Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup from a determined United States team on Sunday, sealing a 16.5-11.5 victory despite a spirited American singles charge. The USA remains without a win on European soil since 1993, while neither side has lifted the trophy away from home in the past 11 years.
With Europe needing just half a point to secure victory, Tommy Fleetwood moved 2-up against Rickie Fowler with two holes to play, securing a crucial eagle putt to ensure Europe’s seventh consecutive home victory and ultimately winning 3 and 1.
Reflecting on the triumph, Fleetwood expressed a mix of emotions, saying, “I think relief, pride, joy. Proud of everybody that’s been involved this week and just proud that I’m one of the people that gets to play a role in what we came here to do.”
US captain Zach Johnson took responsibility for the loss, acknowledging, “The defeat is on me, I made some poor decisions, and I will reflect. Those 12 guys played so hard and fought for our country.”
Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Jon Rahm led the charge for Europe with early victories in the sunny setting of Rome. Luke Donald, the European captain, commended his team’s resilience, stating, “It was stressful as the US put up a fight today, so hats off to them. But I am so proud of my 12 guys. We formed a bond from day one, and they gave me everything.”
The day saw a seesaw battle between the teams, with the USA initially leading in seven matches and tied in the other. However, Europe regrouped and ended up halving the singles session 6-6.
The Americans aimed to mount a historic Sunday comeback, having trailed 10.5-5.5 at the start of the day. Their hopes were dashed by a dominant European performance.
The jubilant scenes on the 18th green marked the conclusion of the Ryder Cup, with Shane Lowry and Jordan Spieth halving the final match. Europe’s triumph underscored the resilience and determination of the team, securing their hold on the prestigious trophy for another year.
