Europe conquers the Ryder Cup: McIlroy leads the away victory

Rory McIlroy and Europe Celebrate Ryder Cup Victory

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – After predicting a victory at Bethpage Black, Rory McIlroy watched Shane Lowry’s putt on the 18th hole turn his words into prophecy. The celebration, however, began without him. Lowry, euphoric, joined the European crowd that acclaimed him. Jon Rahm embraced José María Olazábal, captain of the last team to win a cup as a visitor in 2012, who was crying on his shoulder. Luke Donald, European captain, could finally breathe. McIlroy had lost his singles match against Scottie Scheffler and, for a moment, the possibility of being part of the biggest defeat in Ryder Cup history seemed plausible. After trailing 12-5, the United States team had rallied, making the Ryder Cup as hard-fought as everyone expected.

Suddenly, every point mattered. American fans cheered, chanting for their team instead of booing the Europeans. McIlroy had to rely on others.

Obviously, it was very close at the end. It was a little stressful.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy remained on the course, supporting Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre. Even when Lowry secured the cup, he stayed until the last match, which gave Europe the victory by a narrow margin of 15-13.

It’s good to be right. I’m not always right. I think when we won in Rome, it set everything in motion to do something that hadn’t been achieved in over a decade. We believed a lot in our continuity.

Rory McIlroy

Beyond recovering 11 out of 12 players from Rome, there is a cohesion in this European team that is difficult to define but easy to see. It manifests in the way they celebrate when they win a hole or a match, and in how they react when they don’t. It’s palpable when they go to their teammate after a crucial putt. Even the way they hug projects a closeness that doesn’t indicate business partners, but brothers in arms. 72-hole golf requires concentration and focus. Match play and alternate shot formats do too, but in the last two Ryder Cups, it has become clear that, while Americans see these formats as obstacles, Europeans see them as an opportunity to show their unity. Team play is their strength, which allowed them to gain an insurmountable advantage and also stem the tide of points they won or tied in 11 of 12 singles matches on Sunday.

In almost every Ryder Cup of the last 12 years, the United States has had the advantage in talent. But even in defeat, the Europeans found glimpses of joy, in part because of their perspective on the week.

Ryder Cup weeks are the best of our lives. I think those weeks we spend together are the ones we remember the most and the ones we appreciate the most for the time we spend together. That’s a big part of my captaincy, creating an environment where these guys are having the best weeks of their lives, honestly.

Luke Donald

It’s easy to attribute the amazing European performance to factors outside of American control.

They made more putts.

Keegan Bradley

He was lucky.

Bryson DeChambeau

Maybe it’s that simple. But Europe has preached and demonstrated that it is not. That it takes chemistry as much as data. That it takes emotion as much as talent and precision both on and off the field.

The level of professionalism he has shown us in the last four years. His attention to detail…

Jon Rahm

His communication skills…

Rory McIlroy

On Sunday, with the cup already in his hands, Donald revealed some details of his preparation. The European uniforms were designed based on those of the previous four teams that won as visitors, but that’s just the beginning. Donald mentioned that the hotel room had cracks in the doors that let light through, so they repaired them. They changed the bedding and shampoo for greater comfort. It’s about dedicating time and taking care of every detail to give these players the best opportunity. Perhaps the greatest feat of this European team is that, under Donald, they have mastered the balance between preparation for the tangible (exact pairings, sheets, time differences) and the perfection of the intangible.

I feel the power of this, the power of the group, who knows what it is, that ability to focus, the ability to want it a little more.

Justin Rose

On Sunday afternoon, McIlroy walked up to the 18th hole, flushed and exhausted. For three days, he endured the insults of the American fans and emerged victorious, ready to be cheered by the European supporters. “Roooooory! Roooooory!” When the Europeans won in Medinah in 2012, McIlroy was 21 years old. Now, at 36, he is a Grand Slam champion and the focus of another away victory.

We will always remember this. We will always go down in history. Future generations will talk about this team tonight and what they did and how they were able to overcome one of the most difficult environments in all of sports, and that’s what inspires me, that’s what Rory and these other 11 guys understand.

Luke Donald

While Donald was finishing, McIlroy wiped away his tears.