Score One for America

Let’s hear it for the home team.

At Sunday’s Ryder Cup finale, America emerged victorious over Europe with a 17-11 victory. It’s the biggest win for the U.S. (its biggest margin of victory in this tournament) in 35 years.

“We’ve been kicked around for so long, so we did something different.”

If you had been watching, you would have seen Phil Mickelson leap for joy, Patrick Reed pump his fist in the air, and Ryan Moore (happily for us) deliver the final point Sunday at the longstanding golf feud — held every other year — known as the Ryder Cup. It was the first win for America against Europe since 2008.

Making the win particularly sweet is the fact that the Americans had lost eight of the previous 10 Ryder Cups. On Saturday, America had a three-point lead — but on Sunday at Hazeltine Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota, the win was decisive.

“When put in the right environment, the U.S. team brought out some amazing golf,” Mickelson said. “And we’re bringing back the Ryder Cup because of it.”

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“We lost Arnold Palmer on Sunday. It was a blow to our team. I’m humbled that I’m in this position. These 12 players and the six captains,” team captain Davis Love said after the win.

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“I’m just super proud,” Love said. “We all pulled together. We’ve been kicked around for so long, so we did something different. And we’re going on with a better attitude from here on forward!”

One great moment came when a U.S. fan was heckling Justin Rose, who was playing with European teammates Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, and Andy Sullivan. The four were having problems with a 12-foot putt on the sixth green.

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After spectator David Johnson shouted, “I could have made that,” Rose took him up on the offer, calling him out from the crowd and putting a $100 bill next to the ball.

Johnson borrowed a putter, stood over the ball and shot it straight in. Everyone went wild. Johnson wound up $100 richer.

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For many, the Ryder win was an emotional one. And especially so for Bubba Watson, a last-minute addition as a team vice captain.

“As a God-fearing man, I love to help and I love to give. Finally, I found my place on a team is to help. A couple guys called me and said, ‘Bubba, I need you by my side, shoulder-to-shoulder.’ The last couple of days, that’s what I did.”

He added that it was “a dream come true” for him. “For USA, for all that, this is absolutely amazing, the greatest thing that I’ve ever done in my career and been a part of.”

It was also the first time since 1975 that every single player on the American men’s team won at least one match.

Meanwhile, European captain Darren Clarke graciously conceded defeat. “The American Ryder Cup team deserved to win,” he said. “And we’re all gutted and disappointed. And we will be back stronger to fight in two years’ time in Paris.”

The next Ryder Cup contest will be held on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National in Paris on Sept. 28, 2018. Plenty of time for the Americans to prep for another win.