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Business News/ Industry / Europe retains golf’s Ryder Cup for third straight tournament
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Europe retains golf’s Ryder Cup for third straight tournament

The Europeans won 16 1/2-11 1/2, having reached the needed 14 1/2 points to take the sport's premier team tournament

Team Europe golfers pour champagne over captain Paul McGinley as they celebrate retaining the Ryder Cup. Photo: ReutersPremium
Team Europe golfers pour champagne over captain Paul McGinley as they celebrate retaining the Ryder Cup. Photo: Reuters

London: Europe retained golf’s Ryder Cup for the third straight tournament over the US with the biggest margin since 2008.

The Europeans won 16 1/2-11 1/2, having reached the needed 14 1/2 points to take the sport’s premier team tournament when Welshman Jamie Donaldson won 4-and-3 over Keegan Bradley at Gleneagles in Scotland on Sunday.

The US started the final day’s single matches strongly, but the hosts clawed their way back to victory. Europe, the favourite with bookmakers, has now won six of the past seven editions. Two years ago, the Europeans had a record-tying comeback, winning eight of the 12 singles matches and halved one on the last day to win the trophy.

“It feels fantastic," world No. 1 Rory McIlroy told Sky Sports. “The three Ryder Cup wins I’ve been part of have been three wins, but very different wins. We were in control early."

Europe started the day with a 10-6 lead after dominating the US during Saturday’s final session. The hosts took three of the four matches and halved the other. The US was leading by that score two years ago when the Europeans had a record-tying comeback win at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.

The last time the tournament was decided by more than one point was the Americans’ 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, the last US success.

“We started really well, but we just couldn’t keep it going, that was our problem," US captain Tom Watson said. “The other team played better."

Foursomes

McIlroy beat Rickie Fowler 5-and-4 in today’s singles matches, while Graeme McDowell defeated Jordan Speith 2-and-1 after trailing the rookie by three holes after the front nine. Germany’s Martin Kaymer won 4-and-2 over Bubba Watson, and Sergio Garcia came back to take two of the last four holes to beat Jim Furyk 1-up.

In Saturday’s afternoon foursomes session—in which two players on each team take alternate shots with the same ball—Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood defeated Americans Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar 2-and-1, while Victor Dubuisson and McDowell beat Fowler and Jimmy Walker 5-and-4.

The US had made a move in the morning, looking to tie the competition before McIlroy and Ian Poulter came back to halve the final match of fourballs, in which each golfer plays his own ball with the lowest score winning the hole.

Europe had led 6 1/2-5 1/2 after the morning session as Furyk and Hunter Mahan defeated Donaldson and Westwood 4-and-3 while Texans Patrick Reed and Spieth won 5-and-3 against Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer.

The US, seeking a first victory on European soil since 1993, needed 14 1/2 points to regain the trophy, while Europe required 14 points in total to keep it. Bloomberg

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Published: 28 Sep 2014, 11:10 PM IST
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