29 September 2025 — Bethpage Black, New York
In a pulse-racing conclusion to the 2025 Ryder Cup, Team Europe edged out the United States 15–13 to claim the trophy on American soil—marking a rare road victory in the storied competition.
Early dominance, then a late scare
Europe built a nearly insurmountable lead over the first two days, going into Sunday’s singles matches with a commanding 11.5 to 4.5 advantage. Their strong position meant they needed just two points from the 11 singles to retain the Cup.
But the United States mounted a ferocious comeback in Sunday play, winning several key matches and cutting into Europe’s margin.
The clincher: Lowry’s nerve, Hatton’s half
The pivotal moment came when Shane Lowry of Ireland sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to halve his match with Russell Henley, giving Europe the crucial point they needed to retain the Cup. Immediately after, Tyrrell Hatton secured another half-point against Collin Morikawa, clinching Europe’s outright victory.
Interestingly, one match was already counted as a half-point before play began: Europe’s Viktor Hovland withdrew due to injury, so his scheduled match was treated as a tie under the rules in place.
Leadership, unity, and controversy
The win reflects strong continuity: 11 of the 12 European players from the 2023 team returned, enabling captain Luke Donald to lean on established chemistry and trust. Donald became the first European captain since Tony Jacklin (in the 1980s) to guide back-to-back Ryder Cup wins.
Yet the victory wasn’t without its uglier moments. European players, including Rory McIlroy, condemned hostile crowd behavior. McIlroy revealed that his wife was struck by a beer thrown from the gallery and called the treatment “unacceptable.” The tension throughout the week, particularly from boisterous fans, prompted multiple ejections and heated exchanges near the ropes.
Significance and what’s next
This marks Europe’s 11th win in the past 15 Ryder Cups, and notably their fifth victory on U.S. soil. It also breaks a long drought: the last time Europe won away was in 2012.
Looking ahead, the next Ryder Cup is scheduled for Adare Manor, Ireland in 2027, giving European fans reason to hope for home‐field advantage.
In his remarks after the win, Donald admitted the last 12 hours were the “most stressful” of his life, but said he was immensely proud of how his team handled the pressure.
