Americans fight back, but Europe holds on to win Ryder Cup 2025.
Facing the largest deficit in Ryder Cup history, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley reached for inspiration only he could summon. “28-3,” he reminded his team on Saturday night, invoking the Patriots’ famous Super Bowl comeback. But in truth, Europe already had one hand on the trophy.
With Viktor Hovland forced to withdraw and award an automatic half-point, the Europeans entered Sunday at Bethpage Black leading 12–5 and needing just two points to retain. And with Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Matt Fitzpatrick stacked early in the lineup, the odds of an American miracle were slim.
The U.S. did not fold, though. Cam Young, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and others kept the crowd roaring, narrowing the gap and stirring faint echoes of hope. At one stage, four of six live matches leaned red. Yet Europe needed just a flicker. It came when Shane Lowry rolled in a nervy six-footer at the 18th, securing the half-point that mathematically sealed the cup.
“That was the hardest couple hours of my life,” Lowry admitted. “Walking down 18, I told my caddie, ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing of my life.’”
For the Americans, the loss stung. Bradley’s reliance on struggling pairings, questions over the PGA’s $500,000 player payments, and hostile crowd antics all hung over a week that began with the U.S. as favorites. Scheffler, the world No. 1, managed just one win all week. DeChambeau, once tipped as a difference-maker, split points after a rollercoaster singles duel.
Europe, by contrast, leaned on continuity and cohesion. Eleven of the 12 players returned from their victory in Rome, boasting far more combined Ryder Cup experience than the U.S. team. McIlroy set the tone months earlier, promising a win at Bethpage—and delivered. Captain Luke Donald framed it best: “We are fueled by something money cannot buy—purpose, brotherhood, and a responsibility to honor those who came before us.”
The Americans fought to the end, even pushing Europe to sweat for the clincher. But when Lowry’s putt dropped, the narrative shifted from potential “Bethpage Bounce-back” to yet another European triumph. Nine wins in the last 12 Ryder Cups, this one on hostile ground.
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