Europe won the 2023 Ryder Cup by 16.5 points to 11.5, an inevitable ending after dominating the opening session 4-0 and then stretching their lead over the next two.
Zach Johnson’s Team USA took on a spirited European side in front of raucous crowds, extending their losing run away from home to over 30 years.
On paper, it was a bad week for the Americans after their record win last time out at Whistling Straits but there were still some positives to emerge from the week…
1. Max Homa
Homa was USA’s top points scorer in his debut Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Homa was the tied-second-highest points scorer of all 24 players this Ryder Cup on 3.5 points, level with Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton, only behind Rory McIlroy. He was the only US player to win more than two points so was a full 1.5 ahead of the next best – Cantlay and Harman.
The World No.7 won two matches with Brian Harman on Saturday after their opening morning foursomes loss before taking down Matt Fitzpatrick in the singles.
Homa will almost certainly be an integral part of Team USA next time out at Bethpage.
2. Their team room
Zach Johnson insisted the team room was unified despite reports
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Despite the reports of a fractured team room, on the outside at least it seems like it was in fact a united front.
“This is one of the most united teams I have ever been associated with,” Zach Johnson said.
“We truly all got along, we clicked,” Justin Thomas said. “We had a lot of fun hanging out with each other. Me, who had not played in the Playoffs, I had not seen these guys in about a month and a half, so I was pretty excited to see them and hang out with them.”
The US did seem to be a close-knit team and will have bonded even closer after a superb final two sessions.
3. The last two sessions
Team USA won the final two sessions 9-7
(Image credit: Getty Images)
USA trailed 9.5-2.5 after three sessions but won the final two sessions 9-7.
After going down 4-0 in the morning foursomes and then falling seven behind little over 24 hours later, Zach Johnson’s men won on an aggregate score over the last two sessions. That’s no mean feat against an inspired European side playing on home…
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