US wins Ryder Cup for first time since 2008

The United States regained the momentum and stretched its lead to 9 1/2 to 6 1/2 over Europe heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches in the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Thomas Pieters gave all of Europe reason to smile about the future, despite the Ryder Cup slipping from their grasp amid the Belgian’s singles win over JB Holmes.

This wasn’t about being maybe the best team ever assembled.

Later in the day, Cup veterans Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia waged an epic battle, with 19 birdies between them. Patrick Reed powered them with his passion on the golf course. And it was Ryan Moore, who a week ago wasn’t even on the team, who delivered the cup-clinching point Sunday at Hazeltine. He found his stroke on the back nine and had an eagle, birdie and par on the final three holes to beat Westwood, setting off an American celebration for the first time since 2008 at Valhalla in Kentucky.

Love was the United States captain on that stunning afternoon at Medinah, one of many high-profile USA golfers so scarred by the succession of recent defeats that they set up an 11-man task-force to put it right this time. Reed and Spieth tied Arnold Palmer and Gardner Dickinson for most career points by a U.S. Ryder Cup partnership with five points.

Moore was the last pick on the team, with some fans wanting Bubba Watson to be picked instead, but the 33-year-old repaid the faith Davis Love III showed in him.

Europe never really had a chance.

Europe has five players who will play every match – McIlroy, Pieters, Garcia, Stenson and Rose. After all the matches were completed, the final score was 17-11 to the Americans.

“It’s nice to go in on a high, but as I said, all but two of us have been on teams before, and we know the deal; that tomorrow is extremely important”.

Ultimately, this wasn’t about measuring against the past as much as it was building to the future.

The Americans were a team, and that was all that mattered. All 12 US players scored a point, the first time that has happened since 1975, when the late Arnold Palmer captained the team.

With all 12 matches now in play, the Europeans lead in six and the Americans are up in two, with four all square.

He explained that they anticipated Clarke would send out Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the first match, as that combination enjoyed plenty of foursomes success at the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Europe came from 10-6 down to win at Medinah in 2012, although they won the last two fourballs on that occasion after Ian Poulter famously birdied the last five holes alongside McIlroy in a victory over Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

“Poults (Ian Poulter, Europe’s traditional cheerleader) wasn’t playing this time so we needed someone on the course to be doing what he does”, he added. Yes, the heckles are bad and they’re having an adverse effect on the Euros’ play… in a good way. A great accomplishment for Phil, to be sure – except his teams have gone 2-8.

“There are not a lot of people telling you you’re great when things aren’t going great”.

But they were nearly denied that fourth match, when Reed made seven birdies and an eagle on his own ball – arguably his finest moment amid a handful of great ones here.

Reed and Spieth, like McIlroy and Pieters on the other side, could be a potent Ryder Cup combination for many years to come. Fowler made a 25-foot birdie putt on the first hole, and the Americans stood to the side as thousands cheered for the longest time.

Reed took his first lead with a 10-foot par putt at the 12th and went 2-up with his first birdie in eight holes at the par-5 16th. He also shushed the crowd after a birdie putt on No. 7.

Mickelson made 10 birdies, and Garcia made nine birdies against no bogeys in their match.

The contest was a thrilling one but when Reed went ahead at the 12th he was able to hang on to his advantage until the end as his opponent found he could not muster up one last charge.