Europe regain Ryder Cup bragging rights
Payback belongs to Europe, and so does the Ryder Cup.
Two years after the Americans thought they had their Ryder Cup problems figured out, Europe, with their 171⁄2 to 101⁄2 win, reminded them yesterday why they practically have owned this shiny gold trophy for the last quarter of a century.
British Open champion Francesco Molinari was just as good on his own as he was with Tommy Fleetwood. The best year of the Italian’s golfing life got even better at Le Golf National when he became the first European – and only second player since the current format began in 1979 – to win all five of his matches.
The last one set off a wild, champagne-soaked celebration.
Europe already were assured the 14 points they needed because they were guaranteed halves in two matches. Molinari made it official. He was 2 up and safely on the green at the par-three 16th green when Phil Mickelson hit into the water, removed his cap and conceded the match.
Mickelson was desperate to make this team because the 48-year-old saw it as his last chance to win a Ryder Cup on European soil. He wound up losing both his matches. He started the week by setting a record with his 12th Ryder Cup appearance. He ended it by setting a more dubious Ryder Cup record with 22 losses.
He wasn’t alone. Tiger Woods went 0-4, the first time in his eight Ryder Cups that he failed to contribute a single point.
But this was more about the Europeans as a team, and they were tougher than ever .
‘‘This team has been incredible from the start,’’ Molinari said. ‘‘We were determined to do the job. Nothing was going to stop us. And you saw it on the course.’’
Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles, the Americans needed to put red points on the board early to build momentum. It never happened. Justin Thomas won the leadoff match over Rory McIlroy, but not until the 18th hole.
Webb Simpson and Tony Finau, the lone bright spot among the wild-card picks for US captain Jim Furyk, won easily.
But that was it.
Jon Rahm won the first hole against Woods and never trailed. He dropped his putter after making a five-foot birdie on the 17th hole as Woods stood to the side of the green, arms crossed. One week ago, he overcame four back surgeries to win for the 80th time on the Tour Championship, a signal that he was all the way back.
And then at the Ryder Cup, it was another result with which he is far too familiar. Woods has played on only one winning team in 1999.
‘‘It’s disappointing because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European team,’’ he said. ‘‘And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the cup, and it’s not a lot of fun. It’s frustrating because I thought we were all playing pretty well, and I just didn’t perform at the level that I had been playing, and just got behind early in the matches and never got back.’’
Thorbjorn Olesen, who had played only one match the previous two days, went 5 up at the turn over Jordan Spieth and won in 14 holes. Spieth is now 0-6 in singles matches in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
Sergio Garcia was in tears. He played so poorly this year that he failed to qualify for the PGA Tour’s post-season. Thomas Bjorn picked him anyway, saying he was like the captain of a football team. Garcia showed why by going 3-1. That final victory over Rickie Fowler made Garcia the biggest contributor in Ryder Cup history with 251⁄2 points.
All that was left to determine was the final score with one match still on the course.
By then, it was settled where dominance lies in these biennial matches. Europe now have won nine of the last 12 times.