Golf | Ryder Cup | USA 13 - 15 Europe

Europe hold off the United States to win Ryder Cup

It was an extraordinary day of golf as Europe won despite an extraordinary effort by the US.

Author | Liam C

The headlines were being prepared long before Sunday’s Ryder Cup singles had begun, such was Europe’s dominance over the opening two days. They led by a record seven points, 11½-4½, and needed only three more from 12 matches to seal victory.

No team had ever recovered from more than a four-point deficit, and for many it seemed a formality. Yet the United States mounted a fight that will be remembered for years. In the end Europe stumbled across the line, securing a 15-13 win, with Ludvig Aberg the only visitor to win his match as six American players registered victories.

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It fell to Tyrrell Hatton in match 10 to take Europe to the decisive 14½ points. It was a fitting conclusion, the Englishman one of only two players to remain unbeaten across the week, the other being Shane Lowry, who had holed the putt that guaranteed Europe would retain the trophy by reaching 14 points.

How this extraordinary day unfolded

The United States needed 10 points to regain the trophy. No side had ever claimed more than 8½ from the 12 singles matches.

Their challenge became even steeper when Europe confirmed Viktor Hovland would not play because of a neck injury. Under Ryder Cup rules, one American also had to sit out and both sides received half a point, leaving the score at 12-5 in Europe’s favour.

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When Cam Young and Justin Rose stepped onto the first tee for the opening match, few could have imagined the drama that lay ahead.

Even the famously combative New York galleries arrived more in hope than expectation. In the end it was hope that proved their undoing.

Young, a rookie born in New York, birdied the first hole to put the first flash of red on the board. Rose answered immediately and edged one ahead after five. Behind him Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg were also in front. Bethpage Black felt like Bethpage Blue, and the atmosphere quickly subdued.

Europe's 'best-ever captain' masterminded this win

On the day President Trump made his appearance at the Ryder Cup, a homemade banner was fixed to a hospitality box beside the 18th fairway at Bethpage.

“In Donald we trust,” it read.

The message was not directed at the US president but at Luke Donald, Europe’s captain, who cemented his legacy by becoming only the fourth man to win consecutive Ryder Cups.

Defeated US captain Keegan Bradley went as far as to call him the best European Ryder Cup captain ever.

Donald, drafted in as a late replacement for Henrik Stenson after the Swede’s defection to LIV Golf, had overseen Europe’s victory in Rome in 2023 and followed it with triumph in New York. He joins Tony Jacklin as the only man to lead Europe to wins both home and away, Jacklin achieving the feat in 1985 and 1987.