Farmingdale, N.Y. — Masters champion Rory McIlroy stood on the bridge in Bethpage Black on Sunday, elevating his arms, “I, me, me!”, and the European flag was lined in his shoulders.
After bearing the brunt of abuse from New York followers on the forty fifth Ryder Cup, McIlroy was lastly in a position to sigh Ah Aid that the week was over. And since the Europeans survived a ferocious gathering of People in singles on Sunday, successful golf’s greatest prize once more in a 15-13 victory.
The tie with Russell Henry of Eire’s Shane Raleigh within the eighth match gave the Europeans 14 factors and assured they might maintain the Ryder Cup after successful Italy two years in the past.
Raleigh made a 6-foot birdie on gap 18 – inflicting a wild celebration for guests after Henry left the 10-foot shorts.
“I used to be very lucky to expertise one thing nice with this sport, nevertheless it was essentially the most troublesome few hours of my life, let’s be trustworthy,” Laurie mentioned. “I am unable to consider it. I am unable to consider the ball got here in. I stand as much as it and say, ‘That is it.’
After Raleigh’s tie with Henry, British Tyrrell Hutton tied Colin Morakawa in his tenth singles match, giving the Europeans the 14.5 factors wanted to win the Ryder Cup.
It was after his victory at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership within the suburbs of Rome that McIlroy boldly predicted that Europeans would boldly seize America’s subsequent Ryder Cup.
“It is good to be proper,” McIlroy mentioned. “I am not all the time proper. I am completely assured on this workforce. I’ve absolute confidence in our chief, Luke Donald. One thing that the vice captain, the backroom workers, the folks do not see behind the scenes. I feel we gained in Rome.
The Europeans have gained 11 of their final 15 Ryder Cups. This consists of 5 of the final 10 in US soils.
Donald joined Tony Jacklyn (1985, ’87) and have become Europe’s second captain to win consecutive Ryder Cups.
“I knew it could be troublesome. I did not suppose they might be this troublesome on Sunday,” Donald mentioned. “They fought so onerous and had all of the respect for them. However this clearly means much more for me and the workforce. We got here right here understanding that this job could be very troublesome.”
The Europeans solely gained one singles match on Sunday – Swedish Rudig Åberg defeated Patrick Cantrey (2 and 1) – the bottom whole since Britain went 1-6-1 in 1957.
Since 12 video games have been performed, the People have essentially the most factors in singles with 8.5 factors.
Nevertheless, the US workforce had been digging too huge a gap within the first two days of the competitors.
“The Europeans gained one match at present,” mentioned US Captain Keegan Bradley. “You are fascinated about the chance that one thing like that is happening. It is unbelievable on only a coin flip. However while you exit into sports activities and battle your butts to win, it exhibits how proud these guys are, and the way proud they’re of this.”
After dominating the primary 4 pairing periods and placing a 12-5 lead within the single, the Europeans solely wanted two factors to carry the cup. The People labored onerous for each.
“We have been speaking with the vice captain final night time that everybody would sleep, so we believed the workforce might actually win,” Bradley mentioned. “I actually was stunned. I used to be on a smoked workforce, however we did not have that feeling.
“After we went to sleep, I used to be stunned that these guys believed, ‘We’ll win this.’ They believed that. They did not say that. I used to be in a position to belief their eyes. I used to be in a position to see it this morning. I used to be in a position to see their physique language.
The US gained 5 of its first six matches, tied up one other to place strain on the Europeans.
At risk, Scotty Scheffler, who grew to become the primary American golfer on the occasion, picked up his first level when he defeated Rory McIlroy 1 within the first match of golfers ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the planet.
“We fought actually onerous yesterday and the primary day,” Schaeffler mentioned. “It did not work the way in which I anticipated, however I used to be proud to get the factors I will get at present. It is onerous. It is grind to play all 5 matches. Rory and I chatted a bit at present as nicely. It was grind.
Bryson DeDanbaugh, who was 5 years previous to British Matt Fitzpatrick after seven holes, got here collectively to tie 4 straight birdies and matches.
“The Europeans have gained one match at present. Only a coin flip, we take into consideration the probabilities of such issues. However after we exit into the game and battle the butts to win, it exhibits how proud these guys are, and the way proud they’re.”
US Captain Kie Gun Bradley
Ryder Cup rookie Cameron Younger set the Beth Web page black scoring document because the 20-year-old, New York native, however scored the People’ first factors when he beat England’s Justin Rose 1 in his first match. Younger was three years previous after 12 holes, however Rose gained three of the following 4 holes to tie the match. After Rose missed a 14-foot birdie on No. 18, Younger scored 12 footers, decreasing the European result in 12-6.
Two-time main champion Zander Shaufele gained Spain’s John Rahm 12-7 on the American facet all week.
Justin Thomas supplied the People with a spark that made them consider they may come again after they defeated England’s Tommy Fleetwood by sinking a 12-foot birdie on the 18th gap. It tightened some great benefits of Europeans to 12-8.
Aberg’s victory over Cantrey moved the Europeans inside half the factors of victory, resulting in Laurie’s clutch effort at No. 18.
The People scored half factors even earlier than the singles match started when Norwegian Victor Hofland was compelled to withdraw from the Ryder Cup as a consequence of a neck harm. He was scheduled to play in an anchor match towards Harris English.
The choice guidelines in a captain’s contract require every workforce to submit the title of 1 participant in a sealed envelope that won’t play within the occasion of an harm to a golfer on the opposing workforce. I occurred to have to observe the motion on Sunday in English.
