The emotions were running high as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler found himself consoling his wife, Meredith, at Marco Simone Golf Club. The reason? Scheffler and his teammate, Brooks Koepka, faced a devastating defeat in an 18-hole match against Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg from Norway and Sweden, respectively. In a stunning turn of events, the American team experienced the worst loss in Ryder Cup history, falling 9 and 7. As the dust settled, the U.S. team tried to make sense of how a weekend that began poorly turned into a historically catastrophic Saturday.
The scoreline of the American team’s first loss on Saturday left everyone in disbelief, including Justin Thomas, who was caught on camera muttering “Nine and seven” as he walked down a fairway. With a seven-point deficit, the Americans trailed the Europeans 9½-2½ before the four four-ball (best ball) matches scheduled for Saturday afternoon. This match result matched the largest deficit after three sessions in the five-session format, previously seen in 1967 and 1975. The U.S. team couldn’t regain traction after a winless opening day and continued to struggle on Friday, falling behind 6½-1½. However, in Saturday morning’s foursome (alternate shot) matches, they finally secured a win.
Brian Harman and Max Homa gave the American team a much-needed boost when they clinched their foursome match with a 4-and-2 victory over Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka. Harman and Homa’s dynamic play, including five birdies and two eagles, proved pivotal in winning their match. The highlight came on the 16th hole when Harman nearly drove the green and Homa chipped in from 39 feet. “We needed something to go our way,” Homa expressed, acknowledging the uphill battle they faced. Despite being in a deep hole, Homa believed the team had the capability to dig themselves out.
While the American duo managed to secure a victory, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood countered by defeating Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas 2 and 1 in the top match. Although Spieth and Thomas started poorly, they showed resilience and narrowed the gap to only 1 down on the 16th. In the final match of the morning, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton held off Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, winning 2 and 1. Cantlay and Schauffele fought hard to level the match after being 3 down but faltered on the critical 16th and 17th holes. Europe dominated the foursomes matches, finishing 7-1.
The standout performance of the morning belonged to the European duo of Hovland and Aberg, the team’s new star pairing. Hovland, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, and Aberg, who turned professional just a few months ago, demonstrated exceptional prowess on the course. They won each of the first four holes against Koepka and Scheffler, establishing a commanding lead. By the 12th hole, they had sealed their victory, not giving the American pair a single hole. The match lasted a mere 2 hours and 19 minutes, cutting short any hopes of a comeback. This remarkable 9-and-7 victory marked the largest margin of victory in an 18-hole Ryder Cup match, surpassing the previous record of 8 and 7.
The Ryder Cup has seen its fair share of lopsided defeats, but this loss for the American team will be etched in history. The previous most significant defeat in an 18-hole match was 8 and 7, but Hovland and Aberg shattered that record. The story on this dire Saturday morning was the dominance and astute play of the European team, leaving the Americans stunned and searching for answers.
The U.S. team’s devastating defeat at the Ryder Cup showcased the fierce competition and intense emotions that surround this renowned event. The European team’s exceptional performance, particularly the dynamic duo of Hovland and Aberg, put the Americans in an insurmountable position. As the tournament progressed, it became evident that the U.S. team faced an uphill battle in trying to salvage the Ryder Cup. Whether they could turn the tide in the upcoming matches and reclaim their pride remained to be seen. Only time would tell if the American team could rally and make a remarkable comeback.