What we covered here
• Europe wins the Ryder Cup: Team USA’s remarkable comeback has fallen just short. After Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele secured Sunday’s first points, the US fans started to believe the impossible could happen. Ultimately, Europe managed to fight off the charge to win the Ryder Cup, 15-13.
• McIlroy calls out fan behavior: Rory McIlroy called out the “unacceptable and abusive behavior” of some fans after videos showed a beer being flung toward his wife on Saturday. He subjected to boos and jeers throughout the weekend at Bethpage, and said that some of what he heard crossed the line.
• Team USA’s spirited comeback: The Americans entered the day facing the biggest deficit since 1979 in this competition and needed to play perfect golf. They almost did it, winning five of the first seven matches to send American fans into ecstasy.
An incredible rally by Team USA falls just short as Team Europe wins Ryder Cup
American fans have been dreaming of a big day for Team USA. On Sunday, they finally got it.
Yes, it may have been too little, too late. But you only have to look at the reactions of some of the victorious European players to understand just how close their American opponents came to the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
“I’ve been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game,” said a tearful Shane Lowry moments after he sank the putt that saw his team retain the trophy. “That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life, honestly. I just can’t believe that putt went in.”
After an inspired start from the ever-more impressive Cameron Young, it all started to go a bit pear-shaped for the Americans.
Bryson DeChambeau looked to seize the initiative with a trademark 350-yard drive, but some sloppy follow up shots had the 32-year-old scrambling. After no time at all, his opponent Matt Fitzpatrick had a commanding lead.
Elsewhere, Europe’s big names were showing their best yet again as Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy established early advantages against Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler, respectively.
Leads for Justin Rose, Ludvig Åberg and Sepp Straka were soon added, and the result looked even more of a foregone conclusion than it had done at the start of play on Sunday.
Thoughts began to shift to record margins of victory. It was not a case of “If?” It was barely a case of “When?” It became a case of “By how much?”
Then something happened.
Quite what it was is difficult to pin down. Things can change quickly at the Ryder Cup, but this was remarkable even by the tournament’s standards.
Scheffler tied his match with McIlroy. Young did the same against Rose.
Chunks of the board turned from blue to white, then from white to red.
Even DeChambeau, who had found himself down by five after seven holes, had started to eat away at Fitzpatrick’s lead.
Bethpage was believing again. There were wins for Young, Thomas, Schauffele, and Scheffler, as well as an incredible tie for DeChambeau.
But a victory for Åberg would finally stem the red tide, and a few minutes later, Lowry was on hand to tie with Russell Henley and ensure there would be no fairytale in New York. Tyrrell Hatton’s own tie with Collin Morikawa was enough for an outright victory.
The European celebrations, especially from Lowry, were predictably jubilant. However, they were also tinged with a hint of shell shock. No one expected it to be this close.
Heading into the tournament, McIlroy said that winning a Ryder Cup on foreign soil was the hardest thing to do in sports.
On Sunday, Team USA made sure that was the case.
Rory McIlroy calls out fan behavior after beer was thrown toward his wife on Saturday
Rory McIlroy called out the “unacceptable and abusive behavior” of some fans after videos showed a beer being flung toward his wife on Saturday.
“It should be off limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week,” said the Northern Irishman.
“But Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman and she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity, like she was always has. And I love her, and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
McIlroy himself was subjected to boos and jeers throughout the weekend at Bethpage, and said that some of what he heard crossed the line.
“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” he said. “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.”
The silver lining for the world No. 2 is that, after one batch of abuse, he was able to land a beauty of a shot just two feet from the pin.
How did that feel?
“Very f**ing satisfying!”
The comeback that almost was...
There was a moment – a long, bewildering, incredible moment – when it seemed possible.
Team USA entered the final day of the Ryder Cup facing a massive seven-point deficit, the largest in this tournament since it took on its current format in 1979. The team trailed 11.5-4.5 after two full days of competition and the Europeans only needed two-and-a-half points to retain the trophy.
There was no hope. There was no chance. And then, in what seemed like a blink of an eye on Sunday afternoon, everything changed.
“They were fighting the whole way, even when things were not looking good, and I didn’t expect anything different today from these guys,” said Keegan Bradley, the captain of Team USA, “who are determined, proud, and playing for each other, playing for their team, playing for their country, and they showed the world today that, really, anything is possible.”
Hometown hero Cameron Young won his match against Justin Rose, who had played sterling golf the day before and looked untouchable. Bryson DeChambeau stormed back from a five-hole deficit to steal a half-point from Matt Fitzpatrick. Justin Thomas, who looked hopelessly lost on Friday morning, sank a putt on the 18th hole to defeat the seemingly invincible Tommy Fleetwood.
When world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler won his match against Rory McIlroy, all the pieces seemed like they were falling into place.
Suddenly, the entirety of Bethpage Black felt like it was caught up in an enormous tidal wave that was lifting the American fans and their players toward the most incredible comeback this event had ever seen. And they almost pulled it off.
As Bradley said, “That was a coin flip there for a second.”
Rory McIlroy has the last laugh over the Bethpage fans
Rory McIlroy has one message for the American fans who gave him a hard time this weekend: He’s really good.
When a reporter asked him how he chooses to respond to fans who yell at him, the reporter used the example of Saturday, when a fan told McIlroy he’s “not that good.”
The Northern Irishman replied by saying, “I’m really f**king good.”
McIlroy cut off the reporter’s question, saying, “I am.”
“Really good,” he added.
The world No. 2 added that he doesn’t really have a strategy on how he interacts with fans during rounds.
“Honestly, I’d say it’s just on impulse. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.
“I’m quite an impulsive character, if you haven’t noticed,” he said.
“Sometimes I’ll engage and sometimes I’ll catch myself and refrain. But I don’t really choose when, and it’s just sort of sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t.”
The closest Ryder Cup in years, though it once seemed like a blowout
Yesterday, it seemed like this Ryder Cup would be The Blowout at Bethpage.
Instead, it ends up being the closest Ryder Cup in more than 10 years.
The last time the biennial tournament was this close was in 2012, during the Miracle at Medinah, when Team Europe made the biggest comeback in this tournament’s history to beat Team USA 14.5-13.5.
This year’s two-point margin of victory is closer than any of the last five Ryder Cups, which were all decided by more than five points, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Elias reports the Americans’ 8.5 points earned on Sunday matches the highest total in the modern era of the Ryder Cup since it took its current format in 1975.
Rory McIlroy pauses reporter’s question to chug beer
It’s fair to say spirits are high in Team Europe’s press conference. Alongside the customary Gatorades are some drinks of a different variety.
One reporter begins a question to Rory McIlroy, but has to pause as the veteran holds up his finger and takes a long drink from his beer.
“Chug! Chug!” is the cry from the reporter.
Keegan Bradley calls for change of rules following Hovland's injury
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley was quick to announce his feelings after Viktor Hovland pulled out of the Ryder Cup just about two-and-a-half hours before his match against Harris English on Sunday due to a neck injury.
“Yeah, it has to change,” Bradley told reporters following a 15-13 loss to Team Europe at Bethpage Black.
The two combatants were set to face off in the day’s final match, which was scored as a tie and each team awarded a half point.
According to the Ryder Cup’s rules, each team captain must submit a name in an envelope ahead of the tournament start and that player would not play singles matches in case of an injury to the other team. Bradley had picked English.
When asked if he had ideas for a change, Bradley reiterated his call for a rule change without disclosing his solution.
“I have a few ideas but I’m not going to tell you right now. I mean, the rule has to change. I think it’s obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room.
“Nothing against Viktor. But that rule needs to change by the next Ryder Cup,” Bradley said.
The next Ryder Cup is in 2027 at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.
Team Europe celebrates hard-fought win with fans and players’ families
There will have been more than a few nervous family members cheering on Team Europe on Sunday afternoon.
The longer the matches went on, the more it looked like they might have to cancel their plans to celebrate tonight.
But their husbands, sons and dads got it done eventually.
Tears of joy, rather than heartbreak, have broken out for the European players and their loved ones.
They’re not the only ones celebrating. The European fans have had to fight to be heard amongst a boisterous American crowd at Bethpage, but this is their moment too.
Some will have spent thousands of dollars to be on the course in New York today. The way these celebrations are looking, they might still be in New York a week from now.
Donald does the double. Will he return for the hat trick?
It needed a sporting miracle the last time Team Europe jetted the Ryder Cup back across the Atlantic. To achieve the feat on Sunday, they needed to quash one.
The Europeans dodged suffering the greatest final day collapse in the tournament’s 98-year history to secure their first home-away double since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012, when they overturned a four-point deficit to follow up triumph in Wales two years prior.
Once the New York champagne has finished flowing, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and company can look to 2027 and Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, where a successful defense of home court would see them register their third three-peat since 2006.
The question is, will it be captain Luke Donald at the wheel again? Rahm certainly hopes so.
“What he’s done these four years … is absolutely astonishing,” the Spaniard, influential in Italy two years ago, told reporters.
“He has been so professional, so dedicated, so incredibly meticulous, and well organized and doing everything that he needs to do and that’s why you’ve seen the two performances you’ve seen from us.
“He’s the leader of the ship and he’s definitely led us the right way. The only thing left to say from I think all of us is two more years.”
Team Europe raises the Ryder Cup after thrilling final day
Europe had one hand firmly on the trophy heading into the final day’s play at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
But as America edged closer and closer to a famous comeback, the trophy was slowly slipping out of Team Europe’s grasp.
But captain Luke Donald’s team held on tight and squeezed over the line to record a famous win, hoisting the trophy high after completing an incredible victory on US soil.
The trophy was passed down the line of the victorious 12 Ryder Cup players, each one of them draped in their nation’s flag. Following in their captain’s footsteps each player lifted the trophy, teasing the now European-dominated crowd every time it was raised.
“To win in New York, they said it probably couldn’t be done but we did it,” Donald said at the trophy presentation.
Luke Donald cements his place as one of the best in Ryder Cup history
Most of the credit will go towards the 12 golfers for Team Europe and for good reason.
But you cannot talk about the recent European dominance without giving credit to team captain, Luke Donald.
The 47-year-old became just the second European captain to win back-to-back Ryder Cups, joining Tony Jacklin (1985, 1987) after the thrilling 15-13 victory over Team USA Sunday at Bethpage Black.
“This means a lot, obviously, to me and the team. We came here knowing that the task would be very difficult. [I] couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Donald told NBC after the win.
“What they’ve gone through, how they come together, how they’re playing for history, how they’re playing for the people who came before them and now they’ll be talked about for generations to come now as someone that will go down in history. Couldn’t be more proud.”
However, the Englishman was once one of those 12 golfers fighting for the Ryder Cup with Team Europe, winning four trophies in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012.
In 15 career Cup matches as a player, Donald amassed a 10-4-1 record, the second-highest winning percentage of all-time behind Tommy Fleetwood, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
At the end of the day, Donald will go down in history as not just one of the greatest golfers ever, but also as one of the very best Ryder Cup captains.
Donald is the first person for either Team Europe or Team USA to serve as captain in consecutive tournaments since Scotsman Bernard Gallacher did so for the European team in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
When asked if he would return in two years for the 46th Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, Donald quickly said, “I think I want to enjoy tonight first.”
Burns and MacIntyre tie to end a pulsating Ryder Cup
What looked like it could be a nerve-shredding walk of destiny turns into a leisurely stroll in the New York sunshine for Robert MacIntyre, as the Scotsman is afforded the ultimate luxury of enjoying his final few swings at Bethpage Black following Tyrrell Hatton’s victory-clinching half point.
His teammates an exhausted swarm of relief around the 18th green, the Scotsman is serenaded home by the buoyant European fans in the grandstands as he looks to pull level with Sam Burns at the death.
The din is turned down only when the final duo line up their respective putts, sparking back up into cheers when the American’s missed effort for par sees the matchup end all square.
And with that, a spellbinding 45th Ryder Cup, is over. Later than most expected, but over.
Tyrrell Hatton secures famous Ryder Cup victory for Europe
At the start of today’s play, Tyrrell Hatton would not have been blamed for thinking his match might mean nothing in the context of the Ryder Cup.
It should never have come down to the penultimate match of the day.
But after Team USA’s incredible comeback, Hatton’s matchup against Collin Morikawa started to become more and more crucial.
After a scrappy 18 holes, the match between Hatton and Morikawa ended as it started – all square.
Hatton has secured an incredible victory for Team Europe and one that will live long in the memory of everyone involved.
Hatton TIED Morikawa
A few moments will linger long in the memory and sting Team USA
There are some moments that stick out to me which will linger long in the memory about why Team USA couldn’t actually pull off this incredible comeback.
There’s Russell Cantlay missing a short putt on the 16th hole of fourballs action on Friday, failing to put away the European team of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who were able to steal half a point.
There’s the moment on Friday night when it was announced that Harris English and Collin Morikawa – demolished on Friday against McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood Friday morning in the alternate shot session – would play against the same opponents again. American captain Keegan Bradley faced harsh criticism for that call and, unsurprisingly, the same result happened again on Saturday morning.
There’s the announcement of Viktor Hovland’s injury requiring him to pull out on Sunday, just a few hours before he was set to tee off. The announcement meant that Team Europe secured a vital half point before play even began because tournament rules meant that Hovland’s match against Harris English would be ruled a tie.
All of those moments resulted in crucial points being lost for the Americans. On Saturday night, they seemed like minor footnotes. Now, with the Ryder Cup set to be decided by an incredibly slim margin, they will sting until the next tournament in 2027.
Griffin beats Højgaard for another American win
Ben Griffin’s heart will have been in his mouth as he saw Rasmus Højgaard’s 48-foot putt trundle agonizingly close to the cup.
But it was not to be for the Dane, and Griffin has won another point for Team USA. The Americans still have a chance of claiming 14 points.
Current score: 14-12 Europe.
Griffin defeats Højgaard 1 UP
Can Tyrrell Hatton guide Europe to win?
Europe has already retained the Ryder Cup but everyone out there knows how much a win would mean to the team.
Only 37 players have won away from home in the US and Team Europe would want nothing more than to add all of this traveling team to that list.
Tyrrell Hatton is currently the man best placed to get Europe across the line.
Hatton and Collin Morikawa are all tied up as they head toward hole No. 18.
Can Europe sneak over and record a famous victory?
Hatton TIED vs. Morikawa (17)
MacIntyre stumbles to gift lead back to Burns
A slight but sharp pin in the bubble of European euphoria as Robert MacIntyre’s composure shatters spectacularly.
The Scotsman finds the 15th green safely only to make a total meal of the par-five, three-putting to gift wrap the lead back to Sam Burns with three to play.
The 14-point mark is still within reach for Team USA.
Burns 1 UP vs MacIntyre (15)
Team Europe retains the Ryder Cup!
Team Europe has retained the Ryder Cup after Shane Lowry managed to snatch half a point on the final hole.
The Irishman gave himself a chance by staying on par on hole 17, and then put the pressure on Russell Henley with an excellent tee shot. That pressure apparently told as Henley landed his own drive in a bunker.
A fantastic recovery from the American lands him 10 feet from the pin. But his putt falls just short.
Step forward Lowry. Six feet away from glory.
And he gets it! Cue the celebrations for Team Europe!
Team Europe on verge of retaining Ryder Cup
It may have taken slightly longer than they thought it would, but that win for Ludvig Åberg means that the Europeans are now just half a point from retaining the Ryder Cup.
A 14-point total would mean that – as the defending champion – Team Europe would keep hold of the trophy – 14.5 points are needed to win it outright.
Griffin-Højgaard and Morikawa-Hatton, as the only matches not currently being led by Team USA, are taking on huge significance right now.
Should they stay tied, Luke Donald’s team will win. Should either Griffin or Morikawa find something, we might witness the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
The next few minutes could be absolutely huge.
A New England Patriots inspired comeback from Team USA
Just how have the Americans been able to turn this around?
Captain Keegan Bradley might have a lot to do with it, he wasn’t at all downbeat in the media conference last night and he said he told his players that they should still believe.
“I was at that 28-3 game against the Falcons,” he said, when the New England Patriots pulled off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. “I was there. But my message was, if you were a 16-year-old kid, and you were going to get to go play for your country in singles in New York at Bethpage Black, you would be so excited.
“Of course I want to go out there and make history tomorrow. They all do. But I think you’ve got to relish in the opportunity to get out on the course tomorrow and play for your country at a course like this, at a venue like this. I think it’s something that you’ve got to look forward to.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said Bradley helped get the team going ahead of Sunday.
“Keegan did a good job putting us in position and keeping the energy up, and the guys were motivated to come out and play. We’ve showed a lot of fight today, and we’ll see what happens,” the world No. 1 said.
They might now be on the brink of the greatest experience in their golfing careers.
