So that’s that ... Europe hold off the American fight back and reclaim the Ryder Cup in Rome. Rory McIlroy topped the points table but the the Nicklaus-Jacklin award which recognises the player that best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup goes to Justin Rose.
From the Friday-morning European whitewash, to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg’s record-breaking 9&7 hammering of world number one Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, to Rory McIlroy’s car park square-up, and Tommy Fleetwood putting to bed any hopes of an American miracle ... it’s been a brilliant few days of golfing drama. Report and reaction to follow from Philip Reid in Rome.
Be sure to keep an eye on the home page for those, but for now thanks for joining us!!
Rory McIlroy: “Incredible day, incredible week. So proud to be a part of this team. We were all hurting after Whistling Straits and we wanted to redeem ourselves and we went out this week and delivered a great performance. There’s a bit of a changing of the guard this year and the new guys were really embraced as they are the future of this team and I just hope I can hold on and play a few more.
“I only get emotional about this tournament. To any little boy or girl, this is the pinnacle. I hope anyone who is a great golfer gets to experience what we are right now!”
Scenes!
What a week for Rory McIlroy. The Irish lads secured 5.5 points between them playing a key role in a memorable European victory!
Player point totals
Team Europe
4: Rory McIlroy
3.5: Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland
3: Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
2.5: Robert MacIntyre2: Ludvig Aberg
1.5: Shane Lowry, Justin Rose
1: Matt Fitzpatrick, Sepp Straka
0.5: Nicolai Hojgaard
Team USA
3.5: Max Homa
2: Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman
1.5: Wyndham Clark, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas
1: Sam Burns, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth
0: Rickie Fowler
Justin Rose: “It’s been a really collective team effort, we never under estimated them and the culture of this team took over.”
Jon Rahm: “I don’t think any of us can put it into words. The pressure of having that loss and we had a lot of newer faces and to come out with a victory is so special.”
Sunday’s singles matches
Rahm A/S Scheffler
4&3 Hovland v Morikawa
Rose v Cantlay 2&1
3&1 McIlroy v Burns
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP
3&2 Hatton v Harman
Aberg v Koepka 3&2
Straka v Thomas 2UP
Hojgaard v Schauffele 3&2
Lowry A/S Spieth
3&1 Fleetwood v Fowler
2&1 MacIntyre v Clark
Final score: Europe 16.5-11.5 USA
Lowry A/S Spieth (F)
Final score: Europe 16.5-11.5 USA
Lowry’s 15-footer for birdie doesn’t drop. He has to make do with a half point but that isn’t subduing his celebrations. Before that Robert MacIntyre won two quickfire holes with an exchange of pars on 17 securing his victory. Robert MacIntyre beats Wyndham Clark 2&1.
Lowry: “I thanked Luke for putting his trust in me. I think I proved my worth this week. This is a dream come true for me. I’m so proud of my team, it’s been the greatest week of my life. The most stressful few hours, thankfully Tommy did the business. I’m disappointed not to win my match but I don’t care!”
It’s official!
Europe win the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome!
Tommy Fleetwood sends his tee shot at 17 to a couple of feet for a surefire birdie. Fowler can’t make his 35-footer and concedes the match. Tommy Fleetwood beats Rickie Fowler 3&1.
1UP Lowry v Spieth (17)
3&1 Fleetwood v Fowler (F)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (16)
Europe 14-11 USA
Fleetwood: “I’m just so proud to be a part of this team. We have an amazing group of people, couldn’t wish for a better group of people to do this with, we are one big family. Relief, pride, joy, and I’m just proud to be one of the people to be here. The legacy of Team Europe lives on!”
JT makes birdie to win 18 and his singles match against Straka. Too little too late however for Team USA. Justin Thomas beats Sepp Straka 2UP.
Lowry meanwhile is 1UP heading to 18!
1UP Lowry v Spieth (17)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (16)
MacIntyre A/S Clark (14)
Europe 14-11 USA
Technically Fleetwood has got to complete the match before the point or half-point is posted. But the celebrations have already kicked off!!
Straka v Thomas 1UP (17)
Lowry A/S Spieth (16)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (16)
MacIntyre A/S Clark (14)
Europe 14-10 USA
Tommy Fleetwood has beaten him to the punch. He secures the Ryder Cup for Europe after beating Rickie Fowler!!!
An emotional Europe captain Luke Donald: “It’s been an amazing journey. The US put up a fight today, they really did and hats off to them. But I’m really proud of those 12 guys, they really trusted me and gave me everything! We’ll share these memories forever.”
Lowry and Spieth both make a mess of their tee shots. But the Irishman is on the short stuff while Spieth is in the thicker rough ...
MacIntyre from 18 inches on 14 crumbles under the mounting pressure, gifting the hole to Clark.
Meanwhile Lowry is on the verge of hero status in Rome, if he wins 17 he will secure the trophy for Europe. He plays a dream shot from the bunker to the left of 16 to within a couple of feet for birdie to win the hole.
Straka v Thomas 1UP (17)
Lowry A/S Spieth (16)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (15)
MacIntyre A/S Clark (14)
Europe 14-10 USA
Jordan Spieth regains the lead against Lowry, raking in a 25-footer across 15.
And in more good news for Team USA, Schauffele adds another point to boost their hopes of a miracle comeback. Xander Schauffele beats Nicolai Hojgaard 3&2.
Straka v Thomas 1UP (17)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 3&2 (F)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (15)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (14)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (13)
Europe 14-10 USA.
Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler have both reduced their arrears in the the final two matches, moments before Xander Schauffele goes two up against Nicolai Højgaard on 15. The good news for Europe however, Sepp Straka has chipped in for eagle on 16 to close in on Justin Thomas.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry has followed his birdie on 11 with another on 14 to tie the match! Remember all Europe need is a half point and they are in contention in all five remaining matches.
Max Homa plays the percentages, the American wedges brilliantly to 10 feet. Matt Fitzpatrick then pulls his putt before Homa holds firm to make his par. He knew he only needed to halve the hole for the point and piled the pressure on Fitzpatrick. Max Homa beats Matthew Fitzpatrick 1UP.
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (F)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (14)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (12)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (12)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (12)
Europe 14-9 USA
Max Homa: “I’m really proud of myself and this team. We were in a massive hole and we are digging ourselves out of it slowly.”
Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa are on the last. If last year’s US Open champion wins the hole Europe will win the Ryder Cup ...
Meanwhile - Brooks Koepka has just secured a point for the Americans with a par on the 16th to beat Ludvig Aberg. Brooks Koepka beats Ludvig Aberg 3&2.
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (17)
Aberg v Koepka 3&2 (F)Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (14)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (12)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (12)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (12)
Europe 14-8 USA
So Europe are at least guaranteed the tie. They’re so close and need just a half point for the win. A tie however would mean Team USA retain the trophy.
Hello and Welcome ... Team Europe are inching ever closer to reclaiming the Ryder Cup, and in some style in Rome. Follow the closing stages right here, with Europe currently leading 14 points to seven.
The remaining matches from the Sunday singles matches are as follows:
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (17)3&2
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (15)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 2UP (13)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (12)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (11)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (10)
Europe 14-7 USA
We’ll keep you up to date with the rest of the final day’s action, with Tyrrell Hatton just after beating Open champion Brian Harman 3&2, and the celebrations and reaction which follows. Be sure to get in touch throughout, via the IT Sport Twitter account, but for now let’s get into it!!
