Team Europe retain Ryder Cup after withstanding epic United States comeback at raucous Bethpage Black as Shane Lowry sinks telling putt
Updated 29/09/2025 at 08:34 GMT+1
The Ryder Cup is heading back to Europe after Luke Donald's side withstood a stunning United States fightback in Sunday's singles to fall over the line and retain the trophy. The American side were swept away as Europe dominated the fourballs and foursomes, but Keegan Bradley's players showed their mettle by dominating the singles, only to come up just short.
Lowry putt sees Europe win the 2025 Ryder Cup
Video credit: SNTV
Team Europe shrugged off a febrile atmosphere and fended off a blistering United States fightback in the singles to retain the Ryder Cup.
Bethpage Black, 30 miles outside of New York, witnessed some ugly scenes outside the ropes and brilliance inside as Europe secured a 15-13 win.
European talisman Rory McIlroy bore the brunt of the fans’ ire - he repeatedly backed off shots due to heckles and at one stage told the crowd to "shut the f*** up" - but it did not deter him as he took 3.5 points.
The toxicity spilt over inside the ropes as well, with Bryson DeChambeau venting at Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood after his caddie had stepped in Rose’s line and was asked to back away.
For all the toxicity, the golf came to the fore - with Europe dominating the foursomes and fourballs, while the USA showed their brilliance in the singles.
The contest was in the balance as the USA picked off point after point in the singles, but Shane Lowry snatched a half against Russell Henley on the 18th to get Europe to the 14-point mark needed to retain the trophy.
"I am extremely proud to be part of this team," McIlroy said. "This was an unbelievable collective effort.
"As soon as we won in Rome, we turned our attention to do something that some felt was impossible, not only to win in America but to win in New York.
"To do something that a lot of people thought we could not do, it means a lot.
"We got an incredible leader in Luke Donald who shepherded us through this, and he deserves a lot of credit for this.
"We are going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow."
Europe captain Luke Donald did not miss a beat, as his pairings in foursomes and fourballs paid off in style.
For Donald’s USA counterpart Keegan Bradley, questions will need to be answered - not least the decision to send Harris English and Collin Morikawa out together in foursomes for a second day after being thrashed 5&4 by McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on the opening day. A 3&2 defeat at the hands of McIlroy and Fleetwood again followed on Saturday.
Not even the sight of United States President Donald Trump whipping up the crowd on the first tee could turn the tide - neither could a PGA of America-employed MC who began a chant of "F*** You, Rory" before the start of play on Saturday.
Donald sent Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton out first against DeChambeau and Justin Thomas on Friday morning, and their 4&3 win set the tone for the opening two days.
DeChambeau played up to the crowd - and in fairness to the American, he produced some stellar golf - but he could not halt the European juggernaut. A 3-1 win for Europe in the opening foursomes paved the way for what was to follow.
| Friday Morning foursomes | ||
| Bryson DeChambeau & Justin Thomas | Europe win 4&3 | Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton |
| Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley | Europe win 5&3 | Ludvig Aberg & Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Collin Morikawa & Harris English | Europe win 5&4 | Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood |
| Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay | USA win 2 Up | Robert MacIntyre & Viktor Hovland |
Donald’s picks in the Friday afternoon footballs delivered a 2.5 to 1.5 win to leave them in front at 5.5 to 2.5 after day one.
| Friday afternoon fourballs | ||
| Scottie Scheffler & JJ Spaun | Europe win 3&2 | Jon Rahm & Sepp Straka |
| Ben Griffin & Bryson DeChambeau | Europe win 1 Up | Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose |
| Cameron Young & Justin Thomas | USA win 6&5 | Ludvig Aberg & Rasmus Hojgaard |
| Sam Burns & Patrick Cantlay | Halved | Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry |
Bradley spoke about his players being ready to turn things around on Saturday. But his players could not match the European team. And it did feel like a team taking on a group of individuals. That feeling was reinforced before a ball was struck in anger at the 2025 Ryder Cup when it emerged the Americans were being paid to play.
The American revival never got started on Saturday, with the play threatening to be overshadowed by toxicity in the crowd.
| Saturday Morning foursomes | ||
| Bryson DeChambeau & Cameron Young | USA win 4&2 | Ludvig Aberg & Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Collin Morikawa & Harris English | Europe win 3&2 | Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood |
| Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay | Europe win 3&2 | Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton |
| Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley | Europe win 1 Up | Robert MacIntyre & Viktor Hovland |
The taunts aimed at McIlroy arguably crossed a line. The Irishman said he would leave it to others to judge whether that was the case.
"It’s really, really challenging," McIlroy said. "It’s not for me to say, people can be their own judge."
McIlroy’s fourballs partner, Lowry, felt that was the case, and had to be held back by his caddie at one stage early in the round.
Lowry arrived in New York on the back of some questionable form, but he was an inspired figure alongside McIlroy - particularly on Saturday afternoon when his partner looked a little shaken by the abuse from sections of the crowd.
Their 2 Up victory over Thomas and Cameron Young in the top match was the first of three wins on Saturday afternoon as Europe extended their advantage to a mammoth 11.5 to 4.5 - Europe's largest lead in Ryder Cup history going into the singles.
| Saturday afternoon fourballs | ||
| Justin Thomas & Cameron Young | Europe win 2 Up | Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry |
| Scottie Scheffler & Bryson DeChambeau | Europe win 3&2 | Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose |
| Xander Schauffele & JJ Spaun | USA win 1 Up | Jon Rahm & Sepp Straka |
| Sam Burns & Patrick Cantlay | Europe win 1 Up | Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick |
Two and a half points were needed in the singles to retain the Ryder Cup; three were required to win the match.
Half a point was secured before a ball was struck, as Viktor Hovland - who pulled out of the Saturday afternoon fourballs with a neck injury - was unable to take up his spot. Ryder Cup convention says opposition teams will pull out a player in case of an injury, with half a point going to each side. English's sorry Ryder Cup came to an early conclusion as he was the American player sacrificed.
If Justin Rose collected a dollar for every taunt of "grandpa" aimed his way, he would have left Bethpage with a lot of money in his pocket.
After taking two points from two alongside Fleetwood in fourballs at the age of 45, he put up a stunning effort in the singles. But a back-and-forth clash with Young went the way of the American who holed a 12-footer on the final hole to secure a 1 Up win.
Thomas did likewise on the 18th to secure a 1 Up win over Fleetwood, while DeChambeau fought back from five down against Matt Fitzpatrick to secure half a point.
Ludvig Aberg brought home Europe’s only full point of the singles with a comfortable win over Patrick Cantlay, but world No. 1 Scheffler secured his first point of the week with a 1 Up win over McIlroy, who looked drained of energy.
Xander Schauffele found the form that had propelled him to two major titles to take out Rahm with relative ease, while US Open champion JJ Spaun took down Sepp Straka. Â
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Luke Donald, Shane Lowry, Rasmus Hojgaard, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe hold the Ryder Cup trophy after their 15-13 victory during the trophy presentation ceremony following the Sunday singles matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 28, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York
Image credit: Getty Images
With four matches on the course, the contest was on a knife-edge.
Lowry had to endure day after day of body-shaming taunts, but he was the man to ensure the Ryder Cup remained in European hands - in dramatic circumstances.
He stood on the 18th tee one down to Henley. After finding the bunker, Henley produced a stunning approach to 12 feet. Under the utmost pressure, Lowry put his approach inside that of Henley.Â
When Henley’s putt slid by on the high side, Lowry had the chance to emulate fellow Irishman Eamonn Darcy's heroics in 1987 for Europe's first win on American soil.
Lowry rolled the ball into the back of the cup and his dance of joy on the 18th green silenced all those "Tellytubby" jibes that had been aimed his way.
"I have been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game," Lowry said. "This is the hardest couple of hours in my life.
"The Ryder Cup means everything to me. I won the Open in Ireland, but the Ryder Cup means everything."
While the European celebrations had begun, the outcome of the match remained in the balance.
European victory was secured when Hatton fought superbly to secure a half in his match with Morikawa.
Robert MacIntyre won the 18th hole against Sam Burns for a half to secure a 15-13 scoreline.
| Sunday singles | ||
| Cameron Young | USA win 1 Up | Justin Rose |
| Justin Thomas | USA win 1 Up | Tommy Fleetwood |
| Bryson DeChambeau | Halved | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Scottie Scheffler | USA win 1 Up | Rory McIlroy |
| Patrick Cantlay | Europe win 2&1 | Ludvig Aberg |
| Xander Schauffele | USA win 4&3 | Jon Rahm |
| JJ Spaun | USA win 2&1 | Sepp Straka |
| Russell Henley | Halved | Shane Lowry |
| Ben Griffin | USA win 1 Up | Rasmus Hojgaard |
| Collin Morikawa | Halved | Tyrrell Hatton |
| Sam Burns | Halved | Robert MacIntyre |
| Harris English | Halved | Viktor Hovland |
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