Shane Lowry holed a 6ft putt on the final green to secure at least a draw for Europe, as they held off a determined US comeback to win the Ryder Cup 15-13 at Bethpage Black. The Irishman's moment of glory came after a singles session where the United States dominated, winning six of the 11 matches to Europe's one, with four halves.
Lowry, visibly emotional, described the experience as 'the hardest couple of hours of my whole life' and said the Ryder Cup 'means everything to me'. His putt on the 18th green sparked wild celebrations, with the European team collapsing in exhaustion after a tense final day that saw the US reduce a large deficit to just one point.
The match was marred by poor spectator behaviour, with European players, particularly Rory McIlroy, subjected to abuse from the crowd. McIlroy's defeat to Scottie Scheffler was attributed in part to mental exhaustion from the treatment he received over the three days.
Other notable moments included a heated exchange between US captain Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose over a drop decision, and Bryson DeChambeau's remarkable comeback from five down after seven holes to halve his match with Matt Fitzpatrick. Ludvig Åberg provided a bright spot for Europe, defeating Patrick Cantlay 2&1.
Despite the US fightback, Europe's early lead proved sufficient, with Lowry's heroics ensuring the trophy remained in European hands. The victory was a testament to Luke Donald's planning, but also highlighted the need for improved crowd conduct at future Ryder Cups.
