The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York delivered everything golf fans could have hoped for—intensity, drama, and a finish that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final putt dropped. On September 29, Team Europe survived a ferocious American comeback to retain the prestigious trophy, edging out Team USA by a razor-thin 15-13 margin. This wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement, a fulfillment of Rory McIlroy’s bold promise made two years ago after Europe’s win in Rome.
McIlroy, ever the competitor, had declared, “I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.” He and his teammates delivered on that vow in raucous, often hostile territory, silencing doubters and, for a brief moment, a roaring New York crowd. “Not just win here in America, but in New York,” McIlroy said on Sunday, reflecting on the magnitude of Europe’s achievement. “When you think about the last away Ryder Cup, about what people were saying about decades of American dominance… to be able to do what we’ve done in Rome and then here, it shut a lot of people up.”
The road to this historic win wasn’t smooth sailing, though. Europe stormed into the final day with a commanding seven-point lead—the largest ever for an away team at this stage in Ryder Cup history. After two days of near-flawless golf, the narrative seemed set: Europe would cruise to victory, perhaps even in record-breaking fashion. But Bethpage Black had other ideas, and so did Team USA.
The Americans, trailing 11.5-4.5, showed up on Sunday with fire in their eyes and the crowd behind them. Cameron Young and Justin Thomas spearheaded the early charge, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler took down McIlroy in singles. Xander Schauffele delivered a statement win over Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau staged a stunning comeback from five down against Matt Fitzpatrick to snatch a half point. The tension was palpable; could this be the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history?
Europe’s grip on the Cup looked shaky as blue on the scoreboard turned to red. The away side managed to win just one singles match all day—Ludvig Åberg’s crucial 2&1 victory over Patrick Cantlay. That lone blue flag was the lowest singles win total for Europe since the 1959 team, and the closest-fought Ryder Cup since the legendary “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012. “It’s been the most stressful 12 hours in my life,” admitted European captain Luke Donald. “I didn’t think they [the U.S.] would be this tough on Sunday, they fought so hard, and all the respect to them. But this means a lot obviously to me and the team.”
Key moments defined the final stretch. Shane Lowry, under immense pressure, holed a six-yard putt on the 18th to ensure Europe could not be beaten, sending the away fans—and his family—into jubilation. “It was an unbelievable day for my family,” Lowry said, after holing the putt that retained the Cup. Tyrrell Hatton, undefeated all week with a 3-0-1 record, secured a half-point against Collin Morikawa in the penultimate match, sealing the outright win for Europe.
But the story of Bethpage Black wasn’t just about golf. Throughout the weekend, the atmosphere teetered on the edge of chaos. McIlroy, targeted by hostile fans, kept his composure even as his wife, Erica Stoll, was subjected to abuse—most notably when a beer was thrown at her, an incident captured on video. “It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week,” McIlroy said. “Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”
Amid the noise, Europe’s leaders kept their cool. Luke Donald’s calm approach and strategic mastery—especially his focus on marginal gains and team unity—proved decisive. Inspirational images and quotes adorned the team’s quarters, including a surprising motivational message from U.S. captain Keegan Bradley. Donald’s leadership, especially his late decision to send Hatton out late in the singles, paid off in spades. For Donald, the win marked a place in history: he became only the second European captain to lead his side to back-to-back Ryder Cup victories, following in the footsteps of Tony Jacklin (1985, 1987).
“We came here knowing that the task was very difficult. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys and what they have done through, how they have come together, how they are playing for history, how they are playing for the people that came before them, and now there will be talk for generations to come as someone going down in history. Couldn’t be more proud,” Donald said.
Individually, several Europeans shone despite the Sunday scare. Tommy Fleetwood (4-1-0) emerged as the team’s most prolific winner and was awarded the Nicklaus and Jacklin award for embodying the spirit of the event. “When you play in a team event like this, you don’t necessarily set out to win individual awards, but to focus on playing the right way and make the right decisions when it matters most,” Fleetwood reflected. Shane Lowry (1-0-2) not only avoided defeat but ranked second in total strokes gained. Tyrrell Hatton’s consistency and clutch play were vital, while Justin Rose contributed a strong 2-1-0 record and the second-best putting performance of the week, gaining 3.28 strokes on the greens.
For the Americans, there were flashes of brilliance—Cameron Young (3-1-0) was perhaps their standout, and Xander Schauffele (3-1-0) brought energy and precision. Yet, the U.S. team’s inability to capitalize on their Saturday momentum and some controversial captain’s picks from Keegan Bradley left them just short. “He found a way to rally the troops and wasn’t too far away from pulling off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history,” noted one observer.
As the dust settles on Bethpage Black, questions swirl about the future—will Donald return for another captaincy? Can the Americans regroup and reclaim the Cup in Ireland? For now, Team Europe can savor a hard-fought triumph, a victory that will be talked about for years to come. They came, they saw, and—despite the odds and the noise—they conquered New York.
