U.S. up to the Ryder Cup task at Hazeltine

With Cup veteran Phil Mickelson playing a pivotal role as on-course leader, Patrick Reed injecting passion and inspired golf into the mix and skipper Davis Love III ensuring that every player had a vested interest in the outcome, the USA won 17-11.

Ryan Moore, added as the 12th player the day before the team was to arrive in Minnesota following his gritty runner-up showing at the Tour Championship, was the man who ended the long US wait for Ryder Cup redemption.

“I am running on fumes”, McIlroy told reporters following Europe’s 17-11 loss to the U.S. in the 41st Ryder Cup. “Thank you”, Moore said.

But the players and captain Darren Clarke commended the US team for helping police the crowds and said “99.99 percent” of the fans were exceptional all weekend. “We are not going to win every one but we are going to go into them with a better attitude”.

“Well it is a team effort”, said Pieters.

The European team came close to beating the Americans in the early going on Sunday, racking up a quick three points in the morning rounds and pulling even in the overall tally.

One of the changes from the Ryder Cup Task Force that Europe mocked was to spread out the captain’s picks until the very end. Reed squeezed out a one-shot victory, setting the tone for the remainder of the day with a round that blended drama, theatrics and the best of sportsmanship, as the two matched each other shot for shot, playing to the crowd and sharing handshakes and back-slaps between holes.

1459 – McIlroy hits a brilliant approach to the 18th to get inside that of Reed, only for the American to hole from eight feet for birdie to complete a massive win.

Willett came in for particular abuse after a magazine article written by his brother which expressed anti-American sentiments was published, the Masters champion failing to win a point from three matches.

“It was out of this world best thing I could have made a trip for”, said Jack Daly of California. The English golfer apologized but the damage was done and he was a prime target of US-backers’ venom.

After being greeted by a deafening roar on the first tee, Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy get the first of the 12 singles matches under way. Days earlier, Tiger Woods, serving as a USA vice captain in these matches, had told Reed he’d likely have to sit out one of the foursomes or four-ball sessions.

Since the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill in 1995, rookies have only taken 10 points from 43 in singles. Then the two greatest things that I’ve ever wanted to accomplish in golf was be a Hall of Famer and be a Ryder Cup captain. Kaymer took it from there with three straight birdies to build a 1-up lead, and they halved the final three holes.

“He [Watson] is the reason I got around today”, said Brandt Snedeker, who won his match with Andy Sullivan 3 and 1.

He added: “It’s disappointing, obviously, but I think it’s good for golf. Phil just made it from everywhere and played well”.

The Americans needed just five points in the 12 singles matches Sunday.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2014 loss the left-hander, America’s record appearance holder in the event, was highly critical of preparations in the team’s press conference at the conclusion of the match. Koepka was 3-1, and Reed was 3-1-1.