Team Europe wins the 2023 Ryder Cup, with captain Luke Donald’s twelve-man squad defeating the team from the United States at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. The Europeans needed four more points in the final twelve singles matches on Sunday, having already collected 10.5 points on Friday and Saturday. Tommy Fleetwood put on 2 on hole 16 in his match and could not lose to Rickie Fowler. He thus secured the decisive half point for his team. For the USA, it is the seventh defeat in a row on European soil. The often favored team has not won an away match since 1993.
Tommy Fleetwood secures half point to Ryder Cup victory
Team Europe was already at 14 points after the first six singles matches on Sunday, but then had to wait for what felt like an eternity for the decisive half point. Match after match went to the USA, so that it became more and more exciting in the late started matches. Here, the Europeans were more often in the lead, but all duels were extremely close. Fleetwood finally took advantage of a mistake by his opponent Fowler, who sank his tee shot in the water at the 16th, a short par-4. The Englishman holed out for birdie to put him up 2 with two holes to go, securing the half-point needed to win the 2023 Ryder Cup.
“I didn’t want it to be down to any of the players at the end at all” said Fleetwood afterwards. “We have an incredible squad. This year the team has definitely changed, but I couldn’t ask for a better team. We’re a gigantic family.” Luke Donald, who expressed his gratitude and pride to his team, also broke voice and tears came. Most of all, said the European captain, who won the Ryder Cup four times as a player, he is now “looking forward to a drink.”
Ryder Cup 2023: The results of the singles on Sunday
Jon Rahm vs. Scottie Scheffler
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Jon Rahm |
all square |
Scottie Scheffler |
The world’s No. 1 was set up by his captain in the first match to provide momentum for Team USA and secure an early point. Of course, Europe’s captain, Luke Donald, knew this would happen, so he also lined up his most in-form player at position 1. This meant that Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler were the first to go out on the final day of the 2023 Ryder Cup. In a high-class duel, the Spaniard initially held the cards in his hand after Scheffler missed two short putts and had to give up holes. On the back nine, the lead then changed and the world number one went 1 up on the 18th. On the par-5, however, Rahm then played another birdie, Scheffler could not draw level after his approach into the rough and had to give up half a point at the last moment.
Viktor Hovland vs. Collin Morikawa
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Viktor Hovland |
4&3 Europa |
Collin Morikawa |
With the 4&3 victory of Viktor Hovland over Collin Morikawa, the first point of the day at the Ryder Cup 2023 went to Team Europe. The Norwegian dominated the match from the beginning and was already 3 up after six holes. Morikawa could not really counteract at any time and only shortened on two occasions, but never took the lead himself. Hovland thus takes three points from four matches in his second participation in a Ryder Cup. Especially his historic victory alongside Ludvig Aberg will be remembered.
Justin Rose vs. Patrick Cantlay
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Justin Rose |
2&1 USA |
Patrick Cantlay |
Patrick Cantlay cruised to victory for eleven holes against Justin Rose, who had been playing so strongly so far. But then the Englishman finally found his way into the match and put the American, who remained 1 up, under pressure with two hole wins in a row. First Cantlay freed himself a bit on the 14th before Rose hit back directly on the 15th. In the end, however, the European’s deficit could no longer be made up and Cantlay used a strong tee shot on 17 (par-3) to close the bag with 2&1.
Rory McIlroy vs. Sam Burns
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Rory McIlroy |
3&1 Europa |
Sam Burns |
Rory McIlroy had already declared before the Ryder Cup 2023 that he wanted to take responsibility and go ahead. And the Northern Irishman did just that on Sunday. Although his opponent, Sam Burns, won four holes for the USA in the course of the match, the duel was over on 17. McIlroy used a strong tee shot on 17 (par-3) to birdie and set an unassailable 3&1. This means McIlroy has four points from five matches – he was the only European to play in all sessions. This is the most ever for the 34-year-old at a Ryder Cup.
Matt Fitzpatrick vs. Max Homa
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Matt Fitzpatrick |
1auf USA |
Max Homa |
Matt Fitzpatrick had the first opportunity on the 18th to get the last necessary half point for Team Europe and make his team an early Ryder Cup winner. But his opponent Max Homa saved par after he had to declare a ball unplayable on the final hole. Fitzpatrick narrowly missed the opportunity with a putt from just over four meters, so instead of a shared match, a 1-up win for the USA went on the leaderboard.
Tyrrell Hatton vs. Brian Harman
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Tyrrell Hatton |
3&2 Europa |
Brian Harman |
With Tyrrell Hatton’s victory over Open winner Brian Harmann, Team Europe clinched the 14th point. From then on it was a matter of waiting for at least another half point to win the Ryder Cup 2023. The Englishman was already leading after four holes with 3-up and did not come under serious pressure anymore. The American managed to close the gap to 1down, but then Hatton controlled the action and ended the duel with a hole win on the 16th hole.
Ludvig Aberg vs. Brooks Koepka
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Ludvig Aberg |
3&2 USA |
Brooks Koepka |
Brooks Koepka had to make up for his defeat on Saturday morning (9&7) with Scottie Scheffler against Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg. The five-time Major winner then lived up to his role as favorite against the Swede, who only turned professional four months ago, in the singles match. Koepka went 3 up after eight holes and Aberg only won a hole on the 10th for the first time on this Sunday. Not much more came from the 23-year-old, who nevertheless showed a strong debut at the Ryder Cup. Koepka finished the duel of 16, where a split hole was enough for him.
Sepp Straka vs. Justin Thomas
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Sepp Straka |
2auf USA |
Justin Thomas |
Sepp Straka had to deal with the multiple Major winner Justin Thomas on Sunday. The German-speaking Ryder Cup debutant did well. Thomas took an early lead, but the Austrian did not let himself be distracted by it. On the back nine, Straka won two holes, one of them with a spectacular eagle, which he called the highlight of his week after the round. In doing so, he cut Thomas’ lead to ‘1Up’. In the end, however, he succumbed to him and Thomas won the match with ‘2Up’.
Nicolai Hojgaard vs. Xander Schauffele
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Nicolai Hojgaard |
3&2 USA |
Xander Schauffele |
Nicolai Hojgaard started strongly against Xander Schauffele and won two of the first three holes. But then the Olympic champion made a spurt on holes five to seven and turned the match around. However, the Dane hit back immediately and so it was all square on the back nine. Here, however, the American with a German father turned up the heat and, with four birdies on the next seven holes, secured victory over the European Ryder Cup rookie.
Shane Lowry vs. Jordan Spieth
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Shane Lowry |
all square |
Jordan Spieth |
Shane Lowry and Jordan Spieth played an exciting match on Sunday of the Ryder Cup. The American major winner and especially the emotional Shane Lowry created a great atmosphere on the course of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. While Spieth initially had the upper hand for a long time, Lowry caught up on the back nine, forced Spieth to the 18th green and secured Team Europe a half point with the final putt of the tournament.
Tommy Fleetwood vs. Rickie Fowler
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Tommy Fleetwood |
3&1 Europa |
Rickie Fowler |
The match between Tommy Fleetwood and Rickie Fowler decided the victory of the European team. Both players played a match on equal terms. In the end, however, Tommy Fleetwood had his nose in front. Team Europe was already at 14 points for a long time and was waiting for redemption. The crowd favorite Tommy Fleetwood won both holes 16 and 17 and thus redeemed players, captains and fans. He didn’t even have to hole his last ball – Rickie Fowler gave his competitor the last short putt for the European victory.
Robert MacIntyre vs. Wyndham Clark
| Europe |
Result |
USA |
| Robert MacIntyre |
2&1 Europa |
Wyndham Clark |
The last flight of the day was Robert MacIntyre and Wyndham Clark. At the beginning of their round Robert MacIntyre showed himself clearly superior and brought his score up to ‘3Up’. However, he lost this clear advantage in the course of the round and so it became exciting again in the final flight. Finally, the 27-year-old Scot decided the match with 2&1 for Europe.
