Europe, as expected with the five-point lead it started with today, has reconquered the Ryder Cup, a competition that the United States has not won on European soil since 1993. The Englishman Tommy Fleetwood added the last half point that the locals needed to cement their victory in this 44th edition of the biennial tournament that pits two continents against each other and is one of the most important sporting events in the world. In the end, Europe won with a five-point lead: 16.5 to 11.5.
Never before had the Ryder experienced a five-point comeback on the last day and, with 10.5 to 5.5 for Europe at the start of the day, the story did not change at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
The European captain, Luke Donald, put his strong men at the start in search of the four points that separated them from victory, among them Jon Rahm, who achieved half a point on the last hole against the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, in the duel that opened the dance of the individual matches.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland took the second match against Collin Morikawa, and Rory McIlroy and Tyrrel Hatton also beat Sam Burns and Brian Harman.
The visitors continued their progression in their game and prolonged the excitement but, with Europe half a point away from winning the Ryder and five matches still in play, it soon became clear that a home win was only a matter of time.
After those first matches, Rose and Fitzpatrick were the first victims of the American team, losing to Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa.
Hatton gave more happiness to the European team in a match full of grit by beating a British Open winner by 3&2.
Koepka, Thomas and Schauffele added three almost useless points for the American team, which saw how in the last three matches Europe tied through Lowry, who tied with Jordan Spieth giving half a point more to Europe and the last two matches with victories by Fleetwood and Macintyre by 3&1 and 2&1, respectively, which closed a memorable Ryder Cup for the European team.
In the last thirteen editions of the Ryder Cup, Europe has won seven times in the best team golf competition in the world.
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