U.S. clawed back, winning the majority of singles matches and pushing the contest to its closest margin since the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012.
Also Read: Laowa Sunlight 2x FF Anamorphic Zoom Lenses Debut with Compact Design and Selectable Flares
Ultimately, it was Ludvig Åberg’s 2&1 win over Patrick Cantlay and Shane Lowry’s clutch putt on 18 that ensured the trophy stayed in European hands. The 15–13 result was Europe’s slimmest winning margin in more than a decade.
Standout Performances
Several European stars delivered when it mattered most.
- Tommy Fleetwood (4-1-0) collected the most wins and received the prestigious Nicklaus-Jacklin Award for sportsmanship and impact.
- Tyrrell Hatton (3-0-1) and Shane Lowry (1-0-2) both went unbeaten, with Lowry’s putting statistics among the best in the field.
- Justin Rose, second only to Sepp Straka in strokes gained on the greens, once again proved why he thrives under Ryder Cup pressure.
Fleetwood summed up his experience: “You don’t set out to win individual awards, but to be recognized with something carrying the names of Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin is very cool.”
Donald Joins Elite Company
The victory also cements Luke Donald’s place in Ryder Cup history. The Englishman became the first captain since Tony Jacklin in 1987 to lead Europe to back-to-back wins. “It’s been the most stressful 12 hours of my life,” Donald admitted after the tense finale. “But I couldn’t be more proud of these guys, how they’ve played for history, and for the people who came before them.”
With this triumph, Europe not only defended their title but also ended more than a decade-long wait for an away victory, last achieved at Medinah in 2012.
