Well, it was pretty awful for American fans watching the Ryder Cup – until it wasn’t – until it was again. The 45th Ryder Cup, played at Bethpage Black in New York, pitted the best of Europe vs the best of the U.S. and produced an almost wild finish. Europe absolutely dominated the first 2 days, leaving all of us Americans frustrated and disappointed in what looked like another European runaway with the cup.
Strong pairings and flawless play from Tommy Fleetwood, who went unbeaten through the first two days, helped Europe storm to an 11.5–4.5 advantage by Saturday evening. It was the largest away lead in modern Ryder Cup history, leaving the home team stunned and their fans restless. Even world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler faltered, losing his first four matches in a shocking slump.
Sunday brought the drama the Ryder Cup is known for. Team USA roared back in singles, claiming 8½ of the 12 available points, equaling a record for the best final-day comeback. Scheffler redeemed himself with a win over Rory McIlroy, while Collin Morikawa and others fed off the Bethpage crowd to mount real pressure. For a time, Europe’s commanding lead looked in danger of collapsing. And a big shoutout to Bryson DeChambeau who furiously erased a 5 stroke deficit to end up in a tie.
But Europe’s composure held firm when it mattered most. Shane Lowry holed a clutch birdie putt on the 18th green to halve his match, ensuring Europe would retain the Cup. Soon after, Tyrrell Hatton secured the decisive half-point against Morikawa, lifting Europe to 14½ points and guaranteeing outright victory. A forced withdrawal by Viktor Hovland added another half-point, sealing a 15–13 triumph for the visitors.
The victory carried historic weight. It marked Europe’s first win in America in 13 years and their 11th Ryder Cup title in the past 15 editions, underscoring their dominance in the modern era. Donald etched his name alongside Tony Jacklin as only the second captain to win back-to-back Cups both home and away. For the U.S., a spirited Sunday was not enough to erase the damage from a sluggish start.
Now it’s back to the waiting game as golf fans patiently await the next season.
2 OFF THE TEE 