Home SPORTS Europe Wins Ryder Cup: Luke Donald Makes History with Back-to-Back Victories

Europe Wins Ryder Cup: Luke Donald Makes History with Back-to-Back Victories

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The European team erupts in celebration as they secured the Ryder Cup
The European team erupts in celebration as they secured the Ryder Cup


Europe's Ryder Cup win marks a historic moment for Luke Donald, who becomes the first captain to win back-to-back Cups since 1987. The Ryder Cup came down to the wire, but Europe's team effort paid off in the end.


“It was probably the most stressful 12 hours of my life...”


Europe held off a late surge from the United States to emerge victorious in the Ryder Cup 2025, securing a 15-13 win. The dramatic finale saw Team USA fighting hard, but ultimately falling short as Europe defended their title.


Shane Lowry sealed the win for Europe with a clutch six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, tying his match against Russell Henley and securing the crucial half-point. This brought Europe's total points to 15, enough to retain the Ryder Cup. Lowry's putt was a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.


The US team staged an impressive comeback on the final day, winning several matches to close the gap. However, Europe's substantial lead built over the first two days proved too great to overcome. Despite the loss, Team USA's fightback showcased their determination and talent.


“That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life,” a tearful Lowry said. “I just can't believe that putt went in. I stood over it, going: 'This is it'.


“I said, walking down 18, 'I have a chance to do the coolest thing in my life.' The Ryder Cup means everything to me... To do it out there today in front of everyone - it was so hard out there.”


Europe's victory marked their 11th win in the last 15 Ryder Cups and their fourth triumph on the road during that period. This win was particularly notable as it was their first away victory since the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012. The European team demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience, overcoming a passionate US crowd to secure the 15-13 win at Bethpage Black.


“It was probably the most stressful 12 hours of my life,” Europe captain Luke Donald said. “I didn't think they'd be this tough on Sunday. They fought so hard. But we got it done.


“Couldn't be more proud of these guys and what they've gone through. They will go down in history. This is for the future generations that will be talking about it for a long time.”


The United States and Europe have a long-standing rivalry in the Ryder Cup, with the US leading the all-time series 27-15-2. However, since the roster expansion beyond Britain and Ireland in 1979, Europe has taken the lead with a record of 12-9-1. This shift in momentum reflects the competitive evolution of the tournament, with Europe consistently demonstrating strong team dynamics and skill.


“I'm extremely proud to be a part of this team,” said second-ranked McIlroy, who went 3-1-1. “This was an unbelievable collective effort. It has been an amazing week.”


Europe dominated the pairs sessions, securing a record-breaking 11.5-4.5 lead. However, this advantage slightly increased to 12-5 when Viktor Hovland withdrew from his singles match against Harris English due to a neck injury, resulting in a draw.


The European team faced early setbacks in the singles matches, with notable losses from Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Rose. McIlroy lost to Scottie Scheffler by 1 up, Rahm was defeated by Xander Schauffele 4 and 3, Fleetwood fell to Justin Thomas 1 up, and Rose lost to Cameron Young 1 up. Despite these losses, Europe's substantial lead allowed them to hold on for the win.


Europe's victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome meant they only needed 14 points to retain the trophy, while the United States required 14.5 points to win, which would have been the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. The Americans staged an impressive fightback on the final day, winning several matches to close the gap, but ultimately fell short. Shane Lowry's heroic finish sealed the win for Europe, securing a crucial half-point by tying his match against Russell Henley.


The US team's late surge was fueled by wins from notable players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and J.J. Spaun. Despite these victories, Europe's substantial lead built over the first two days proved too great to overcome. The final score ended with Europe winning 15-13, marking their 11th victory in the last 15 Ryder Cups.




The match was intense, with tensions growing as the final day progressed. Europe's early losses put pressure on the team, but Lowry's clutch performance helped alleviate some of that pressure. In the end, Lowry's birdie putt on the 18th hole to tie his match secured Europe's victory, showcasing his skill under pressure.


Lowry's Heroics Secure Europe's Win

Shane Lowry's clutch performance on the 18th hole sealed Europe's 15-13 victory over the United States in the Ryder Cup. With Russell Henley 1-up at the 18th tee, Lowry's fairway find and subsequent six-foot approach putt set the stage for a dramatic finish. Henley's approach from a bunker landed 10 feet from the hole, but he missed his birdie putt to win the match. Lowry, meanwhile, sunk his birdie putt to tie the match, securing the Cup for Europe. The Irishman celebrated with a dance on the green, cementing his hero status. Europe's captain, Luke Donald, praised Lowry, saying, “Shane is a legend.” Tyrrell Hatton's tie against Collin Morikawa and Robert MacIntyre's tie against Sam Burns contributed to the final margin.


“It's one of the hardest days I've ever experienced on a golf course,” Hatton said. “The US lads put up an incredible fight.


“Selfishly, I was hoping it wouldn't come down to me. The last six or seven holes were just horrible, I'm just glad we were able to win.”




Just four years ago, the US team handed Europe a crushing defeat at the Ryder Cup, winning 19-9 at Whistling Straits in a record-breaking margin of victory in the modern era. This lopsided loss sparked discussions of a potential US decade of domination, but Europe drew inspiration from the setback and has since regrouped to reclaim the trophy. The 2021 defeat was a tough pill to swallow, with standout performances from Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler contributing to the US team's dominant win.


“To hear the 'Ole Oles' here in America, to do something a lot of people thought we couldn't do, means a lot,” McIlroy said. “What people were saying about American dominance, we took a lot of fuel from that.”




Europe's captain Luke Donald made history by becoming the first captain to win back-to-back Ryder Cups since Tony Jacklin in 1987. After guiding Europe to victory in Rome in 2023 and repeating the feat in 2025, Donald was asked about returning for the 2027 Ryder Cup. His response was telling: “My answer is I'm going to enjoy tonight.” When pressed further, Donald hinted that he might not be up for another two years, saying, “I don't think my heart can take two more years. We'll see.”





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