How The 2023 Ryder Cup Was Won
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Mon 22 Sep 2025
Share this article:
Europe travel to Bethpage as holders of the Ryder Cup after an emphatic victory at Marco Simone, near Rome, two years ago.
Captain Luke Donald admitted that he had endured a "rollercoaster of emotions" as Europe regained the Ryder Cup in dramatic fashion. Needing four points from Sunday's 12 singles matches to beat the United States, Tommy Fleetwood won the 11th game to pass the 14½ required.
And with thousands of fans crammed around the edge of the 18th green, Ireland's Shane Lowry wrapped up a 16½-11½ win.
"It looked good early but then looked like it could be a bad day," Donald said. "Our guys hung in there like I knew they would. The first two days were key to us to building our lead. The Americans are so strong in singles but we were 12 strong. Everyone contributed. I just love these guys - you need your superstars to show up and they did.
"I've put everything into it and I'm just so glad they were able to win."
It stretched Europe's unbeaten home record beyond 30 years and also meant the past five Ryder Cups have been won by the home side.
US captain Zach Johnson said: "Europe and Luke played great and earned it" before shouldering the blame for their defeat, conceding he had "made some poor decisions”. "It's quite simple, we got outplayed," he added. "We showed grit and heart, it got interesting out there. It ebbed and flowed, it had momentum. I'm proud of my guys.”
Donald had called all week for a fast start and his players had delivered on Friday and Saturday, winning both morning sessions 4-0 and 3-1 as Europe built a 10½-5½ lead to take into Sunday.
And the Englishman, who won all four Ryder Cups he contested as a player, stacked the top singles matches with his best players. The plan seemed to be working with European blue dominating the scoreboards as they led in five of the top six matches.
World number four Viktor Hovland delivered the first point, racing three up after six against Collin Morikawa before sealing a 4&3 win.
But it was the top match that was providing all the drama. World number three Jon Rahm was taking on top-ranked American Scottie Scheffler.
Rahm was two ahead after five, then Scheffler hit back with three birdies in the next six holes to go one ahead after 11. Rahm birdied the next two to retake the lead; Scheffler retaliated with successive birdies of his own to claim the next two. But the American was unable to deliver the knockout blow, missing from 15 feet to win the match on the 17th. And when Rahm cosied a putt from about 60 feet to six inches on the last, it proved enough to win a half point, put Europe 12-6 ahead and ensure he finished unbeaten with three points from four matches.
World number two Rory McIlroy and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton added two more points with the Northern Irishman finishing as Europe's top points scorer on four from five matches, while Hatton finished with three and a half points.
Neither player was behind as they saw off Sam Burns and Open champion Brian Harman respectively to take Europe to 14 points and on the brink of regaining the trophy they lost so heavily at Whistling Straits in 2021.
But the search for the vital half point had Donald scratching his head. "We kept looking at the board and thinking, where will we find 14 and a half points?" he said.
Patrick Cantlay put the first red point on the board, holding off a Justin Rose fightback before holing a winning birdie putt on the 17th. And the USA secured the next three points, with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka beating rookie Ludvig Aberg 3&2, moments before Max Homa beat Matt Fitzpatrick on the last, while Xander Schauffele defeated Nicolai Hojgaard 3&2.
Despite losing, England's Fitzpatrick had a putt to secure the missing half point. Thirty minutes later though, the cup was all but secured when Fleetwood went two up with two to play against Rickie Fowler.
And Fleetwood sealed his point on the 17th to spark scenes of jubilation across the course.
Behind him, Scotland's Bob MacIntyre never trailed US Open champion Wyndham Clark and also won on the 17th to record point number 16 as he finished his first Ryder Cup unbeaten with two and a half points, while Lowry had thousands of fans for company as his match with Jordan Spieth went down the last. The Irishman had battled back from three down after five and won the 17th with a par to go one up and guarantee another half point. A Spieth birdie meant the match finished all square amid what Lowry called "carnage" as he and marshals tried to keep fans off the putting surface.
The half point meant the singles finished six points each.
Related Content
What Makes The Ryder Cup Golf's Best Event
What The Ryder Cup Means to Me
Ranking All 24 Ryder Cup Players in 2025
English Golf Courses That Should Host The Ryder Cup
The Only Golf Events You Need to Watch on TV
About the author
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
The Ryder Cup is unlike any other tournament in golf and the atmosphere is something that every golf fan should experience. The experts at Golfbreaks.com can help with all aspects of your Ryder Cup experience, from accommodation and ticket packages to hospitality and travel and playing some of the fantastic nearby courses.
Tags: ryder cup Bethpage Black
