In what turned into one of the more dramatic Ryder Cup endings in recent memory, Team Europe managed to withstand a ferocious U.S. comeback in Sunday singles and held on to win 15-13. The victory not only capped a week of tension and momentum swings, but it also reaffirmed Europe’s dominance in the Ryder Cup era–especially on American soil.
Rory McIlroy, after absorbing taunts from the New York crowd all week, embraced a European flag and led chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé” on a bridge at Bethpage Black following the win. For McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Luke Donald (captain), and the rest of Team Europe, the triumph was vindication: they had predicted, planned, and executed.
The Hole They Dug, and the Rally That Almost Changed Everything
The Americans’ defeat would not come for lack of effort. After two days of fourball and foursome matches, Europe had built a commanding lead: 12-5 going into Sunday singles. That cushion gave Europe breathing room. For the U.S., it meant needing a near-flawless singles day just to claw back.
And that’s exactly what happened–almost. The U.S. team roared to an 8 1/2 points haul in singles: their best individual‐match performance since the format solidified to 12 matches. Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, and Cameron Young all contributed crucial points. But each time the momentum shifted, Europe found a way to counter just enough to stay alive.
One telling stat: Europe won only one of the 12 singles matches, the lowest number won by a side in Sunday singles since 1957. Yet that lone win, combined with several halves, proved decisive.
Key Moments and Players
There were several turning points that shaped the final outcome:
-
Lowry vs. Henley: Lowry sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th after Russell Henley missed from ten feet, giving Europe their 14th point and securing the Cup.
-
Hatton / Morikawa half: Immediately after Lowry’s tie, Tyrrell Hatton and Collin Morikawa halved their match, taking Europe to 14 1/2.
-
Åberg over Cantlay: Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg claimed the lone outright singles victory for Europe, beating Patrick Cantlay 2 & 1.
-
Substitution envelope rule: Viktor Hovland had to withdraw with a neck injury, triggering the captains’ substitution envelope rule. His scheduled match against Harris English never played out.
-
Scottie Scheffler vs. McIlroy: Scheffler, under pressure having struggled earlier in the week, defeated McIlroy 1 up, delivering a symbolic blow in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.
Donald became only the second European captain to lead back-to-back Ryder Cup victories (joining Tony Jacklin, 1985-1987). His leadership, pairing decisions, and team chemistry all came under scrutiny, and ultimately earned acclaim.
Significance, Patterns & What It Means Going Forward
This win continues a striking trend: Europe has now won 11 of the last 15 Ryder Cups, and five of the past ten on U.S. soil. That kind of consistency in a format that emphasizes head-to-head match play, variable momentum, and pressure situations is remarkable.
For Team USA, the result is bittersweet. Their Sunday resurgence suggests plenty of heart, fight, and talent. But failing to gain traction over the first two days remains the recurring Achilles’ heel. The Americans must find a way to reduce early deficits in future contests.
For European golf, the message is clear: home advantage notwithstanding, these teams are now built to win on the road. McIlroy’s pre-week prediction that Europe would win in America–something they hadn’t done since 2012–now looks more prescient than cocky.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Europe Wins Ryder Cup 2025 After U.S. Singles Rally Falls Short appeared first on Heavy Sports.