Europe’s Ryder Cup stars have begun to fully absorb what they achieved at Bethpage, where they ended a 13-year wait for an away victory in the United States, sealing a dramatic 15-13 triumph that will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the competition’s history.
No room for mercy in the final singles
Although Europe had already done enough to guarantee victory before the final singles matches concluded, captain Luke Donald was determined there would be no ambiguity around the result. The concern was that the injury withdrawal of Viktor Hovland, who was forced out with a neck problem, could later be cited as a decisive factor.
That context added pressure to Bob MacIntyre’s match against Sam Burns, even after Europe crossed the winning threshold. Had MacIntyre lost the final contest, Europe would have scraped through by the narrowest possible margin, leaving room for debate.
MacIntyre later revealed that European vice-captains Thomas Bjorn and one of the Molinari brothers made it clear his half point still mattered. Though the match was technically dead, the message was simple: remove any doubt.
Burns three-putted on the final green, MacIntyre calmly secured a par, and Europe claimed the half point that ensured the victory carried no asterisk.
Fear of a historic collapse
The tension had been real earlier in the day. The United States surged back by taking five and a half points from the first seven singles, briefly raising the prospect of an extraordinary comeback.
MacIntyre admitted he feared the worst as momentum swung sharply. With the Americans piling on pressure, the question inside the European camp was stark: where were the remaining points coming from?
Lowry’s moment of calm amid chaos
Europe’s grip finally tightened when Shane Lowry holed a crucial birdie putt to halve his match against Russell Henley, pushing the team past the critical 14½-point mark needed to retain the trophy.
Lowry later explained that he had warned teammates about complacency the night before. No Ryder Cup Sunday, he said, is ever safe — there is always a spell where everything can change.
Playing once again alongside Rory McIlroy, Lowry also acted as a shield against an openly hostile New York crowd. He felt McIlroy could lean on him, helped by the close-knit support group that included both players’ caddies.
Prepared for hostility, fuelled by it
Donald had anticipated the atmosphere and went as far as issuing virtual reality headsets to mentally prepare his squad for what awaited them. While some players bore the brunt of abuse, others embraced the chaos.
Matt Fitzpatrick described being shouted at from every angle, mocked over everything from missed shots to his appearance. Rather than being distracted, he found it amusing and motivating.
However, Fitzpatrick acknowledged that some behaviour aimed at McIlroy and Lowry crossed a line. Still, Europe’s mental preparation helped them thrive where others might have crumbled.
A turning point on Saturday evening
One of the defining moments came during Saturday’s fourballs when Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton beat Burns and Patrick Cantlay on the final green. Hatton had only been drafted in late as cover for Hovland, yet the pairing delivered a vital point.
As American fans streamed out of the stands, European supporters took over the atmosphere. Fitzpatrick recalled walking up the 18th fairway surrounded by European chants, a moment he says still gives him goosebumps months later.
From doubt to redemption
Fitzpatrick arrived at Bethpage with a modest Ryder Cup record and questions over his captain’s pick status. He left having delivered two and a half points, bettered only by Tommy Fleetwood, McIlroy, and Hatton.
Fleetwood, who thrived in multiple partnerships, said the squad had been repeatedly reminded of the significance of winning on US soil. Only 37 Europeans had achieved it before; this team’s mission was to make it 47.
A week that may never be topped
For many, including Lowry, the emotional weight of the victory surpassed even individual career highs. Lowry admitted that ensuring Europe could not be beaten meant more to him than winning The Open at Portrush in 2019.
Celebrations were loud but meaningful. Champagne flowed, songs echoed on the team bus, and later at the hotel, Lowry quietly stepped aside to watch the joy unfold.
He sat alone for nearly 40 minutes, simply taking it all in — convinced that both the evening and the week as a whole would be almost impossible to surpass.
(According to BBC Sports)
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