Fleetwood secures Ryder Cup for Europe after American fightback

When the Ryder Cup involves Europe, the house workforce has been unbeatable.

Tommy Fleetwood of England landed the decisive blow Sunday afternoon for Workforce Europe to lastly vanquish america workforce and win the forty fourth Ryder Cup 16 1/2-11 1/2 at Marco Simone Golf and Nation Membership outdoors Rome.

Europe has claimed eight of the final 11 Ryder Cups, because the People failed to finish a Ryder Cup highway drought that dates to 1993.

“Proud, proud, proud second for me. They play for greater than themselves, they play collectively,” emotional Workforce Europe captain Luke Donald mentioned in a post-match TV interview.

Workforce Europe led 10 1/2-5 1/2 coming into Sunday’s 12 singles matches needing 4 factors to win, with the U.S. workforce required to get 8 1/2 factors to retain the cup.

After falling behind 14-7 Sunday, the U.S. needed to sweep the ultimate seven matches of the day. Brooks Koepka completed off Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg 3 and a pair of, and Max Homa made a large choice on the 18th gap that paid off to protect a 1-up win over Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.

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Xander Schauffele defeated Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard 3 and a pair of, however the People’ faint hopes fell aside when Rickie Fowler, 1 all the way down to Fleetwood, lower his drive into the water on the brief par-4 sixteenth.

Fleetwood’s ensuing drive rolled to 23 ft from the flagstick. His eagle putt was brief, however Fowler conceded the birdie, making certain Europe would acquire no less than half some extent from the match. Fleetwood made it official on the following gap, profitable 3 and 1 for Europe’s fifteenth level.

“I didn’t assume it was going to go all the way down to the again finish,” Fleetwood mentioned. “Simply to have performed an element in all of it this week, specifically immediately. I wasn’t actually planning on it coming all the way down to us however I all the time had it in my thoughts. It was fairly nervy coming all the way down to the previous couple of.”

The People wanted a document comeback Sunday to retain the cup; the most important Sunday rally in Ryder Cup historical past belongs to the 1999 U.S. workforce, from 4 factors down.

“I believe the European workforce performed phenomenal golf. I believe it really is that straightforward. I believe my guys confirmed true coronary heart, true grit,” U.S. captain Zach Johnson mentioned post-match, choking up with emotion. “I’m honoured to symbolize my nation. I’ll do the interviews, I’ll do the media, I’ll take the burden. I’ll take my 12 any Cup.”

Europe’s “massive three” — Rory McIlroy of Northern Eire, Jon Rahm of Spain and Viktor Hovland of Norway — mixed to earn 2 1/2 factors early within the day. Tyrrell Hatton of England beat Brian Harman 3 and a pair of to carry Europe to 14 factors earlier than the People discovered methods to remain afloat.

Homa was 1 up on Fitzpatrick on the par-5 18th when each gamers missed to the precise of the inexperienced on their second pictures. Whereas Fitzpatrick chipped on, Homa’s ball was so buried within the tall, snaking tough that he took an unplayable lie and yielded a penalty stroke.

It was the precise choice. Homa chipped it to 7 1/2 ft together with his fourth shot, Fitzpatrick missed a birdie putt that will have received the cup and Homa transformed the must-have par to protect the total U.S. level.

“(Caddie) Joe Greiner’s the brains, I simply swing it,” mentioned Homa, who led the U.S. this week with a 3-1-1 document. “That was an terrible break. I don’t know the way (his second shot) didn’t get into the bunker, and I used to be pissed off, my head was spinning. (Greiner) mentioned, ‘We’re gonna take an unplayable right here, you’re gonna chip it all the way down to 10 ft, and also you’re gonna make it.’”

McIlroy led all gamers within the 2023 occasion, profitable 4 of a potential 5 factors. He cruised previous Sam Burns 3 and 1 after Rahm had tied Scottie Scheffler in a back-and-forth match.

“I used to be so upset after Whistling Straits. All of us had been,” McIlroy mentioned, referencing the People’ 19-9 win in 2021. “And we needed to return right here to Rome this yr and redeem ourselves a bit. We’ve bought some contemporary blood on the workforce that I believe has labored actually, very well.”

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Hovland scored the primary level of the day by soundly defeating Collin Morikawa 4 and three. Hovland went 3-1-1 for the competitors, the one European participant apart from McIlroy (4-1-0) to play all 5 classes this weekend.

Cantlay staved off decided Englishman Justin Rose 2 and 1 for the People’ first full level of the day. Cantlay denied a report from Sky Sports activities the day prior to this that the U.S. workforce room was “fractured” as Cantlay declined to put on the workforce’s hat in protest of not getting paid for his providers this week.

“I simply attempt to use it as gas,” Cantlay mentioned of the adversity in Rome. “, you’ll be able to take all that power and switch it into focus and switch it into good adrenaline. That’s what I attempted to do that week.”

Cantlay additionally made a 43-foot birdie putt Saturday to win his four-ball match. His efforts weren’t sufficient to beat a European aspect led by Englishman Donald, who changed Henrik Stenson of Sweden as captain 14 months earlier than the competitors resulting from Stenson becoming a member of LIV Golf.

“All of Workforce Europe, we clearly play for one another, and that’s such a large energy for us and our unity,” Fleetwood mentioned. “And one step above that’s Luke, and all of us needed to do it for him.”