Semmingly impossible almost possible at Bethpage Black
The European team after a gripping final day – image PGA of America
Down 11.5 to 4.5 heading into Sunday’s singles matches at Bethpage Black on Long Island, the USA team would so nearly defy history and logic with a comeback for the ages to ensure the outcome of the 45th Ryder Cup would remain in doubt until the second-to-last match of the day between Tyrrell Hatton and Collin Morikawa reached the 18th green.
It was there that Hatton secured the half point needed to secure the victory for the Europeans, who would eventually win 15 to 13. Even though the retention of the Cup they had won two years ago in Europe had been settled 20 minutes earlier when Shane Lowry holed an 8-foot birdie putt at the last to square his match against Russell Henley to take the Europeans to 14 points, there remained interest in just whether the Americans could complete the remarkable comeback with a tied encounter or even victory.
Henley will rue leaving two very makeable putts from ten feet or so at the final two holes on line but short, either of which might just have made the difference. But, it wasn’t to be, and despite winning the Sunday Singles by 8.5 to 3.5 the Americans could not overcome the domination of the Europeans in the Foursomes and Fourball match-ups over the opening two days.
There are just so many stories to take from the week and more especially the final day but suffice to say that the Europeans, beautifully captained and managed by Luke Donald, had set the bar over the opening two days, and, in the end, the margin was a bridge too far for the Americans to overcome.
Somehow, however, the Americans managed to turn what was potentially an exhibition match and walk in the park on Sunday into one of the most gripping final days in the history of the event and there have been plenty.
Chasing just 2.5 points from the 12 head-to-head single match-ups, Europe probably gained a further advantage when Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw from his encounter with Harris English, meaning an automatic half point to either side. Europe would then need only 2 points to retain the trophy and 3 to win outright.
Europe made a fast start, leading early in all of their first five matches, and a whitewash appeared on the cards, but slowly the momentum began swinging back to the Americans, and as the afternoon wore on, there was an increasing realisation that maybe, just maybe, the seemingly impossible was possible.
Nine of the twelve matches were concluded in either a tie or a 1-up result, ensuring everyone at Bethpage Black, and perhaps the game’s biggest ever viewing audience internationally, were kept on the edge of their seats until Lowry secured the half point needed to retain the Cup followed soon after when Hatton fought out a memorable clash with Morikawa to move the Europeans ahead.
The final day drama turned an, at times, ugly encounter into one in which both sides could be considered winners.
Sure, the Europeans were brilliant in establishing what turned out to be an unassailable lead, but the manner in which the Americans fought so hard on Sunday to keep the outcome in doubt for so long, ensured the 45th Ryder Cup will now be remembered more for the intense and hard-fought battle to the finish than for some of the ugly crowd behaviour so prevalent on the opening two days.
Adare Manor in Ireland, in two years time, can hardly come soon enough.
