We look back on a dramatic three days at Gleneagles as Europe retained the trophy
Monday 22 December 2014 14:50, UK
We look back at how Paul McGinley’s side continued their recent dominance in the Ryder Cup with a resounding victory at Gleneagles.
Going into the 40th staging of the competition as pre-tournament favourites, McGinley's team lived up to their expectations at Gleneagles with a comfortable 16½-11½ victory. Here’s how Europe secured a third successive win, and their sixth in the last seven meetings …
Day One, Morning Fourballs
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson got Europe off to a strong start, with two birdies in the opening four holes putting them on their way to a convincing 5&4 win over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.
Jimmy Walker inspired an American recovery against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer. Trailing by three early on, the 35-year-old holed an eagle from the sand on the ninth, before two birdies from the final three holes gave him and Rickie Fowler a half-point.
Ian Poulter missing a three-foot par putt on the opening hole set the tone in his match with Stephen Gallacher against rookie pairing Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. The Americans raced six shots ahead in 11 holes before wrapping a 5&4 win - Poulter’s first Ryder Cup defeat in eight matches.
It took a birdie on the last to decide the final morning fourball, with Phil Mickelson knocking in a short putt to give him and Keegan Bradley the point in a topsy-turvy affair. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia lead early on, trailed going into the back nine and were back ahead with three to play before eventually losing out.
Day One, Afternoon Foursomes
Pundits were left baffled by Tom Watson’s decision to omit Spieth and Reed from the foursomes, with the USA captain later admitting his side were "outplayed” in an afternoon session where Europe secured three-and-a-half points from four.
Jamie Donaldson impressed in his debut match alongside Lee Westwood, the home pair finishing two up on Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar.
Stenson and Rose teamed up again to win their second point of the day, with birdies at the 15th and 17th sealing a 2&1 victory over Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson
Team USA looked set to reduce the deficit with Walker and Fowler two up on McIlroy and Garcia with two to play, but McIlroy holed a superb putt for a two at 17 and Garcia's stunning five-wood to the final green set up a two-putt birdie that snatched a thrilling half.
Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell extended Europe’s advantage late in the day, carding six birdies on their way to a 3&2 victory over a jaded Mickelson and Bradley.
Score – Europe 5-3 USA
Day Two, Morning Fourballs
Rose and Stenson got Europe’s morning off to a flyer against Watson and Kuchar, who were two up after six holes before the European pair hit back with a remarkable 10 consecutive birdies. Rose sealed the point with a precision chip at the 16th, taking them to 12 under for the round.
America responded with Furyk and Mahan racing three ahead after seven holes against Westwood and Donaldson, and Mahan’s eagle on the 14th completed a resounding win.
Spieth and Reed picked up their second point of the weekend with a comprehensive 5&3 rout of Bjorn and Kaymer, who were two up early on before finding no answer to a barrage of birdies.
The bottom match saw McIlroy and Poulter two up at the turn, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils against Fowler and Walker. Poulter atoned for some poor shots with a dramatic chip-in at the 15th, while Fowler narrowly missed an eagle putt for the win at the last.
Day Two, Afternoon Foursomes
Spieth and Reed’s half point against Kaymer and Rose was America’s only highlight in another disappointing afternoon for Watson's beleagured team. The American pair looked primed for a third straight win, but they made a mess of the last as the Europeans got up and down from a greenside bunker to level the match.
Westwood and Donaldson got back to winning ways as they combined for eight birdies to clinch a 2&1 win against Johnson and Kuchar.
Dubuisson and McDowell continued their excellent partnership, racing five up after eight holes against Walker and Fowler before coasting to a 5&4 win.
Garcia and McIlroy increased Europe’s advantage against Furyk and Mahan, making a crucial birdie at the 14th, and a solid par at 16 ended the contest.
The evening press conferences were another tough affair for Watson, who was again widely criticised for his decision not to play Mickelson and Bradley all day.
Score – Europe 10-6 USA
Day Three, Singles
America went into the final day hoping they could emulate Europe's "Miracle at Medinah", but they failed to build on a bright start as McGinley's side retained the Ryder Cup with plenty to spare.
McIlroy looked close to unstoppable on his way to a 5&4 demolition of Fowler, with four birdies and an eagle in his first six holes lifting the world No 1 into a commanding lead which his close friend never threatened.
In the top match, Spieth looked certain to put some red on the board as he turned three ahead of McDowell. But he lost his composure on the inward half, making four bogeys as the Northern Irishman roared back to snatch a 2&1 win.
Reed then gave USA their first point of the day with a final-hole triumph over Stenson, meaning the rookie ended the competition as America’s highest points scorer.
Rose completed the contest unbeaten in a halved match with Mahan, while Kuchar provided one of the shots of the day when he binned his approach to the eighth for an eagle-two on his way to a 4&3 drubbing of Bjorn.
The visitors cut the gap when a fired-up Mickelson secured a 3&1 win in a high-quality battle with Gallacher, before Kaymer chipped in for victory on the 16th against Bubba Watson to all-but seal the title for Europe.
Donaldson missed the chance to wrap up the win on the 14th green, but a sublime wedge to 18 inches at the next hole forced Bradley to concede defeat that confirmed the trophy would remain in Europe's possession.
Garcia played the last five holes in five under to edge another tight tussle with Furyk, while Walker grabbed a consolation point for the USA with a 3&2 win over Westwood.
Poulter kept his unbeaten singles record at the Ryder Cup with a battling half against Simpson, while the final match of the week between Dubuisson and Johnson also ended all square as the European celebrations began.
Final score – Europe 16½-11½ USA
