Europe retains Ryder Cup

By Lukas Rascilla

There were no miracles, no come from behind heroics. In winning the 40^th Ryder Cup matches, the European machine hummed to a lead heading into the final day singles and was never going to be headed from there.

The European team led the United States 10-6 after two days of foursomes and fourballs matches and needed just four points to retain the trophy. Led by World No.1 Rory McIlroy, Europe won five matches on the final day and halved three more to seal a comfortable 16 ½ to 11 ½ victory.

McIlroy gave Europe a great start making four birdies and an eagle to go five up after just six holes in his win over Rickie Fowler.

Graeme McDowell celebrates his winning putt after a huge fight back against Jordan Spieth. PHOTO: Getty Images

Graeme McDowell then built on Europe’s lead with a win over Jordan Spieth. The American surged to a three-up lead after five holes but McDowell responded by winning a run of four holes from the 10th to the 13th to turn the tide and claimed the match with a nervous putt on the 17th.

Patrick Reed helped stem the flow with a US victory after Swede Henrik Stenson missed a short birdie putt on the 18th.

Patrick Reed misses a putt for at the final hole. PHOTO: Getty Images

Reed had some fun with the home crowd, quietening them after he drained a putt on the 7th to square the match with Stenson. It was in response to being heckled at the 1st tee after missing a two-foot putt the day before on the 16th. Reed said of the crowd: “Of course they're going to heckle me, and, yeah, I missed a putt I probably could make on one foot left-handed the day before, and so they gave me a hard time about that.”

Germany’s Martin Kaymer received a rowdy applause from the crowd after a dramatic chip-in for eagle on the 16th to complete his win over Bubba Watson, pushing Europe’s lead to 13-7, needing just one more point to secure the victory.

Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson both won their matches, in the process keeping the American hopes alive. Kuchar beat out Dane Thomas Bjorn, who went down by three after eight holes and never recovered, while Mickelson’s win came over Ryder Cup debutant Stephen Gallacher.

After Justin Rose fought back to halve his match with Hunter Mahan, Europe only needed another half a point to secure the Cup.

It was left to Welshman Jamie Donaldson to officially secure the European victory with a resounding victory over Keegan Bradley. Donaldson won his match with an impressive approach shot on the 15th that landed within two feet of the hole. Donaldson said he was fortunate that he could claim the victory on his debut.

“Yeah, you know, it was lucky it came down to my match and just happened to be that way,” he said.

“I knew obviously I'm 4-up with four to play there, and hit a really good tee shot down 15 there. Just a perfect yardage and wedge shot of my life to close the game out.

“I can't really put words to it. It's unbelievable. Obviously I knew it was all getting tight there at the end, but it's all getting tight at the end, and everybody was obviously building at my group. I was just trying to not spend too much time looking at the scoreboard and just concentrate on my match and that's what I did, and was able to do it well enough to close it out.”

Team Europe added to their total with Sergio Garcia beating Jim Furyk, while Frenchman Victor Dubuisson halved with Zach Johnson and Ian Poulter halved with Webb Simpson.

Bubba Watson sheds a tear as he stands for the American anthem during the trophy presentation. PHOTO: Getty Images

Jimmy Walker had an outstanding victory over nine-time Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood. Walker carded eight birdies for the round, clinching the win on the 16th, adding some respectability to the US score.

European captain, Paul McGinley could not praise his players enough for the victory.

“Proud is the first word,” he said. “I want to say as captain it's been a real honour to get these 12 players, they have all been Colossus, and all of them, the caddies, the backroom team, five vice captains, it's been a huge team effort.

“I didn't execute the plan. It's easy to put it in place. It's one thing to execute. I did the easy bit. They did the hard bit and I really mean that. I know what it's like to be there as a player. I know how difficult it is to play in a Ryder Cup.”

Europe has now won eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups, while the US have not won a Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993.

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