Europe edge it in epic showdown

Tyrrell Hatton leads Team Europe’s celebration with the Ryder Cup trophy after their win over Team USA at Bethpage Black in New York. — AFP

THE record will show that Europe beat the United States in the 45th Ryder Cup staged at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.

But it’s folklore that will forever tell the story of a genuinely captivating third and final singles day that saw Team USA reach the brink of what would have been the most audacious comeback in the fabled competition’s history. In the end, the home team fell just short: 15-13.

The Miracle of Medinah, when Europe nicked the Cup in 2012 after trailing by four points going into the last day at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, is one for the books – that’s the record comeback for any team winning the pint-sized golden trophy.

Thus, when the United States climbed back from seven down after the first two days (USA 5, Europe 12) to within five points with no blue on the scoreboard and a sprinkling of red there, the home team had every chance of an outright victory. All they had to do was win those rmaining singles matches. But it was not to be. Not this time anyway.

Shane Lowry secured the vital half-point in the eight singles match of the day to take Europe to the 14 points needed to retain the trophy – by virtue of being the defending champions. He was tied with Russell Henley after the 18 holes.

Tyrrell Hatton secured the outright win with a half-point against Collin Morikawa in the penultimate singles, and Robert MacIntyre was all-square with Sam Burns to round off the triumph, and ensure Europe became the first team to win away from home since their miracle performance in 2012.

For the Americans, it was a bitter one to lose, not only because it was at home. They were never in the game on the opening two days, as Europe moved to a 5½ to 3½-point lead on the first day.

They consolidated that advantage with an emphatic 6-2 second day humbling of the US, to bring up the 12-5 scoreline at the start of the singles.

And when Europe burst out of the blocks early on Sunday morning, it looked like a record-winning score was on the cards.

But somehow US captain Keegan Bradley and his deputies cajoled the players into a fightback that injected a spirit of serious combativeness, which saw them charge up the scoreboard, and in some style.

The US won the singles 8½ to 3½ on teh day, and it might well have been more.

The match between Europe’s Viktor Hovland and Harris English was determined a tied result after Hovland reported unable to play the night before due a neck injury, and both players picked up a half-point.

The heavyweight bout of the singles was the match-up between the world’s No. 1 and 2: American Scottie Sheffler versus Europe’s Rory McIlroy.

After a back-and-forth, Scheffler prevailed in Match Four. And at that stage, the United States were 3½ to a half-point in the singles.

Tommy Fleetwood was on the cusp of writing his name into the history books in his singles match against Justin Thomas.

Having won the four matches he was involved in leading up to the singles, he would have become the first player – from either side – in Ryder Cup history to win five points.

Thomas, though, held his nerve and clinched Match Two on the 18th green for a 1up victory. His celebration after that will for a long time be remembered, if not become patented. It was as if the US had just the Ryder Cup, and perhaps every other event in world sport.

But Europe was not to be denied, and Donald, widely credited with master-minding yet another success over the United States – similar to the win in Rome two years ago – was humble in triumph .

“My job is literally to give these guys a better chance to win teh Ryder Cup. It can be as simple as some very small things,” he said afterwards.

And when prodded about what makes him tick, he added: “I just have a good 12 guys.”

The Englishman’s leadership was not lost on anyone who witnessed the win. It left Jon Rahm to declare that Donald was “the captain of this ship”.

Bradley simply said that Donald was “the best captain ever”. Not many will disagree with that.

And why should they? The captain of this ship, his team and the gallant American fightback will always make the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black a special one that folklore will relish sharing.