How Bethpage drama unfolded: Glory for Europe as Lowry retains the cup and Hatton wins it
STILL RYDER CUP CHAMPIONS: Team Europe win the Ryder Cup in the USA for the first time since 2012.Pic: Harry How/Getty Images
Captain Luke Donald calls Shane Lowry "a legend"
Shane. Lowry. Is. A. Legend. #TeamEurope | #OurTimeOurPlace pic.twitter.com/hSqGbPjTAM
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2025
Shane Lowry lifts the Ryder Cup
SOAK IT IN BOYS 🏆#TeamEurope | #OurTimeOurPlace pic.twitter.com/UwKEFk3B61
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2025
The European supporters alongside the team chant for captain Luke Donald to stay on for two more years.
Rob McIntyre secures another half point for Europe and that is that. Just three and a half points in the final day singles for Europe but it doesn't matter.
"The most stressful 12 hours of my life" - European captain Luke Donald as he becomes the first European captain to win home and away since Tony Jacklin.
With his half point, Tyrrell Hatton has won the Ryder Cup for Europe. A first win on US soil in 13 years. A second successive victory for Europe.
It's a singles session for the ages from the US. Just one European full point. Just when people were wondering if The Ryder Cup had jumped the shark.
There was a distinct touch of Seamus Darby about that Lowry celebration.
The putt that ensured the Ryder Cup remains in Europe. Chapeau Shane -
EUROPE RETAIN THE RYDER CUP!!!! 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/TeH4Nu8p2P
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 28, 2025
Another point for the USA via Ben Griffin.
Now can Europe seal the victory outright after being given the scare of their lives? Hatton would seem like the man who can deliver the required half-point.
Shane Lowry mentioned to his caddie coming down the 18th that he had "the chance to do the coolest thing in my life here". He sure did after Henley missed a second successive birdie putt. What a performance by the Offaly man. His Saturday display was incredible.
Shane Lowry: "That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life."
Walton and McGinley and McDowell and now Lowry.
SHANE LOWRY RETAINS THE RYDER CUP FOR EUROPE.
Henley misses. Shane has the chance to retain the cup.
A stunner from Henley from the sand. Outstanding. But Lowry retaliates by sending the ball two feet closer. Henley has about eight foot for the match.
Advantage Lowry whose drive finds the short grass as Henley's ball meets sand.
Henley's birdie putt stays out. Lowry drops his four-foot par putt and we go down the last. Win the 18th and Lowry could retain the cup for Europe.
Wrong side of the green for Shane Lowry on 17 as he over-turns his tee-shot. Henley could be six feet away from another point.
US Open winner JJ Spaun provides another point for USA and they join Europe in double digits.
Henley drops his birdie putt. Lowry follows with his. They go to the 17th with Henley 1 up.
Shane Lowry is giving himself a chance on 16. Henley has a birdie putt but Lowry is just outside gimmee territory.
We never imagined it but that half point for injured Hovland could be crucial. If it is, you can expect the Americans to call for a rule change.
A lot of lonely eyes turning to Lowry now.
There will be no joy for McIlroy in this match - he loses 1 down. Scheffler had two putts to win. The World No1 scores a point at last.
Lowry sends in a sparkler to the 15th and he has sliced Henley's lead to one with three holes remaining.
DeChambeau shares the spoils with Fitzpatrick. He wasn't aware but he has ensured the tournament remains alive for the US.
Aberg is victorious. Europe one point away from holding onto the cup.
McIlroy fans his drive into the 18th fairway bunker after Scheffler finds the fairway. Aberg and Cantlay have birdie openings on 17.
This is a charge.
Pars for Scheffler and McIlroy on 17 with Scheffler guaranteed at least half a point. We have a tournament.
Schauffele defeats Rahm 4&3. All the first four points of today have been won by the US.
Aberg guarantees at least half a point for Europe. So they need one and a half to retain the trophy.
Justin Thomas delivers a second point for the USA. Comeback is on.
Aberg is likely to bring Europe to within a point of retaining the cup but not much else is going in Europe's favour. And then McIlroy sends a lovely tee shot into the par 3 17th as Scheffler's falls off the shelf.
In his tied game with Thomas, Fleetwood is 18 foot away for birdie on 18. Thomas sends his approach a few feet inside him. A few nerves and Fitzpatrick feels them as he misses his par putt. He and DeChambeau are level going down the last.
Europe are up in 2, down in 4 and level in 4.
Henley has birdied 13 to go 1 up on Lowry.
Young birdies to land the first point of the day for the USA. A splendid match. A long birdie putt for Lowry on 13 but Henley is only eight feet away for the same.
Rose and Young give themselves birdie chances on 18. Hojgaard responds with a birdie to match Griffin's monster effort.
Another frozen rope drive by Rose down 18. Lowry and Henley have each parred the last three holes although Lowry is the only one on the fairway on 13.
Deadweight putt from McIlroy down the hill finds the hole for birdie. Scheffler responds with one of his own. This match has truly livened up. Scheffler remains 1 up.
RORY!
Young's birdie putt on 17 runs out of steam and Rose misses to the left so they go down the 18th tied.
DeChambeau is desperately trying to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Fitzpatrick is only 1 up with three holes remaining. Europe are up in 2, down in 3 and level in 6.
The opportunity for McIlroy to win this for Europe remains. Rose is very much in the ascendancy in his game and he sends his tee shot on the par 17th to 11 feet. Young is again just outside him.
Rose lands his birdie putt on 17 to level his match. Phenomenal character after being three down.
A fluffed chip by McIlroy on the 14th and he misses his par putt. Scheffler is 1 up once more.
Rose sends his second shot on the 16th to five feet. Young's approach is about eight feet away.
We're not seeing much footage of their match but Ludvig Aberg is 2 up on Patrick Cantlay in match five after 12 holes. Could be the sealer as McIlroy misses the green on 14 and finds himself in a spot of bother.
Both McIlroy and Scheffler birdie the 13th as DeChambeau moves within two of Fitzpatrick with four holes to go.
The graft of the last couple of days does seem to be catching up on Europe a bit as they did in Italy two years ago. McIlroy has a slightly longer birdie putt than Scheffler on 13. Europe are up in 3, down in 4 and level in 4.
DeChambeau is finding Fitzpatrick is not in the mood to surrender his lead. Unless something changes drastically, the Sheffield man will bring Europe to within a point of keeping their hands on The Ryder Cup.
What a shot this was from Rose. And now he is only one down.
🚨😵 #WATCH 🇪🇺 — Justin Rose hits unbelievable recovery shot after a LENGTHY ruling caused U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley to come in and hurry things up. pic.twitter.com/xbdWvVpNJi
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 28, 2025
McIlroy and Scheffler halve the 12th just as Henley wins the ninth to square his match with Lowry.
Justin Rose produces a Seve-esque recovery shot on the par 5 13th after USA captain Keegan Bradley intervenes to ensure he doesn't get a drop. Young misses his birdie putt and Rose converts his. Rose cuts the deficit to 2 down.
A video clip of Justin Thomas's hole-out on the sixth hole from earlier
🚨🦅 #WATCH 😵 — The Eagle has landed for Justin Thomas from 79 yards at 6 to cut the deficit to 1 down.#GoUSA | @JTLegion_
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/EZODbySBPt
Lowry is 2 under for his round as he splits the fairway on the ninth. One up on Henley and is enjoying his front nine as he did in yesterday's fourballs.
Bang! McIlroy drops a racker of a birdie putt to make amends for that poor 10th hole. All square.
Good work by Rasmus Hojgaard to square his match with Luke Griffin having been two down. Counters the good 30 minutes or so for the Americans.
A sloppy 10th hole by McIlroy and with a bogey Scheffler goes ahead for the first time in the match.
From being ahead in six, Europe are now only up in a couple of matches. Not enough red on the board for them to get perturbed but the hosts are finally showing some spirit.
Door opens for Scheffler after McIlroy hooks a wood out of the fairway bunker but the World No1 slides his approach shot left as well. A genuine war of attrition between the game's current best two players.
And on it goes. McIlroy points out abusive spectators to the authorities before he drives on the 10th teebox and his shot finds trouble.
There's a touch of Colin Montgomerie in Justin Rose's defiance in the opening game. Cameron Young is playing so well but the veteran is sticking in his claws. McIlroy and Scheffler go into the back nine all square. Europe are now four ahead in matches and down in two.
Lowry goes 1 up with a win on the fifth just as DeChambeau suggests he might be interested in making a game of it against Fitzpatrick. He has won a couple of holes to reduce his arrears to three. Half of the board is blue.
Just one birdie apiece for McIlroy and Scheffler through eight holes - McIlroy is one under and Scheffler level. Lowry and Henley both one under through four and tied.
New footage of the fan spraying a drink at Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica following his and Shane Lowry's fourball win on Saturday.
This is the incident yesterday where a member of the crowd threw a beer over Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica at the Ryder Cup.
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 28, 2025
This is unacceptable and I really hope we don’t see scenes like this again today. Let’s just celebrate a great spectacle of golf 🤝
🎥 @MovistarGolf https://t.co/2nTE1YHKR7 pic.twitter.com/vIdOGcdKbb
This carries the warning of early days but if it stays this way Europe will win 18.5 to 9.5. That would match their victories in The K Club in 2006 and Oakland Hills two years's previous.
Shane Lowry and Russell Henley have both reached the par 5 fourth in two. The quality of golf between McIlroy and Scheffler is not much to shout about.
All of the 11 matches are now in play. Matt Fitzpatrick's advantage over Bryson DeChambeau had extended to five. The two-time US Open champion doesn't appear interested anymore.
It's interesting to see some of the negative American reaction to the half point being awarded to Europe because of Hovland's injury. Some of them probably weren't around when David Gilford had to step down in The War on The Shore as Steve Pate couldn't play.
Lowry's tee shot on the third wasn't bad either and he drops the 12-foot birdie putt. Henley follows it in and they move on to the fourth all square.
Good response by Henley on the second to square his match with Lowry and he puts his tee shot on the par-3 third to six feet. McIlroy remains tied with Scheffler after six holes.
Matt Fitzpatrick goes 4 up on DeChambeau after six holes. DeChambeau seems spent but he won't be the only one - just how much did yesterday impact Lowry and McIlroy?
Reports of more unsavoury remarks being directed at Rory McIlroy again today.
From the fairway, Russell Henley bogeys and Shane Lowry's par is good enough to win the opening hole.
Not too many hole-outs this week - Jon Rahm's yesterday was sensational - but Justin Thomas has just pitched one in on the sixth and it is sure needed with Tommy Fleetwood having been 2up.
Shane Lowry's drive lands in the rough to the side of the right fairway while Russell Henley's finds the left side of the fairway. Cameron Young has squared the opener with Justin Rose just as Sepp Straka wins the first and McIlroy misses a 10 footer for a half.
A distinctly blue hue has developed at the top of the order with all of their first five matches reading in Europe's favour. The cough of the home crowd had been well and truly softened. .
Our man in Bethpage Joe Callaghan spoke to a very interested spectator JP McManus who hosts the next Ryder Cup in Adare Manor in 2027. "We’re excited to host it. But I think it’s the people, the people of Limerick, the people of Adare and the people of Ireland. They’ve taken ownership of this."
And now Justin Rose goes ahead so Europe are up in the first four matches. Shane Lowry will be commencing his singles match in less than 10 minutes.
The hot American start has not materialised. Tommy Fleetwood is now 2 up on Justin Thomas. Keegan Bradley made the bizarre argument on Saturday night that the greens were too slow for his players. As if all but two of the Europeans don't play the same PGA Tour. Only one team again draining the putts.
McIlroy had two putts to win the second hole. He only needed one and .
On the third, DeChambeau rattles his birdie putt six foot past the hole and misses the par putt to halve the hole with Fitzpatrick who is now 2 up. Can't get away from the fact Mr America has been a letdown this week.
After signalling McIlroy's drive was leaking left on the second, Scheffler hooks his and then fails to reach the green. From the second cut,
McIlroy puts his approach to 15 feet.
McIlroy and Scheffler both miss their birdie putts and the first is halved in par.
McIlroy has to back away from his pitch as the crowd chirp up yet again. Both he and Scheffler have relatively good birdie chances.
A birdie for Tommy Fleetwood on the second and .
Rory McIlroy has a short pitch from the fairway to the first green as does Scottie Scheffler.
Drive for show and putt for dough. Despite Bryson DeChambeau's enormous drive on the first, it's Matt Fitzpatrick who birdies and goes 1up. Combined with Rose's win on the third and
It doesn't appear Justin Thomas was all that happy with news of Viktor Hovland's withdrawal
JT’s reaction to the news of Viktor Hovland pulling out of his Sunday singles match today. pic.twitter.com/qc6Jpio0vN
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 28, 2025
Just some background on the envelope rule, which has been part of the Ryder Cup since 1979 but only used twice in 1991 and '93. Europe took David Gilford out of the singles when Steve Pate was unable to play the singles in Kiawah Island. At The Belfry in 1993, Lanny Wadkins volunteered his name after Sam Torrance couldn't continue with a foot injury. The US won on both occasions.
An early and badly-needed blow landed by Cameron Young with a birdie on the first hole. Justin Rose narrowly misses his birdie effort.
As if Rory McIlroy doesn't need another incentive
With a win today in singles, Rory McIlroy will move to 22.5 points won at the Ryder Cup.
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) September 28, 2025
Tying Seve Ballesteros. pic.twitter.com/xy0se3oU3r
Justin Rose, touted to captain Europe in Adare Manor in two years's time (that's if he doesn't play, of course) and Luke Donald doesn't want to go again, gets Europe going and finds the fairway. Cameron Young is in the light rough.
Not to be too presumptuous or too greedy but can we hope that Lowry or McIlroy crown victory for Europe? Philip Walton (1995), Paul McGinley (2002) and Graeme McDowell (2010) were 11th, ninth and 12th in the order when they did it. Given the size of Europe’s lead, the chances of somebody higher up the schedule doing it are greater.
A video of Ted Scott's apology to Francesco Molinari
Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott has posted a public apology to Francesco Molinari on his Instagram page. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and there will be less hostilities at the Ryder Cup today 🤝 pic.twitter.com/xlUCfotTTr
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 28, 2025
This is Rory McIlroy’s second successive time going out No4 in the singles. His final day record reads won 4, lost 2, halved 1. Against Russell Henley, Shane Lowry is looking for his first singles win in his third Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy’s singles record
2023, Marco Simone (4th in order) beat Sam Burns 3&1
2021, Whistling Straits (1) beat Xander Schauffele 3&2
2018, Le Golf National (1) lost to Justin Thomas 1 up
2016, Hazeltine (1) lost to Patrick Reed 1 up
2014, Gleneagles (3) beat Rickie Fowler 5&4
2012, Medinah (3) beat Keegan Bradley 2&1
2010, Celtic Manor (2) halved with Stewart Cink.
Shane Lowry’s singles record
2023, Marco Simone (10) halved with Jordan Speith
2021, Whistling Straits (2) lost to Patrick Cantlay 4&2.
Europe scorers this week (points/sessions):
Tommy Fleetwood 4/4; Rory McIlroy 3.5/4; Tyrrell Hatton 3/3, Jon Rahm 3/4; Matt Fitzpatrick 2/3, Justin Rose 2/2; Shane Lowry 1.5/2; Ludvig Aberg 1/3, Viktor Hovland 1.5/3, Rob McIntyre 1/2, Sepp Straka 1/2; Rasmus Hojgaard 0/1.
USA scorers this week (points/sessions):
Cameron Young 2/3; Xander Schauffele 2/3; Patrick Cantlay 1.5/4; Bryson DeChambeau 1/4, JJ Spaun 1/2, Justin Thomas 1/3; Sam Burns 0.5/2; Harris English 0.5/3; Ben Griffin 0/1, Russell Henley 0/2, Collin Morikawa 0/2; Scottie Scheffler 0/4.
Hovland is kitted out so to speak and in Bethpage this morning but his body language wasn't great.
BREAKING:Viktor Hovland is out of today's singles with a neck injury. As agreed in the event of a withdrawal, it's a half-point for Europe and the US. Harris English was the name in the US envelope. Europe now need only two points to retain cup.
An early apology from the American side this morning. Scottie Scheffler's caddie Ted Scott made a public apology to Europe vice-captain Francesco Molinari for bumping into him during the Fleetwood-Rose v DeChambeau-Scheffler fourball match yesterday.
The Americans are looking for inspiration but even emulating the comeback in Brookline of 1999 won’t be enough to complete the unlikeliest of victories. That Sunday turnaround at The Country Club 26 years ago saw them claim eight and a half points. They require 10 points today.
Last 15 Ryder Cup state of play after Day 2 (final score in brackets)
2023, Marco Simone Europe 10.5 (16.5) USA 5.5 (11.5)
2021, Whistling Straits USA 11 (19) Europe 5 (9)
2018, Le Golf National Europe 10 (17.5) USA 6 (11.5)
2016, Hazeltine USA 9.5 (17) Europe 6.5 (11)
2014, Gleneagles Europe 10 (16.5) USA 6.5 (11.5)
2012, Medinah USA 10 (13.5) Europe 6 (14.5)
2010, Celtic Manor Europe 9.5 (14.5) USA 6.5 (13.5)
2008, Valhalla USA 9 (16.5) Europe 7 (11.5)
2006, The K Club Europe 10 (18.5) USA 6 (9.5)
2004, Oakland Hills USA 5 (9.5) Europe 11 (18.5)
2002, The Belfry Europe 8 (15.5) USA 8 (12.5)
1999, Brookline USA 6 (14.5) Europe 10 (13.5)
1997, Valderrama Europe 10.5 (14.5) USA 5.5 (13.5)
1995, Oak Hill USA 9 (13.5) Europe 7 (14.5)
1993, The Belfry Europe 8.5 (13) USA (7.5) 15
Good afternoon to the Irish Examiner’s liveblog of the final day singles of the 45th Ryder Cup where Europe take a seemingly unassailable seven-point lead (11.5 to 4.5) over hosts USA in Bethpage Black, New York.
Europe require just two and a half points from the 12 singles to retain the cup heading to Adare Manor in 2027 and three points to win it outright as Luke Donald aims to lead his side to a successive victory and a first triumph on US soil since “The Miracle of Medinah” in 2012.
In the build-up to this year’s event, Bryson deChambeau declared the Americans were going to “make it impossible” for the visitors. If anything, the brilliance of the Europeans have made a victory unimaginable for the likes of deChambeau who claimed just one point from four sessions.
As Joe Callaghan’s report from Bethpage on Saturday afternoon’s fourballs articulates, the Irish pair of Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy delivered one of the great team performances. It was an unprecedented and draining day for them especially McIlroy as they were subjected to toxic treatment from some of the home support in the 2up win over Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. When they go low, Lowry and McIlroy went higher.
US captain Keegan Bradley had no choice but to frontload his team today and World No2 McIlroy’s battle with pointless World No1 Scottie Scheffler is the pick of the clashes. Justin Rose, two from two in fourballs this week, gets the action starting just after 5pm when he faces native New Yorker Young, America’s best performer, in the opening singles match:
5.02pm Cameron Young v Justin Rose (Eng)
5.13pm Justin Thomas v Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)
5.24pm Bryson DeChambeau v Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng)
5.35pm Scottie Scheffler v
5.46pm Patrick Cantlay v Ludvig Åberg (Swe)
5.57pm Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm (Esp)
6.08pm JJ Spaun v Sepp Straka (Aut)
6.19pm Russell Henley v
6.30pm Ben Griffin v Rasmus Hojgaard (Den)
6.41pm Collin Morikawa v Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
6.52pm Sam Burns v Robert MacIntyre (Sco)
Harris English halved with Viktor Hovland (Nor).
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