Ryder Cup: Relive European Victories in the USA with Donald

Success in the Ryder Cup is often defined by what happens at home: the roaring crowds, the familiar fairways, and the psychological advantage of being the host. However, it is the victories achieved on the other side of the Atlantic, in hostile territory, that usually leave the deepest mark. This year, Luke Donald returns as captain with what many believe is one of the strongest European teams in history, aiming for a momentous victory on American soil. History suggests a difficult task at Bethpage Black; the European team, amidst all its recent home success, has only managed four away wins against the United States team. Each of these victories came with its own drama, its own heroes, and its lasting impact.

1987 – Muirfield Village, Ohio

The European team broke their streak in the United States in 1987, with Seve Ballesteros as the star at Muirfield Village.

Before the 1987 Ryder Cup at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village, few outside the European camp truly believed a victory as a visitor was possible. The United States had an undefeated home record of 13-0 spanning six decades and, despite Europe’s victory at The Belfry in 1985, many still saw the hosts as the dominant force. Muirfield, Nicklaus’ pride and joy, was supposed to underscore that superiority.

But Tony Jacklin’s team had other ideas. Led by the fire and style of Seve Ballesteros and the icy precision of Nick Faldo, Europe opened a 6-2 lead on the first day, winning all four afternoon fourball matches, and then built that lead to 10½-5½ after Saturday. They were on the verge of history. Sunday’s singles brought inevitable pressure and a spirited comeback from the United States, but the Europeans held firm. Eamonn Darcy’s victory over Ben Crenshaw, whose broken putter became a symbol of American frustration (he played with his 1-iron after the sixth hole), was one of several brave victories that sealed the 15-13 victory. Fittingly, Ballesteros, who scored the most points with four points, was the man with the decisive putt in a 2&1 victory over Curtis Strange. Europe had shown that it could travel, compete, and conquer.

1995 – Oak Hill Country Club, New York

Philip Walton sank the winning putt for Europe in 1995 in Rochester.In 1995, the Ryder Cup was no longer a one-sided American affair, but victories in the United States were still rare and revered. Europe arrived in Rochester under the experienced eye of Bernard Gallacher, who captained the team for the third and final time after narrow defeats at Kiawah Island and The Belfry. The opposition was inexperienced, but hungry. Promising rookies like Tom Lehmann and Phil Mickelson complemented Major winners Corey Pavin, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange and Fred Couples, while Europe had three of the six best golfers in the world: Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie, at their disposal. But when the United States led 9-7 entering Sunday’s singles, which they had won in the last four Ryder Cups, few imagined they could be caught. What followed was one of the most clinical Sundays of the Ryder Cup. The visitors claimed 7½ of the 12 individual points offered to overcome the 14½-13½ contest. Despite all the star power of Europe, it was the modest Irish rookie Philip Walton who kept his nerve to win 1 up against Jay Haas and secure the vital point. Europeans delivered when it mattered most.

2004 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan

Europe dominated the United States in 2004 with a record score.If there was ever a Ryder Cup where the final result never seemed in doubt, it was the one at Oakland Hills in 2004. From the opening session, Langer’s Europe seemed sharper than their American counterparts. The score of 18½-9½, a record at the time for a European team (they would repeat the result two years later), barely told the full story of how complete this victory was. Europe dominated all but one session. The score was 6½-1½ at the end of Friday, when the much-hyped Mickelson-Tiger Woods partnership was defeated, and 11-5 after two days.

Facing a mountain to climb, the United States only won four singles matches on Sunday. It was a thrashing.

Every single European player contributed to the score, a rare and powerful symbol of unity. Stars like Sergio García and Lee Westwood were outstanding, but it was the collective effort that overwhelmed the United States. “The best team I’ve ever been a part of,” Montgomerie would later say. Oakland Hills not only felt like a victory, but like a declaration.

2012 – Medinah Country Club, Illinois

Ian Poulter was a man possessed on Saturday and brought Europe back into contention, before a miraculous final day.

Few sporting comebacks rival what Europe achieved in Medinah. Losing 10-6 entering the final day, and facing a red-hot American team playing in front of a noisy Chicago crowd, José María Olazábal’s team seemed defeated. Sign of a seismic shift.

The spark had arrived on Saturday night, when Ian Poulter, a possessed man, birdied the last five holes in his fourball match with Rory McIlroy to give Europe a lifeline. Then, on Sunday, the European players, one by one, began to turn the matches. Donald set the pace. McIlroy arrived late but delivered. Justin Rose’s closing birdie-birdie, with a 40-foot putt on the 17th, was impressive. And Martin Kaymer, facing enormous pressure, sank a nerveless putt on the 18th to retain the cup. When Woods missed a four-foot putt to tie the last match with Francesco Molinari, it was all over. They won 8½ of the 12 individual points, surprising the United States and sealing a 14½-13½ victory. Olazábal, captaining with the silhouette of Ballesteros embroidered on his chest, dedicated the victory to his late friend, who had passed away a year earlier. Emotion welled up from every European player. The Miracle of Medinah, the greatest comebacks in the Ryder Cup, was completed.