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United States Young Guns Overwhelm Europe In Ryder Cup Rout

Ryder Cup

On Sunday, the United States defeated Europe 19-9 to reclaim the Ryder Cup, in a performance that captain Steve Stricker described as the “best of all time.” When Collin Morikawa, the world number three, tied his match with Viktor Hovland at Whistling Straits, he delivered the winning half point. He was one of eight 20-somethings on a US team that included nine players ranked in the top 11 in the world, all vying for the prized trophy that Europe had won three years previously in France. “Speechless,” remarked US captain Steve Stricker, who was visibly moved as he spoke of the team’s dedication, which resulted in a decisive victory.

Source: AFP

The Americans became the first team to score 19 points, breaking the previous record of 18.5 points, which had previously been set twice by each side.

“This is the greatest team of all time right here,” Stricker said. “These guys are unbelievable.

“They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good.”

Dustin Johnson, the team’s oldest member at 37, set an example for his younger teammates with his 1-up singles victory over Paul Casey, giving him a perfect 5-0 record in a maximum five matches.

When he won a tense battle with Casey that saw them tie for the opening five holes, he became the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 — and only the fifth player ever — to go five-for-five.

Johnson gained the lead for the first time in the eighth inning, but he never led by more than two runs and couldn’t put Casey away until the very end.

Johnson said he and his youthful teammates shared a key trait that spurred their efforts to prevent Europe from winning the Ryder Cup for the sixth time in six seasons.

“We do not like to lose,” he said. “We had a lot of rookies on the Ryder Cup, but it didn’t feel like they were rookies … and they didn’t play like they were rookies. They stepped up to the plate and the all wanted it.”

They made that evident right away, leading 11-5 heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches, a six-point margin that no team has ever overcome on the final day to win the championship.

The Americans just needed 3.5 points to win the Cup.

They made that evident right away, leading 11-5 heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches, a six-point margin that no team has ever overcome on the final day to win the championship.

The Americans just needed 3.5 points to win the Cup.

Padraig Harrington’s Europe needed nine points to save the title, and it was evident early on that the Americans wouldn’t be able to do it.

With a spectacular birdie at the par-three 17th, where he blasted his tee shot to three feet and went 1-up with one to go, Morikawa, who won his second major win at the British Open this year, had ensured the US triumph.

He missed a six-footer at 18 to win the match outright, but the Americans were already celebrating owing to his half-point.

With his 4&3 victory over world number one Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, a Ryder Cup newbie with the lowest ranking in the US squad at 21 in the world, had opened the floodgates.

Rahm became only the third world number one to lose a Ryder Cup singles match, despite excelling all week despite Europe’s overall troubles.

“We all saw it, we knew it was happening,” Jordan Spieth said of Scheffler’s convincing victory, which Johnson called “one thing that could really push the US team.”

With a 3&2 triumph over Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy earned the first point of the day, but his first win of the week was little cause for celebration as he surveyed the torrent of red on the scoreboard.

“(I’m) incredibly proud to be a part of this team,” McIlroy said, his voice cracking. “I’ve been extremely disappointed that I haven’t contributed more for the team.”

Patrick Cantlay, the player of the year on the PGA Tour and the FedEx Cup playoff champion, defeated European rookie Shane Lowry 4&2.

Bryson DeChambeau won 3&2 over Sergio Garcia, the Spanish Ryder Cup legend who this week set a new record with his 25th match win.

Garcia was unable to overcome DeChambeau’s dominance. The American set the tone on the first hole, driving the par-four green and marching off the tee with his driver hoisted aloft to raucous applause.

With a 41-foot eagle putt, he won the hole and went on to lead the rest of the way.

With a birdie at the par-5 second, Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, had grabbed a one-shot lead over Cantlay, but Cantlay blasted away from there.

The American took a 3-up lead after four holes and never trailed again, winning the final three holes for a comfortable victory.

Brooks Koepka, a four-time major champion, beat Bernd Wiesberger 2&1, and Justin Thomas beat Tyrrell Hatton 4&3.

Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood both won singles matches, with Poulter defeating Tony Finau 3&2 and Westwood defeating Harris English 1-up.

Tommy Fleetwood added another half point for Europe by rallying from a one-shot deficit through 15 holes to tie Spieth, who has yet to win a Ryder Cup singles match in four attempts.

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