Europe holds off United States to win Ryder Cup - ESPN

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — Tommy Fleetwood has never won a PGA Tour event in the United States, but the Englishman sure has broken plenty of American hearts when the Ryder Cup is played on European soil.

Fleetwood won the clinching point for the European team with a 3-and-1 victory over Rickie Fowler in the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on Sunday. The Europeans needed 14½ points to win back the Ryder Cup, and Fleetwood's win after Fowler conceded on the 16th hole gave them a 15-10 lead with three matches left on the course in their eventual 16½-11½ victory.

It was the American team's seventh straight Ryder Cup defeat outside the U.S. It last won in a road match at the Belfry in Warwickshire, England, in 1993.

«This is the best,» European team captain Luke Donald said. «This is why the Ryder Cup is so special to me and to these guys because of these moments. We play for each other and we get to share in that success together, and we get to spend this week together and we'll share those memories forever.»

The Europeans avenged their ugly 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits two years ago, the most lopsided defeat in Ryder Cup history. Donald wasn't even named the European team captain until August 2022, after the previous one, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, joined the LIV Golf League.

«Not many people gave us a chance after Whistling Straits,» Donald said. «We were big underdogs. We started to show some form in the last six months, and I couldn't be happier with the team I got. I think these guys will be around for a long time, and we're going to put up a great fight in two years' time.»

The European team was led by its big three: Norway's Viktor Hovland, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Spain's Jon Rahm, who went a