FLASHBACK TO LAST FIVE MATCHES IN USA A BEAR PIT, A MIRACLE AND AN UNSTOPPABLE CAPTAIN AMERICA
1999 BROOKLINE USA 14 EUROPE 13
½ ½
Just like the infamous ‘War on the Shore’ contest eight years earlier, ugliness on and off the course marred this contest at the Brookline ‘bear pit’. The Europeans, led by Mark James, dominated the first two days and built up a 10-6 lead. But in front of increasingly fervent and hostile American fans, Ben Crenshaw’s team fought back superbly on a startling Sunday. The pivotal moment was regretful, however, American players and their wives storming onto the 17th green to celebrate a monster putt from Justin Leonard, even though Jose Maria Olazabal still had a putt left to halve the hole. The Spaniard duly missed, and the USA claimed victory.
2004 OAKLAND HILLS USA 9 ½ EUROPE 18 ½
Bernhard Langer might well be the finest European captain of them all – his approach to the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills was meticulous and precise in the extreme. The German also had some special talent to call on of course, and his Europe team delivered the goods and some in Michigan. American rivals Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were twice paired together on the first day by US captain Hal Sutton and it didn’t work – they were beaten both times. Europe were 11-5 ahead going into the final day and eventually claimed their largest ever winning margin.
2008 VALHALLA USA 16 ½ EUROPE 11 ½
The Americans sealed a first Ryder Cup success since Brookline nine years earlier with a thoroughly deserved victory at Valhalla in Louisville. Europe’s captain Nick Faldo was often found wanting, while his rival Paul Azinger excelled for the hosts with his famous pod system. The USA were 9-7 ahead going into the singles and a number of early Sunday singles wins meant the match was only going one way. The enduring image might well be of Boo Weekley – what the Dickens happened to him? – riding an imaginary cowboy horse down the fairway.
2012
USA 13 EUROPE 14
MEDINAH
½ ½
The Miracle of Medinah. It still defies belief, even now. Europe were fortunate to only be 10-6 behind going into the final day, thanks largely to the brilliance of Ian Poulter. Somehow, the Americans – who were captained by Davis Love – contrived to lose on that fabled Sunday. The highlights for Europe included Sergio Garcia producing a dramatic late recovery to beat Jim Furyk, Justin Rose getting the better of Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer seeing off Steve Stricker. When Tiger Woods generously conceded on the 18th green to halve his match against Francesco Molinari, Europe had pulled off an astonishing victory, one captain Jose Maria Olazabal and his players said had been inspired by the memory of the late great Seve Ballesteros, who had died the year before.
2016 HAZELTINE USA 17 EUROPE 11
The Americans put a muchneeded Ryder Cup win on the board at Hazeltine and it was never really in much doubt. The hosts were 5-3 ahead after day one and 9½-6½ clear after day two. The first singles match on the final day is the abiding memory of the encounter, an outrageous contest between Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy. The highlight was on the eighth green, McIlroy holing a putt from miles away and cupping his ears to a delirious crowd. Reed duly followed him in, pointed at McIlroy, and the laughing pair fist-bumped each other. Great theatre, but in the end Reed edged the match and Davis Love’s USA team sealed a comprehensive win.