Whistling Straits Golf Course, Sheboygan, WI — September 26, 2021
Victory in the 43rd Ryder Cup is so close, the United States can almost reach out and touch it. The 11-5 advantage will require a historic comeback by the Europeans. Past failures to hold a lead have haunted the Americans repeatedly, will today be different? It has to be!
Match 1: Xander Schauffele (U.S.) vs. Rory McIlroy (Europe)
With the eyes of the golfing world on you, missing a three-foot putt on the opening hole is not how you want to start your day. But, that is what Xander Schauffele did going 1 down to Rory McIlroy in the first singles match on Sunday.
Fortunately, Xander’s teammates paid little mind to his nervy start and staked the U.S. to an early lead.
McIlroy never faltered leading the entire match to score the first point of the day with a 4 up with 2 to play victory. U.S. 11 vs Europe 6
Match 2: Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) vs. Shane Lowry (Europe)
Lowry was the first to draw blood in his match with a birdie on the 2nd hole. But, Cantlay stayed calm and won the next four holes to go 3 up. A lead he held through the completion of his opening nine.
On the back nine, Lowrey birdied the 10th and 12th holes to pull within 1. Birdies on 14 and 15 by Cantlay reestablished the three-hole advantage He closed out the match 4 up with 2 to play pulling the Americans with a point and one half of the Cup win. U.S. 13 vs Europe 6
Match 3: Scottie Scheffler (U.S.) vs. Jon Rahm (Europe)
Facing the #1 player in the world did not intimidate Scottie Scheffler, he won the first four holes of his match with Jon Rahm. Rahm was never in the match and Scheffler scored the first point of the day for the Americans with a 4 and 3 victory. U.S. 12 vs Europe 6
Match 4:Bryson DeChambeau (U.S.) vs. Sergio Garcia (Europe)
DeChambeau followed the same script as he went 2 up after two holes. He had to fight off a couple of challenges for Garcia, which he did successfully. Bryson sat 3 up at the end of nine.
Morikawa, Johnson, and Koepka all held leads of 1 up heading to the turn as the Americans were gaining momentum.
DeChambeau kept the pressure on through the back nine. When Garcia made bogey on the 15th, Bryson led 3 up with 3 to play. Guaranteeing the U.S. with at least a half-point out of this match.
Closing out the match 3 and 2, DeChambeau brought the U.S. to within a half-point of taking the Cup. U.S. 14 vs Europe 6
The race was on to see who would put the final nail in the coffin of the Europeans. Of the eight matches remaining the U.S. leads seven. A new scoring record for the Ryder Cup is well within reach.
Match 5: Collin Morikawa (U.S.) vs. Viktor Hovland (Europe)
Morikawa’s tee shot on the par 3, 17th almost went in the hole. He and Hovland were tied with two to play. Viktor faced a 50-foot putt for his birdie. It came up six inches short. Collin sunk his birdie putt from 18 inches assuring at least a half-point regardless of the outcome on 18. The Ryder Cup is back in U.S. hands.
Morikawa’s bogey on 18 provided a tie in his match. The half-point marker was the official clincher as the crowd acknowledged the American’s feat. U.S. 14 1/2 vs Europe 6 1/2
Match 6: Dustin Johnson (U.S.) vs. Paul Casey (Europe)
Dustin Johnson went 5-0 on the week on his matches with a 1 up win over Paul Casey. U.S. 15 1/2 vs Europe 6 1/2
Match 7: Brooks Koepka (U.S.) vs. Bernd Wiesberger (Europe)
Koepka’s tee shot on 17 looked into the hole as it rolled by 12 inches. Had it gone in he would have scored the official winning point. He put away Wiesberger 2 and 1. U.S. 16 1/2 vs Europe 6 1/2
Match 8: Tony Finau (U.S.) vs. Ian Poulter (Europe)
Poulter provided a highlight for the Europeans easily taking care of Finau 3 and 2. U.S. 16 1/2 vs Europe 7 1/2
Match 9: Justin Thomas (U.S.) vs. Tyrrell Hatton (Europe)
Justin Thomas was the anchor that held the Americans in place if things got crazy over the final matches. He dominated Hatton 4 up with 3 to play. U.S. 17 1/2 vs Europe 7 1/2
Match 10: Harris English (U.S.) vs. Lee Westwood (Europe)
Westwood grabbed another point for the Europeans with a 1 up victory over Harris English. U.S. 17 1/2 vs. Europe 8 1/2
The only question left was could the U.S. eclipse the record of 18 1/2 for the most points scored in a Ryder Cup in the modern era since the competition shifted to include all European players.
Match 11: Jordan Spieth (U.S.) vs. Tommy Fleetwood (Europe)
After trailing early, Tommy Fleetwood fought back to tie Jordan Speith. It will be up to Daniel Berger to score a win to break the 18 1/2 threshold. U.S. 18 vs Europe 9
Match 12: Daniel Berger (U.S.) vs. Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe)
A par by Berger to win the 18th hole and his match with Matt Fitzpatrick gave the U.S. the record and a 19-9 win that will sting in the minds of Team Europe for the next two years.
To the victors goes the trophy.#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/qWcovNNlpu
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 26, 2021
The 44th Ryder Cup is set to be held in Italy in 2023. The course is Marco Simone Golf and Country Club which is in Guidonia Montecelio near the city of Rome.
