England’s Tyrrell Hatton played a decisive role in securing Europe’s victory in the Ryder Cup with a crucial half-point in his match against American Collin Morikawa at Bethpage Black. The triumph for the European team was earlier paved by Shane Lowry’s performance when he retained the trophy by halving his match with Russell Henley. This set the stage for Hatton’s pivotal contribution in the penultimate match.
Entering the final day, Europe needed only 2.5 points from 11 singles matches to secure the win, though many had expected Europe to seal the victory earlier in the competition. Reflecting on the 15-13 win, Hatton expressed how challenging the day had been for him, stating, “It’s been one of the hardest days I’ve ever experienced on a golf course,” while also sharing his sense of relief and joy at the team’s accomplishment.
This victory continues Europe’s legacy in the Ryder Cup, marking their 11th win out of the last 15 editions since 1995. Englishman Luke Donald made history by becoming the first captain to lead the team to back-to-back victories since Tony Jacklin in the 1980s. Donald commented on the intensity of the experience, saying, “It’s got to be the most stressful 12 hours of my life. We knew they’d be tough, but we didn’t think they’d be this tough.”
Despite a strong final-day effort from Team USA, with wins from Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, Europe demonstrated resilience and strategic play to overcome the late American surge. The U.S. briefly revived hopes through Xander Schauffele’s win over Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler’s narrow victory against Rory McIlroy in their first-ever singles clash. Ultimately, it was Hatton’s consistency that sealed the win for Europe.
In a notable incident, Viktor Hovland’s withdrawal due to injury resulted in his match against Harris English being declared a tie, granting each team a half-point. Nevertheless, the excitement of the day was heightened as Europe displayed their characteristic determination and teamwork to secure the victory.
Europe’s Ryder Cup win underscores their tradition of success in this prestigious biennial event. It contrast recent discourse about a narrowing gap between the two sides. The victory highlights Europe’s strategic genius, depth of talent, and enduring spirit of camaraderie, elements that continue to fuel their remarkable success in this celebrated golf competition.