Team USA Reclaims Ryder Cup After 8 Years

It turned out that when American Ryan Moore clinched the winning point, there were still three matches on the course that had not yet finished, including more USA victories, just waiting to happen.

And there in the middle of the front row of the press conference sat Patrick Reed, who electrified the Americans and the boisterous crowds, sat next to Moore, the final captain’s pick who didn’t even know he’d be a part of the team a week earlier.

Team USA won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 and inflicted Europe’s heaviest defeat for 35 years with a rousing 17-11 victory at Hazeltine on Sunday. “Thank you”, Moore said.

Mickelson had never lost any of three Ryder Cup matches he played against McIlroy, but Lefty didn’t have much of a chance Saturday morning in foursomes.

But Clarke said: “I have to say, this week, I couldn’t be more proud of the guys that I’m surrounded with”. It worked. They are undefeated in two matches. “We are not going to win every one, but we are going to go into them with a better attitude”.

“So I just felt coming down the stretch, it was a little soft”.

Those two provided a smorgasbord of great shots, birdie putts, gyrations on the greens, and even a classy, shared fist bump after they each drained long, twisting birdie putts on the par-3 eighth hole. Everybody’s playing the same (holes and pin placements).

While one United States supporter made headlines when he challenged a group of Europe players during their practice round Thursday – and subsequently won a $100 bet – some of the later interaction was not so friendly. There’s a lot of things that I didn’t realize that went on, and very eye-opening – it was a great experience. That put the US into the clubhouse ahead 9.5-6.5, needing to generate only five points in Sunday’s 12 singles matches.

The hostility of home fans had been stoked when Peter Willett – the brother of Team Europe’s Danny Willett – published an article ranting about United States supporters.

CHASKA, MN – OCTOBER 02: Rory McIlroy of Europe hits off the 17th tee during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on October 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota.

With Europe needing a huge rally in singles, Rose’s teammate, Rory McIlroy, agreed that the course set-up favored the Americans.

It was time for an American celebration in the Ryder Cup, and one could sense the strong belief they wouldn’t have to wait eight years for another one.

Love fended off repeated questions this week about how this team wasn’t one to look back. Sergio Garcia would tie the match a few minutes later with a birdie of his own, but by then it was already clear the American rout in this Ryder Cup was on.

“I’ve got a partner beside me for the next 20 years, I’m not letting anyone else have him”, he said. “I’m going to try and flip this match somehow, ‘” Moore said. “Phil just made (putts) from everywhere and played well”.

Other U.S. winners on Sunday were Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedecker, Brooks Koepka (KEHP’-kuh) and Zach Johnson.

The Americans are leading 2-0 when it comes to shanks. Koepka was 3-1, and Reed was 3-1-1.

Europe’s powerhouse combination of Rose and Henrik Stenson, sent out first in each of the first two sessions at Hazeltine to set the tone for their team, were on the receiving end of occasional heckling, as well as deafening US cheers.

4 – Points collected by wildcard Pieters, all from wins, a record for a European rookie.