Shane Lowry of Europe celebrates holing a putt on the 18th green to retain the Ryder Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Europe have retained the Ryder Cup, winning it on American soil for the first time since 2012 despite just one singles victory on the final day.
Thirteen years ago, it was the Miracle at Medinah but today it was the Americans who almost pulled off their own miracle at Bethpage Black after trailing by the biggest ever margin going into the singles matches.
After struggling for the first two days, the USA took it down to the final four matches before Shane Lowry secured the vital half point needed when he shared his match with Russell Henley.
Ludvig Aberg was the only European to win a match as the Americans took out six matches with five ties that could have easily swung either way.
Luke Donald becomes the second European captain to win the Ryder Cup both home and away and adds to a remarkable resume having already won it four times as a player.
“I’m extremely proud to be part of this team. I’m extremely proud of every single one of the players, the VCs, the captain,” Europe’s Rory McIlroy said.
“All the backroom support staff. This was an unbelievable collect effort. As soon as we won in Rome we turned around and put our attention to trying to do something that everyone thought was pretty impossible to do. Not just win it in America but win here in New York. It’s been an amazing week.”
Europe began the day needing two and a half points to secure the 14 needed to retain the Ryder Cup and that changed to two points before the first match when Viktor Hovland withdrew from his match with Harris English due to a neck injury.
Under a captain’s agreement rule that’s long been part of the Ryder Cup, when a player withdraws through injury, the singles match is halved. It hadn’t happened since 1993 and US captain Keegan Bradley said afterwards it’s a rule he wants changed for future events.
Much like the opening two days, very quickly there was blue across the leaderboard with Europe up in the first four matches, including Matt Fitzpatrick going out to five-up over Bryson DeChambeau through seven holes.
But it turned red as America finally found some fight and with six of the 11 singles matches through the front nine - the home team were leading four to two and they finished the stronger.
First Cameron Young sank a birdie on the 18th hole to beat Justin Rose by 1 up before Justin Thomas did the same, to edge Tommy Fleetwood 1 up at the last.
With Xander Schauffele thrashing Europe’s best performer Jon Rahm 4 and 3 it was suddenly game on. Aberg was the only European to get a win, beating Patrick Cantlay 2 and 1 while DeChambeau pulled off a remarkable comeback to share the match with Fitzpatrick.
The match-up between world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and No 2 Rory McIlroy didn’t really live up to the hype, with Scheffler coolly closing it out at the last. Both said afterwards playing a fifth match in the event was too much with McIlroy describing their clash as a ‘pillow fight’.
JJ Spaun won the rookie match-up against Sepp Straka 2 and 1, leaving the USA needing four wins from the final four matches to complete the comeback.
However, with Henley leading Lowry at the last hole, the Irishman made a key birdie putt to secure the Ryder Cup.
“I’ve been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game...that was the hardest couple of hours of my life.” Lowry said.
“I just can’t believe that putt went in. I said to Darren [caddie Darren Reynolds] walking up 18 ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing in my life here’. The Ryder Cup means everything to me. I won the Open in Ireland, it was amazing a dream come true but Ryder Cup for me is everything. To do that today on the 18th green in front of everyone.”
It looked like the first Ryder Cup draw since 1989 was on the cards until Tyrrell Hatton earned a half point in the penultimate match with Collin Morikawa which confirmed the win for Europe.
Hatton admitted he was hoping it wouldn’t come down to him.
“To be honest it was one of the hardest days I’ve felt on the golf course. Going out in the 11th match, you’re hoping everything is wrapped up but you still want to take pride in your individual record. But the US lads put up an incredible fight. It was to be expected. They are amazing players.
“Selfishly I was really hoping it wouldn’t come down to me and the last five, six, seven holes were just horrible to be honest. But at the end of the day I’m just so happy we managed to win.”
US now have two years to work out exactly where it all went wrong on the opening two days before they head to Ireland’s Adare Manor.