Team Europe has taken the Ryder Cup back across the Atlantic, leaving the United States once again searching for answers in a rivalry that is becoming increasingly one-sided.
The Americans finally showed some fight on Sunday, mounting a spirited comeback from the largest singles deficit they had ever faced against Europe. For a moment, there was real hope of a historic turnaround. But Shane Lowry — who had stared down raucous New York crowds all week — had the final say.
With Russell Henley 1-up playing the 18th, the American missed a 10-foot birdie putt that would have secured the match. Lowry calmly rolled in his own six-footer for birdie to halve the match, sealing the 14 points Europe needed to retain the cup with three matches still on the course. Walking up the final fairway, he told his caddie: “I have a chance to do the coolest thing in my life.” Moments later, he did just that.
European Dominance Continues
This latest triumph means Europe has now won 13 of the 19 Ryder Cups since 1979, the start of the modern era, and five of the last ten played on U.S. soil. Their stars shone at Bethpage Black, thriving amid relentless heckling to build a record seven-point lead heading into the 12 singles matches.
Europe even secured a half point before a ball was struck on Sunday. Viktor Hovland, battling a neck injury flare-up, was forced to withdraw. His match against Harris English — whose name was drawn in the secret envelope — was declared halved.
For the U.S. to reclaim the cup, they needed nine wins and a half from the remaining 11 matches. To their credit, they launched a fierce assault that finally turned the home crowd’s jeers into cheers. But Europe held firm when it mattered most.
