RYDER CUP PLAYER RATINGS: Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton were the stars of the show for Europe, while rookie Max Homa was the standout for USA… but which American major winner scores just 3/10?
- Europe won the Ryder Cup with dominant 16½-11½ win victory over USA
- Rory McIlroy led from the front and delivered the most points for Europe
- Tyrrell Hatton’s so-called angry pairing with Jon Rahm worked a treat in Rome
Europe resisted a fierce American fightback to secure the four points required to reclaim the Ryder Cup with England’s Tommy Fleetwood sealing the deal in a nerve-jangling climax on Sunday.
The Americans, attempting the biggest final-day comeback ever in the biennial event, found their mojo after being outplayed and outfought for two days at the Marco Simone course.
Hauling back a daunting five-point deficit proved beyond them, however, and Fleetwood made sure the trophy returned to Europe when his opponent Rickie Fowler conceded the 16th hole to leave the Briton two up with two to play and a guaranteed half.
Fleetwood duly completed a 3&1 victory but the celebrations had already started as Europe extended their 30-year unbeaten home record against the Americans and avenged the record 19-9 thrashing they endured at Whistling Straits in 2021.
Mail Sport’s MIKE DICKSON rated the players.
Rory McIlroy led from the front at the Ryder Cup and delivered the most points for Europe
EUROPE
Rory McIlroy 9
Punchy and passionate, the heartbeat of the team who led from the front and delivered the most points — four from his five matches. Opening foursomes win with Fleetwood especially significant.
Tyrrell Hatton 9
Outstanding performance from world No 11, who scored 3½ points from his 4 on offer. A key singles win and the so-called angry pairing with Rahm worked a treat.
Tommy Fleetwood 8
Cheerful Lancastrian was sent out late as insurance in the singles, delivered the winning point and combined effectively with McIlroy to emerge with a 75 per cent success rate from four sessions.
Viktor Hovland 8
The improvements to his short game were on show and, bar one tired-looking fourball, was in excellent form in producing 3½ points from playing in every session.
Jon Rahm 8
Unbeaten over four sessions and swung it crucially with his last- ditch clawing back of a half in the singles against Scheffler. Brought the best out of Hatton and was supremely combative throughout.
Bob MacIntyre 7
Highly impressive debut from the Scottish southpaw who went undefeated in three. Definitely owed something to Rose in their pairing, but stepped up to handle the occasion.
Justin Rose 7
Registering 50 per cent of his points does not tell the full story of his importance. Helped MacIntyre considerably as a pair and repeatedly holed crucial putts. Met a hot Cantlay in singles.
Tyrrell Hatton was outstanding and his so-called angry pairing with Jon Rahm worked a treat
Shane Lowry 6
A big presence in every sense, he added value to the team with his cheerleading duties, and the Irishman’s win with Straka was a crucial blow on the first morning.
Sepp Straka 6
The Austrian formed a heavyweight duo with Lowry and handled his debut with aplomb, Friday’s win justifying Luke Donald’s faith in him.
Matt Fitzpatrick 6
Broke his Ryder Cup duck alongside McIlroy by playing a brilliant front nine. Elsewhere was unlucky to meet two of America’s best in Cantlay and Homa.
Ludvig Aberg 6
Another to repay the faith shown in him by Donald and let people know what all the fuss was about. Two wins from four and undoubtedly a star of the future.
Nicolai Hojgaard 4
The Dane was the lowest points scorer with just a half, secured alongside the indomitable Rahm.
USA
Max Homa 8
The world No 7 emerged from the opening morning wipeout to be his team’s best player, playing all five sessions and going 3-1-1, holding off Matt Fitzpatrick at the death.
Patrick Cantlay 7
His last-ditch win on Saturday felt like pulling a goal back before half-time for the Americans and nearly changed the momentum of this contest. Hat-gate added a hugely entertaining dimension.
Max Homa recovered from the wipeout on opening morning to be the standout for USA
Brian Harman 6
The Open champion formed a potent partnership with Homa and showed some grit, but never led in key singles match against Tyrrell Hatton.
Justin Thomas 6
A controversial pick but mostly lived up to his reputation as a Ryder Cup livewire and justified Johnson’s faith. Not helped much by his mate Jordan Spieth and ended 1-2-1.
Wyndham Clark 6
The US Open champion talked a good game beforehand but never quite backed it up, although he was part of the fightback with Cantlay late on Saturday.
Brooks Koepka 5
A strange few days ended with him seeing off Ludvig Aberg, but at times he acted sulkily and was a complete embarrassment in Saturday’s crushing defeat with Scheffler.
Sam Burns 4
Performed decently with Morikawa against a weary looking Scandanavian pair on Saturday afternoon but otherwise looked an unforced error as a captain’s pick.
Collin Morikawa 4
The irons wizard never really got going and went down twice on the opening day when so much damage was done.
Scottie Scheffler 4
The first world No 1 to go winless at a Ryder Cup. Admirably bounced back in the singles from a foursomes humiliation to tie a brilliant encounter with Rahm.
Xander Schauffele 4
Eventually got on the board with a win over Hojgaard but otherwise three defeats was certainly a poor return from the world No 6 who missed a few key putts.
Major winner Scottie Scheffler became the first world No 1 to go winless at a Ryder Cup
Jordan Spieth 3
He was particularly poor in Saturday’s fourballs and did not perform in his partnership with Thomas, who arguably made his 0-2-2 figures look flattering.
Rickie Fowler 3
Another disappointment as a captain’s pick, who was benched for the entire Saturday. Played twice and was the only American not to have contributed even a half point.
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