Ryder Cup: US beat Europe to regain trophy at Whistling Straits

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With a 19-9 record win over Europe at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, the United States has regained The Ryder Cup.

Collin Morikawa, Open champion, won the winning half-point in the fifth of Sunday’s 12 singles matches. The home team scored the required 14 points.

Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Ian Poulter, both of whom maintained his unbroken record of winning in singles, were overcome with emotion after losing their matches.

American players celebrated around them. Brooks Koepka drank a beer from the fans after he won 2&1 on the 17th green, to loud chants of "U.S.-A."

In a carnival atmosphere at Lake Michigan, there had been already big wins for Patrick Cantlay and Scottie Scheffler, while Dustin Johnson became America's first Ryder Cup winner in all five matches.

The celebrations were so intense that Koepka & DeChambeau, who had been in a long-running dispute, briefly hugged in the post-match media conference. US captain Steve Stricker said they "wanted to play together".

Stricker said, "This is an important day for all of us involved," adding that he struggled to control his emotions as a Wisconsite.

"The Ryder Cup is very important to everyone, our side and your side. Finally, we put in a dominant performance.

"This is a new age right here, they're young, motivated, and they're here determined to win.

"I have never won a major. This is my major."

Harrington, Europe's captain, admitted that it was a difficult loss but they were far better than us. They were a strong team that played at their best. They were a team that had momentum throughout the game."

This margin of victory surpasses the 18-9 European successes in 2006 and 2004 as well as America's 1981 triumph.

This win was well deserved, given the dominating opening two days of play for the hosts.

After Friday's foursomes, fourballs and Friday night's foursomes, they led 6-2. They extended this to an unprecedented 11-5 on Saturday. This left them needing only 3 points to win the singles.

Harrington spoke Saturday night about using the spirit of 2012 to motivate his team. The visitors had come from 10-6 down to win 'Miracle of Medinah'.

McIlroy had lost all three of their matches and McIlroy was out first. The Northern Irishman instantly put European blue on scoreboard when he won the first hole against Olympic champion Schaufffele.

The few European fans at Whistling Strits this week began to believe when Shane Lowry, Harrington's Irish counterpart, won the second match.

Cantlay won the FedEx Cup, a PGA Tour season-long competition, and the $15m prize earlier in the month. He won the four remaining holes to win that match.

Scheffler, who was playing behind him, birdied the first four holes and put Jon Rahm, world number 1, under pressure.

The big-hitting DeChambeau hit a tee shot on Par-four and first onto the green. He then holed the 40-foot eagle to stun Sergio Garcia.

These were the leads that the Americans would maintain throughout their matches against Spain, who had combined for three point from Friday's fourballs match and Saturday's foursomes matches.

Garcia, who increased his points record by 28 at his 10th Ryder Cup, said that "Unfortunately they weren't as good as we were".

"We have to accept that, and we have to be ready for Rome to try and get it back.

Seven matches were left on the course to seal the victory, underscoring the home team's superiority.

Justin Thomas defeated Tyrrell Hatton 4&3, Brooks Koepka beat Bernd Wiesberger 2&1 while Daniel Berger beat Matt Fitzpatrick. The US won seven singles matches.

This could be the beginning of a new dynasty in the US. They had previously lost seven of the nine previous editions of this biennial contest but now have won consecutive Ryder Cups on their home turf for the first time since 38 years.

The 12-strong team included eight of the top ten world ranking teams. Eight of their team members are in their 20s. Johnson, 37, was the oldest member of the team and beat Paul Casey by one hole.

However, many European players are approaching the end of their Ryder Cup careers. Only two winners from the singles were Lee Westwood (48), who was selected for the team. Poulter, 45, was one of Harrington’s wildcard selections.

Although both their victories occurred long after the cup was lost, they won their first holes even though European blue was absent from the scoreboards.

Westwood trailed by two with five holes to play. Harris English won on the 18th. Poulter was a captain's choice for the fifth time in seven appearances. Tony Finau won 3&2.

Poulter said, "Sticking one point on the board is nice for a personal feeling but it's not a consolation." He has won six of seven singles matches and halved the other.

"We'll get in the saddle and see if it is possible to go back to Italy again."

He said this on BBC Radio 5 Live. It looks very lopsided from the scoreboard, but it doesn't feel like that.

The 2023 Ryder Cup will be held in Rome.