Golf
ESPN staff 5y

Day 3 at the Ryder Cup: Europe wins the Ryder Cup

PGA Tour, Golf

PARIS -- Europe entered the final day of the Ryder Cup with a four-point lead. On Sunday, in singles, it continued its long streak of dominance at home, defeating the Americans.

Here's how it all went down: 

SCORE: EUROPE 17½, UNITED STATES 10½


Sunday session: singles

Justin Thomas def. Rory McIlroy 1 up

How it happened: It was the heavyweight fight that was expected. The first match out of the box went to the 18th tee all square. The difference was simple: On the most important drive of the day, Thomas hit the 18th fairway and McIlroy did not. McIlroy left a shot in the bunker, then hit a line drive into the water. Once Thomas found the green safely, the hole -- and the match -- was conceded. The U.S. needed a win to start the day, and it got one.

Paul Casey halved with Brooks Koepka

How it happened: Second match of the day, second match that went all the way to the 18th hole. This one did not end as well for the Americans. With a short iron in his hands from just 152 yards, Koepka yanked his approach into the bunker. He got up and down from the bunker to make par. Casey had 25 feet up the hill for birdie to win the match, but just missed on the left edge, ending it in a tie. On a day when the U.S. needed every point it could get, this was a hard half-point to let get away.

Webb Simpson def. Justin Rose 3 and 2

How it happened: Simpson had a hot putter in Saturday's foursomes win with Bubba Watson. It carried over into Sunday's singles match with Rose. He won the second and third hole, then pushed the lead to 3 up at the seventh. The lead never shrunk below 2 up and he closed it out with a birdie at the 16th.

Tony Finau def. Tommy Fleetwood 6 and 4

How it happened: Every time you looked up on Sunday it seemed Finau was walking in a birdie putt. Through 10 holes, Finau was a stunning 5 up. Fleetwood was the star of the show over the first two days, posting a perfect 4-0 record alongside partner Francesco Molinari, and before the match started, this felt like a sure win for Europe. Finau didn't see it that way and won in a rout.

Thorbjorn Olesen def. Jordan Spieth 5 and 4

How it happened: Olesen had not hit a golf ball in competition since Friday morning. He sat out the afternoon session Friday and then both sessions Saturday, benched by countryman and captain Thomas Bjorn. All he did Sunday was pound Spieth, taking a 5 up lead through nine holes and then cruising on home. Spieth's puzzling issues in singles continues. He is now a combined 0-6 in singles between the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Jon Rahm def. Tiger Woods 2 and 1

How it happened: Last week was memorable for Tiger Woods. This week was forgettable. After earning his first win in five years by capturing the Tour Championship, Woods went 0-4 at this Ryder Cup. He showed flashes Sunday -- there was an eagle and a big fist pump at No. 9 -- but there were too many mistakes. His short miss for par at No. 14 essentially locked up a winless week.

Ian Poulter def. Dustin Johnson 2 up

How it happened: Dustin Johnson rolled in a 60-footer for birdie at No. 11 for his first lead of the day. But Poulter has a way of getting things done in the Ryder Cup. He quickly won No. 13 and No. 14, the second with a classic Poulter chest thump. The loss was Johnson's first ever in Ryder Cup singles. He entered a perfect 3-0.

Francesco Molinari def. Phil Mickelson 4 and 2

How it happened: This outcome might have been the most predictable. Molinari was literally unbeatable, winning all five of his matches. Mickelson, meanwhile, went 0-2 over a miserable week in France. He tried to make a push Sunday, but he could never fully close the gap, not with Molinari continuing to make every clutch putt. Fittingly, it was Mickelson's tee shot at No. 16 that found the water that clinched the Ryder Cup for Europe.

Henrik Stenson def. Bubba Watson 5 and 4

How it happened: Bubba Watson has never won a Ryder Cup singles match. It wasn't happening Sunday, either. Stenson went up early and Watson could not figure out a way to catch him. Shortly after Molinari won his match to clinch the Cup, Stenson was able to join in the celebration.

Sergio Garcia def. Rickie Fowler 2 and 1

How it happened: Garcia was a controversial captain's pick, given his record over the past year. But there he was on Sunday, winning again at the Ryder Cup. Sunday's victory made him the winningest player in the history of the Ryder Cup with 25½ points. For Fowler, it was a struggle. In one stretch over the closing holes, Fowler had three consecutive swings that ended with a ball in the water.

Patrick Reed def. Tyrrell Hatton 3 and 2

How it happened: It took Captain America three days to show up, but there he was Sunday. Granted, it was a bit too late. The Cup had been decided by the time he put an American flag on the board. Reed turned a match that was all square through six holes into a 3-up lead after 11 and kept it there.

Alex Noren def. Bryson DeChambeau 1 up

How it happened: They were the last two on the course, tasked with the impossible -- try to continue playing a match that was meaningless in the big picture. Fittingly, Noren ended the match with a 30-footer for birdie to win it.

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