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Youngest US team ever wins back Ryder Cup from Europe

Ryder Cup Golf
Posted at 1:45 PM, Sep 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-09-26 18:38:03-04

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on the final day of the Ryder Cup, the golf showdown between the United States and Europe (all times CDT):

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5:15 p.m.

The United States wrapped up the Ryder Cup in record-setting fashion.

Daniel Berger defeated Matt Fitzpatrick 1-up in Sunday's last match to close out a 19-9 victory for the Americans, the biggest blowout since the competition was changed to its current format in 1979.

The U.S. went 7-3-2 on the final day and closed without losing any of the five sessions at Whistling Straits.

America's previous biggest victory was 18 1/2 points to 9 1/2 back in 1981. Europe won by that score in 2004 and 2006.

Dustin Johnson joined Larry Nelson and Arnold Palmer as the third American to go 5-0 in Ryder Cup matches.

Ian Poulter was one of the lone bright spots for Europe. He defeated Tony Finau 3 and 2 to improve to 6-0-1 in singles over his career.

But that wasn't nearly enough to prevent the win by a U.S. team with a roster stacked with 11 players in the top 20. The only player not in the top 20, Scottie Scheffler, knocked off No. 1 Jon Rahm 4 and 3 in singles to hand Rahm his first loss of the week.

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4:15 p.m.

Dustin Johnson became the fifth player to close out a 5-0 Ryder Cup with a 1-up win over Paul Casey, wrapped up after the United States had already secured the cup.

Johnson joins Larry Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Gardner Dickenson and Francesco Molinari on the short list of players to go 5 for 5.

Johnson's victory gave the United States 17 1/2 points, three over the threshold it needed to win the event, and one short of its biggest Ryder Cup blowout in the modern era, which began in 1979.

The U.S. led in one match and was tied in two others still on the course.

Johnson's perfect week at Whistling Straits comes 11 years after he was hit with a two-stroke penalty on the 72nd hole that kept him out of a playoff at the PGA Championship on the same course.
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3:40 p.m.

The United States has won the Ryder Cup, and now it's just a matter of by how much.

It looks like it'll be a lot.

Collin Morikawa made birdie on No. 17 to go 1-up in his match against Viktor Hovland and guarantee the Americans at least 14 1/2 points, which locks up one of golf's biggest prizes for only the fourth time in the last 13 tries.

With eight matches left on the course Sunday, this had the makings of a historic rout.

The U.S. led in five of the remaining matches and looked within reach of surpassing the 18 1/2 points the 1981 U.S. team put up in the biggest American rout of the modern era.

Patrick Cantlay defeated Shane Lowry 4 and 2, Scottie Scheffler beat world No. 1 Jon Rahm 4 and 3 and Bryson DeChambeau beat Sergio Garcia 3 and 2 to set the stage for Morikawa, who hit his tee shot on 17 to 3 feet to set up the birdie putt.

When Hovland missed his birdie attempt from long range, it set Morikawa up for the clinching putt. He made it, then pumped his fist and raised his arms to the crowd, but he had to move to the 18th hole to finish the match.

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3 p.m.

The U.S. wrapped up two singles matches in the span of 90 seconds to edge closer to the Ryder Cup.

Patrick Cantlay closed out a 4-and-2 win over Shane Lowry moments before Scottie Scheffler beat world No. 1 Jon Rahm and the U.S. expanded its lead to 13-6 over Europe.

The Americans lead six other matches on the course and only need another 1 1/2 points to close out the Europeans.

Earlier, Rory McIlroy beat Xander Schauffele 3 and 2 for his first point of the week.

The Americans, whose entire roster is made up of players in the world top 25, are trying to win the cup for only the fourth time in the last 13 tries.

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2:40 p.m.

Rory McIlroy has put the first point of Sunday’s singles matches on the board for the European team at the Ryder Cup.

Still on the course, though, the U.S. leads in seven of the remaining 11 matches, with three tied.

U.S. players are putting on a show for the massive home crowd at Whistling Straits. Up 11-5 entering the day, they are on the verge of routing the Europeans to regain the Ryder Cup.

The only European leading on the course was Ian Poulter, who was 1 up on Tony Finau through 10 holes.

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1:07 p.m.

The fans let out a collective groan when Bryson DeChambeau put his driver away and pulled out a 3-wood on the par-4 sixth hole at the Ryder Cup.

He turned to the crowd and asked them to calm down, assuring them he was still going for the green.

He had enough club, but came up just left and ended up making par. DeChambeau, who had already driven the green on the par-4 first and made eagle, had a 1-up lead over Sergio Garcia.

The U.S. and Europe each lead in four matches with two more tied. The U.S. came in with an 11-5 lead and needed only 3 1/2 points to take the cup.

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12:45 p.m.

Patrick Cantlay has won four straight holes to take a 3-up lead over Shane Lowry six holes into their Ryder Cup singles match.

Cantlay, the FedEx Cup champion, is one of three Americans leading their matches Sunday, with eight of the 12 singles showdowns on the course at Whistling Straits.

Also ahead early for the U.S. are Bryson DeChambeau, who is 2 up on Sergio Garcia, and Scottie Scheffler, who is 3 up on world No. 1 Jon Rahm.

DeChambeau took an aggressive line on the par-5 fifth hole in an attempt to repeat the 417-yard drive he hit on the opening day. But he came up short and was nestled in native grass, then chunked his second shot into the water. On the 370-yard first hole, DeChambeau drove the green and made eagle for an early lead.

Europe has the edge in three matches and two others are tied. Europe needs a whopping nine points out of the 12 matches to retain the Ryder Cup.

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12:10 p.m.

Three holes. Three birdies. And Scottie Scheffler is 3 up on world No. 1 Jon Rahm at the Ryder Cup.

The U.S. rookie is off to a great start on the final day of play at Whistling Straits. The 21st-ranked Scheffler is the only American player with a worse ranking than his European opponent in any of Sunday's 12 singles matches.

The U.S. came into the day with an 11-5 lead and only needs 3 1/2 points to win the cup for just the fourth time in the last 13 tries.

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11:50 a.m.

Bryson DeChambeau flexed his muscles for the crowd on the first tee box at the Ryder Cup, then took out his driver and drove the green on the 370-yard par 4.

The opening shot traveled 354 yards, and DeChambeau followed by sinking the 40-foot putt for eagle to take an early 1-up lead over Sergio Garcia. The U.S and Europe each lead in two of the four matches that are on the course.

The Americans bring an 11-5 lead into the Sunday singles matches at Whistling Straits and need only 3 1/2 points to win the Ryder Cup.

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11:10 a.m.

Ryder Cup singles matches have kicked off with Xander Schauffele of the U.S. taking on Europe's Rory McIlroy in Sunday's opener.

Both players hit their opening drives just short of the green on the short par 4.

The United States comes into the final day of action with an 11-5 lead and needs 3 1/2 points out of the 12 singles matches to capture the cup for only the fourth time in the last 13 meetings. Europe has a massive hill to climb. No team has overcome such a large deficit on the final day to win.

None of the first six players in the American lineup has lost a match this week.

Schauffele, who won the Olympic gold medal last month, brings a 3-0 mark into his final match against McIlroy, the four-time major champion who hasn't won in his three matches.

Other matches include Patrick Cantlay against Shane Lowry, Bryson DeChambeau against Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson against Paul Casey.

Garcia teamed up with Jon Rahm to go 3-0 this week and surpass Nick Faldo with the most wins in Ryder Cup history. Johnson is the first American to start 4-0 since Larry Nelson in 1979.

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