Europe thrashed the US 17½-10½ to regain the Ryder Cup. As Francesco Molinari secured the 14½-winning point, Le Golf Nation erupted in wild celebrations and tears. 


Ryder Cup 2018

 

For a split second during Sunday's singles matches, there was a sea of red on the leaderboard and it looked as though Europe's win could be in question. But not for long...

Open champion Francesco Molinari beat Phil Mickelson to get Europe to the 14½-point winning mark, simultaneously becoming the first European to win five points in one Ryder Cup.

Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Thorbjorn Olesen, Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren joined Molinari in winning their singles matches after the Americans, trailing behind 10-6, had threatened a comeback by winning 3½ of the first five points on the final day.

Poulter, who has earnt himself the nickname of 'The Postman' because he 'always delivers a point', donned a pillar-box fancy-dress outfit to the delight of the crowds. He then led the charge on to the 18th green when Noren holed a 35-foot putt to win the final match.

That was the spirit that prevailed throughout the European team all week. Although the US have not won in Europe since 1993, The Europeans undoubtedly went into this year's match as the underdogs. The American side boasted 31 major titles, and 11 of their players are in the world's top 17.

Once the last putt had been holed, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood led a 'thunder clap' cheers with a high-spirited 70,000-strong crowd, while captain Thomas Bjorn embraced each of his "amazing" players.

"Some people say golf is boring - well, this is certainly not boring," said Bjorn.

"I've experienced a lot of Ryder Cups but this is the top one."

The opposing captain Jim Furyk said: "You have to tip your cap, they outplayed us."

 

The final day in pictures...

 

Ryder cup 2018 2 min Ryder cup 2018 3 min Ryder cup 2018 5 min Ryder cup 2018 6 min Ryder cup 2018 7 min Ryder cup 2018 10 min Ryder cup 2018 9 min

Image credit: Christian Petersen/Jamie Squire/David Cannon/Ross Kinnaird/Luke Walker/Richard Heathcote/Andrew Redington/Stuart Franklin/FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

anne van dam