Europe win the Ryder Cup in Rome!
Europe weathered an American storm in the singles to clinch the Ryder Cup with Tommy Fleetwood securing the decisive point for victory
Europe has won the Ryder Cup after Tommy Fleetwood clinched the winning point in Rome.
Fleetwood beat America’s Rickie Fowler on the 17th hole to take Europe past the 14.5 mark required to take back the trophy at Marco Simone.
Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton had won their earlier matches, while Jon Rahm’s half-point against Scottie Scheffler edged the blue-gold side towards victory.
Captain Luke Donald has maintained Europe’s unbeaten run on home soil which dates back to 1993.
Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele won for America in the singles in an attempt at a dramatic comeback.
Ryder Cup final day: As it happened…
Viktor Hovland took Europe a point closer to victory by beating Collin Morikawa 4&3. The pair also shared a half in the singles two years ago in Whistling Straits.
Scottie Scheffler went 1 up against Jon Rahm on the 15th hole but overhit a chip on 18 which let Rahm in the door. The Spaniard’s birdie secured a vital half when the USA looked to come back.
Patrick Cantlay was still resurgent after the events of Saturday night, beating the spirited Justin Rose 2&1. It was 12-7 at this stage.
Rory McIlroy secured his fourth point of the week shortly after. The Northern Irishman beat Sam Burns on the 17th hole and now Europe needed just 1.5 points.
At this stage, America was up in five of the remaining eight matches, but then Tyrrell Hatton impressively beat Open champion Brian Harman 3&2 to take Team Europe to 14 points.
Tommy Fleetwood guarantees at least half a point to win the Ryder Cup for Team Europe 🇪🇺 #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/unQ2VxNv9E
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) October 1, 2023
Brooks Koepka was dominant throughout against Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg. The 2023 PGA champion won this match 3&2.
Matt Fitzpatrick missed a putt on 18 to halve with Homa and win the Ryder Cup before Homa then holed a super birdie putt to keep the event alive.
Xander Schauffele then won his first point of the week against Nicolai Hojgaard, taking the Dane down 3&2. The match was now 14-11, with the USA up in two of the last four matches.
But it was Fleetwood who secured the gold trophy after going dormie 2 up against Fowler, making sure that Europe would eventually get the much-needed half point.
Sepp Straka didn’t have a chance to confirm the required half-point after he was beaten by Justin Thomas on the 18th hole.
Fleetwood signed off with a two on 17 to seal the trophy on his third appearance for Team Europe.
Rookie Robert MacIntyre sealed the deal in the final match 2&1 against Wyndham Clark, while Shane Lowry halved with Jordan Spieth. Spieth has still never won a Ryder Cup single match.
Europe won 16.5 – 11.5 against America to regain the Ryder Cup
Any updates from Hat-Gate…
Yes, there was an update to Cantlay’s hat situation which was linked to the flare-up on Saturday evening.
SI.com’s Bob Harig reported that Joe LaCava had been told by Zach Johnson not to say anything.
But Patrick Cantlay himself addressed the reports from Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir that he was allegedly refusing to wear a hat in protest of not being paid to play in the Ryder Cup.
“Dealing with some weird, completely false media stories from one person. It’s totally false. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. Outright lies.”
Best fancy dress of the day?
We came across two very tall people in the Fan Village at Marco Simone. They must love going to golf tournaments with legs as long as that…
Stat of the day?
After just falling short of the perfect game, McIlroy had his best-ever Ryder Cup campaign to date…
WWWLW
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
The most points Rory’s ever accumulated at a Ryder Cup 😎#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/x20rWksKAC
Shot of the day?
Tommy Fleetwood has been performing heroics all week, and he did so again in his singles match with Rickie Fowler.
“Tommy Fleetwood strikes again!”#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/L22xOwHBPp
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
What an amazing match between the European team and the United States! Tell us your favourite moment on X!
Now read: Who will be the next European Ryder Cup captain?
Now read: Future Ryder Cup venues
Now read: Inside the Ryder Cup shop
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
