Europe banished the memories of its record-breaking defeat two years ago with a comprehensive 16.5-11.5 victory in the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome – although there were times on Sunday afternoon when the result hang agonisingly in the balance.
The five-point margin of victory – the same deficit that after the end of play of the two previous days at Marco Simone – doesn’t tell the full story of the drama that unfolded during the 12 singles matches, which is traditionally USA’s strongest format.
Needing just four points to secure the win, European captain Luke Donald front-loaded his team, putting Jon Rahm out first and Victor Hovland second in the hope of gaining from early points for the home side.
Hovland made light work of out-of-form Collin Morikawa to secure a vital full point with a 4&3 win, and when Rahm ground out a half-point against world no.1 Scottie Scheffler with a two-putt birdie at the last from fully 60 feet, Europe were up to 13 points and within touching distance of an historic win.
And with the other top matches showing blue numbers early on, it looked like Europe would run away with it. But, as ever, the tide slowly turned USA’s way and it soon became apparent that the results of some of the later matches would prove pivotal.
Rory McIlroy, playing in match 4, and Tyrrell Hatton in match 6, added two more points, the former seeing off Sam Burns 3&2 amid emotional scenes, and the latter dispatching Open champion Brian Harman 2&1, to take Europe to 14 points, but with Justin Rose losing to Patrick Cantlay in match 3, and Max Homa winning 1up against Matt Fitzpatrick in match 5, the host side were still a half-point shy of the total they needed and with the middle section of matches showing a sea of red.
Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele all won full points for the visitors in their matches against captain’s picks Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka and Nicolai Hojgaard, to take the tally to 14-10, with four close matches still out on the course, the door was very much still open for a record breaking fight back.
Thankfully, as far as European fans were concerned, that door was firmly slammed shut when the unflappable Tommy Fleetwood, who was 1up in in match 10 against the out-of-form Rickie Fowler playing the 16th. And when the American found water off the tee on the driveable par-4 hole, and Fleetwood’s drive landed 25 feet from the pin, it was left to the man from Southport to seal the vital point that took Europe to 15 points and overall victory.
And with 12th man Bob MacIntyre adding a 16th point with a 2&1 victory over US PGA champion Wyndham Clark, the stage was set for Shane Lowry to finish off the week by claiming a half-point in a superb match with Jordan Spieth to wrap up the 16½-11½ win.
“It looked good early on for us, but then looked like it could be a bad day,” admitted a teartful Captain Donald amid the throng of celebrating players, caddies, vice captains and backroom staff. “Our guys hung in there like I knew they would. The first two days were key to us to building our lead. The Americans are so strong in singles, but we were 12 strong. Everyone contributed. I just love these guys – you need your superstars to show up and they did. I’ve put everything into it and I’m just so glad they were able to win.”
For McIlroy, who grabbed much of the headlines on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning following his car park spat with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, there was redemption for his disappointing performance at Whistling Straits in 2021 after bagging four points from a possible five in Rome, while 43-year-old Justin Rose looks certain to have bowed out from his incredible Ryder Cup career on a winning note.
For America, the post-mortem will no doubt begin on the flight back home, with question marks hanging over why they haven’t managed to win an away leg since 1993, and why a group of such talented players once again seemed to perform below par in the foursomes format of the game, which they lost 7-1. With the PGA Tour’s 2022-23 season ending five weeks before the matches, there will be questions asked as to why so few of the team decided to play in the Fortinet Championship, why all of the team hadn’t decided to come over to Marco Simone to get a sighter of the course, and why some clearly out-of-form players were brought in favour of those with recent wins to their names.
But all that is for later. For now, let Team Europe simply bask in the glory of yet another win on European soil.