Ryder Cup: USA secure victory over Europe – live!

Brooks Koepka, an inch away from securing the Ryder Cup with a hole in one at 17, wins the hole and puts another point on the board for the hosts. Brooks Koepka beats Bernd Wiesberger 2&1.

1UP Johnson v Casey (17)
Finau v Poulter 3UP (15)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (14)
2UP English v Westwood (14)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (13)
1UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 15½-6½ Europe

Morikawa and Hovland embrace warmly … though it’s possible to spot a little regret in Morikawa’s eyes, having missed the par putt for the win and the showreel. Not that it amounts to a hill of beans in the long run. “It feels good, it was a full team effort,” he tells Sky Sports. “Everyone contributed. Obviously coming out on top feels really good. You can feel the fans and really take that energy.”

Hovland can’t make his birdie putt to tie the match … then Morikawa pulls his par putt, but it doesn’t matter! He’s secured the winning half, and the crowning glory, such as a missed tiddler can be, is his! Collin Morikawa ties with Viktor Hovland.

Morikawa A/S Hovland (F)
1UP Johnson v Casey (17)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (16)
Finau v Poulter 3UP (15)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (14)
1UP English v Westwood (13)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (12)
Berger A/S Fitzpatrick (12)
USA 14½-6½ Europe

But do you know what? Morikawa could be beaten to the tape by Brooks Koepka, who having just won 16, is an inch away from winning the Ryder Cup for the USA with a hole-in-one on 17! His ball rolls 12 inches past. One inch to the left, and that was an ace!

Paul Casey’s long putt from the fringe on 17 stops a couple of turns short. The door is wide open for Johnson, who will win the Ryder Cup for the USA if he steers in this gentle right-to-left slider from 15 feet. But it stays out, the width of a dimple, on the right. Back over to Morikawa!

Or will Justin Thomas make it?! He’s got a birdie putt on 14 that could secure a 5&4 win over Tyrrell Hatton. His 15-foot left-to-right curler stays on the high side. Back on 17, DJ finds the heart of the green. Morikawa, having driven into rough on 18, is short of the green in two, while Hovland sticks a sensational valedictory approach to eight feet. And then you can forget JT, because Hatton then rakes in his own birdie putt on 14 to win the hole and reduce his deficit to three with four to play.

1UP Morikawa v Hovland (17)
1UP Johnson v Casey (16)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (15)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (14)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (14)
1UP English v Westwood (13)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (12)
Berger A/S Fitzpatrick (12)
USA 14-6 Europe

Hovland gives his long putt a good run, but it’s not dropping. Morikawa tidies up to go one up with one to play, and the USA are as good as guaranteed winners of the 2020 Ryder Cup! But the Is have to be dotted, the Ts crossed, and so Morikawa and Hovland go up the 18th. Will he get to make the official winning putt before Dustin Johnson, who has just lost 16 to Paul Casey’s eagle, but is still a hole up with the par-three 17th to come? Should DJ win that, he may well pip Morikawa.

1UP Morikawa v Hovland (17)
1UP Johnson v Casey (16)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (15)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (14)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (13)
1UP English v Westwood (13)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (12)
Berger A/S Fitzpatrick (12)
USA 14-6 Europe

Justin Thomas was this close to birdie at 13. Had the putt dropped, he’d have been dormie five over Tyrrell Hatton, and that would have effectively won the Ryder Cup for the USA. But it didn’t, and in any case the half point wouldn’t officially count until the match is complete. That unofficial honour looks like going to Collin Morikawa, who has sent a glorious draw to a couple of feet at 17. Unless Viktor Hovland rakes one in from the fringe, the USA will be effectively guaranteed winners … providing Morikawa can finish the match, of course!

Morikawa is an inch away from making his eagle, and winning 16. But the ball stays up on the right, and Hovland, having already secured his birdie, makes his way to the par-three 17th.

Morikawa A/S Hovland (16)
2UP Johnson v Casey (15)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (14)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (13)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (13)
1UP English v Westwood (12)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (11)
2UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 14-6 Europe

Right, then. Who’s going to sink the winning putt for the USA? The Open champion Collin Morikawa? He’s currently all square with Viktor Hovland, but has just lashed one of his trademark arrows at the flag at the par-five 16th. He’s got a 15-foot look at eagle, though Hovland’s also on in two, pin high, maybe 25 feet away. Or will Dustin Johnson pip him? He’s just poured one in from 15 feet to win the 15th; if he takes 16 as well, he’ll close out his match.

Morikawa A/S Hovland (15)
2UP Johnson v Casey (15)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (14)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (13)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (12)
English A/S Westwood (11)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (10)
2UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 14-6 Europe

Sergio leaves his long putt well short, and that is that. He warmly congratulates DeChambeau, who has been magnificent this week, the perfect mix of power, precision and pantomime. You have to love him. Bryson DeChambeau beats Sergio Garcia 3&2.

The end is nigh for Sergio. DeChambeau is on 16 in regulation; Sergio is in a bunker down the side of the bank in two, but left with a downhill lie and little space for his backswing. After a long discussion with his caddy, he manages to manufacture something to bundle the ball onto the green, but it’s miles from the flag. DeChambeau then lags up to kick-in distance for his par. Sergio needs to rake one in if he’s to take this up 17.

Viktor Hovland is a find for Europe all right. He’s refusing to budge an inch against the Open champion Collin Morikawa, and levels their match at 15. Morikawa was always up against it after finding himself up against the lip of a bunker, but Hovland still needed to nail a 12-footer to secure the hole.

Koepka trundles in a tramliner on 13 to take the lead against Wiesberger. As things stand, the USA will win by the record-smashing scoreline of 21-7, and Dustin Johnson will become only the fifth player to make it five points out of five at a Ryder Cup, after Gardner Dickinson (1967), Arnold Palmer (1967), Larry Nelson (1979) and Francesco Molinari (2018).

3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (15)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (14)
1UP Johnson v Casey (14)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (13)
Finau v Poulter 3UP (12)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (11)
1UP English v Westwood (10)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (10)
2UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 13-6 Europe

Sergio can’t get close. His long par putt sails by, and DeChambeau doesn’t even have to make his birdie. The pair embrace as they leave the green, even though the match isn’t quite over yet at dormie three. But jokes are exchanged and backs are slapped, and it’s all very friendly. Nice to see. They’ve both had good weeks in very different ways, even if Sergio’s has been very bittersweet.

3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (15)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (14)
1UP Johnson v Casey (13)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (12)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (11)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (10)
1UP English v Westwood (9)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (9)
2UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 13-6 Europe

DeChambeau sends his second at 15 to four feet. This match could be going dormie unless Sergio can respond. “Is what’s currently happening at Whistling Straits part of the Brexit dividend too?” wonders Simon McMahon, because let’s face it, someone was going to. Mary Waltz adds: “I am rooting hard for the USA to win. But that interview of Rory laid waste to those who view Europe as an artificial construct that means nothing. Sure, I was cutting onions.” Yep, weren’t we all.

2UP DeChambeau v Garcia (14)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (14)
1UP Johnson v Casey (13)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (12)
Finau v Poulter 2UP (11)
4UP Thomas v Hatton (10)
1UP English v Westwood (9)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (9)
1UP Berger v Fitzpatrick (8)
USA 13-6 Europe

Patrick Cantlay chips up to six feet at 16. He’ll have a good look at birdie. Shane Lowry chips on from the other side, but he’s hitting four, and it’s well past. Lowry takes his cap off and offers his hand. Patrick Cantlay beats Shane Lowry 4&2.

Par is enough in the end for Scottie Scheffler, who takes 15, the world number one never able to recover from that absurd early birdie blitz. There’s plenty to choose from, but that could be Team USA’s signature performance of an historic week! Scottie Scheffler beats Jon Rahm 4&3.

A word with a very emotional, very tearful Rory, who has to take a moment before gathering himself and talking to Henni Koyack from Sky Sports. Battling the understandable desire to break down, he says: “I love being a part of this team, I love my team-mates so much, and I should have done more for them this week. I’m glad I put a point on the board for Europe today, but I just … I can’t wait to get another shot at this. [pinches nose to stop the tears] It is by far the best experience in golf, and I hope little boys and girls watching this today aspire to play in this event or the Solheim Cup, because there’s nothing better than being a part of a team. Especially the bond we have in Europe. No matter what happens after this, I’m proud of every single one of our players, our captain, our vice captains. I just wish I could have done a little more for the team. It’s been a tough week.” Hard to watch, yet weirdly uplifting in its own way, because it shows how much the Ryder Cup means to Europe … and could you love him any more? A heroic performance today in the circumstances, too. He’ll bounce back. Good old Rory.

McIlroy nearly finishes his match in style, raking in a long birdie putt on the par-five 16th. It doesn’t drop, but Schauffele can’t make his own lengthy effort, and the first point of the afternoon goes to Europe. Rory McIlroy beats Xander Schauffele 3&2.

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (F)
3UP Cantlay v Lowry (15)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (14)
2UP DeChambeau v Garcia (12)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (12)
2UP Johnson v Casey (10)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (9)
Finau A/S Poulter (8)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (8)
1UP English v Westwood (7)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (7)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (5)
USA 11-6 Europe

Scheffler sticks his second to ten feet at 14. If Rahm doesn’t get close, he’ll likely be putting for a 5&4 win. But Rahm lands his ball on the back of the green and sends it spinning back to four feet! That spooks Scheffler into missing his birdie putt, and the hole is Rahm’s! The world number one isn’t going down without a fight!

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (15)
3UP Cantlay v Lowry (15)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (14)
2UP DeChambeau v Garcia (12)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (12)
2UP Johnson v Casey (10)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (8)
Finau A/S Poulter (8)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (8)
1UP English v Westwood (7)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (7)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (5)
USA 11-5 Europe

This US team are astonishingly good, though. This is one hell of a performance. They’re currently on for 20½ points!

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (15)
2UP Cantlay v Lowry (14)
4UP Scheffler v Rahm (13)
2UP DeChambeau v Garcia (12)
2UP Morikawa v Hovland (11)
2UP Johnson v Casey (10)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (8)
Finau A/S Poulter (8)
3UP Thomas v Hatton (8)
1UP English v Westwood (7)
2UP Spieth v Fleetwood (6)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (5)
USA 11-5 Europe

Rahm tries to salvage a half from the fringe at the back of 13, but it’s no good. He slips four holes back again. Meanwhile on 8, JT rakes one in from the fringe at the front, and he’s three up on Hatton. And to put a tin lid on what is an increasingly embarrassing afternoon for Europe, McIlroy shoves a three-foot putt past the hole on 15. It was for a 4&3 victory and a precious point for Europe, but it’s just the half. He’s dormie three, and still odds on for chalking one up, but that kind of sums up the mood. Europe are a defeated rabble.

Rahm is on a rolling boil, and upon finding his tee shot at 13 in sand, can only hack further up into more trouble. Up on 14, Cantlay’s brilliance can’t be matched by Lowry, and he’s two up again. Spieth wins 6 to move a couple clear of Fleetwood.

“C’mon guys, we can hear when you move.” Rahm’s frustration is clear as he drops his driver on the follow through, his ball sailing towards bother down the right of 13. Finau’s par at 8 ties him with Poulter. Cantlay nearly spins his ball into the cup from 109 yards for eagle on 14.

Team USA are currently on course for a record win. If all the matches ended now, they’d win the session 9-3, and the match 20-8. A 12-point rout! That’d beat – and by some distance – the record victory margin of nine points, set in 1981 by USA and equalled by Europe in 2004 and 2006. Europe have some pride left to play for, but little else.

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (14)
1UP Cantlay v Lowry (13)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (12)
3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (10)
2UP Morikawa v Hovland (10)
1UP Johnson v Casey (8)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (7)
Finau v Poulter 1UP (6)
2UP Thomas v Hatton (6)
1UP English v Westwood (6)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (5)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (4)
USA 11-5 Europe

Hovland’s putt from the fringe at the back of 10 horseshoes out. So unlucky. That allows Morikawa to tidy up from six feet and re-establish his two-hole lead. Lowry and Cantlay trade pars at 13. And it’s a hole back for Rahm, finally, Scheffler having sent his tee shot at 12 into a bush.

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (14)
1UP Cantlay v Lowry (13)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (12)
3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (10)
2UP Morikawa v Hovland (10)
1UP Johnson v Casey (8)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (7)
Finau v Poulter 1UP (6)
2UP Thomas v Hatton (6)
English A/S Westwood (5)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (4)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (4)
USA 11-5 Europe

McIlroy, having knocked his second at 14 straight at the flag to 15 feet, rolls in the birdie putt and screams a huge COMEON. He must know the jig is up, but his match means everything nonetheless. Schauffele has a chance to tie the hole, splashing out of sand to ten feet, but classic matchplay pressure has been applied, and he tugs it to the left. McIlroy is closing in on victory, three up with four to play.

DJ comes straight back at Casey with the win at 8, and the 100-percent dream is back on. Meanwhile having hit a heavy-handed chip through the 10th, Garcia chips in from the collar at the back. However the birdie is only enough for a half, DeChambeau having chipped close with his second. And in some Its Not Even News Any More breaking news, Scheffler wins another hole against Rahm, this time with par at 11. Rahm, who has been battling to save Europe’s dignity this week, looks spent. No wonder it’s Rahm and Garcia who are really struggling right now, having given so much already. Heroes both, they get a pass.

Schauffele v McIlroy 2UP (13)
1UP Cantlay v Lowry (12)
4UP Scheffler v Rahm (11)
3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (10)
1UP Morikawa v Hovland (9)
1UP Johnson v Casey (8)
1UP Koepka v Wiesberger (7)
Finau v Poulter 1UP (6)
1UP Thomas v Hatton (5)
English v Westwood 1UP (4)
Spieth A/S Fleetwood (4)
Berger v Fitzpatrick 1UP (4)
USA 11-5 Europe

Lowry is threatening a comeback. He fires his tee shot at 12 straight at the flag. He calls after his ball – “Aw, be right honey!” – and the outcome is pretty sweet, stopping 20 feet short of the flag. He’s left with a straight putt. Cantlay then flies over the back of the green, and he’s got a dreadful lie down the bank. Hacking out from deep filth, he sends his second back over the flag, 60 feet from the hole. He races the par putt miles past, and concedes. Meanwhile Schauffele pulls a hole back against McIlroy with a lovely approach into 13, and Morikawa pulls a short putt wide on 9 to give Hovland some hope.

Jon Rahm can’t get anything going. A near miss for the win at 9 is now followed by another shave of the hole at 10. He remains three off Scheffler’s preposterous pace, and holes will start running out soon. The chances of the Ryder Cup’s all-time record point scorer Sergio Garcia adding to his tally of 28½ are getting slimmer and slimmer, meanwhile, as a wild flay left from the tee at 9 costs him another hole against Bryson DeChambeau. It’s all happening, and nearly all of it for the USA.

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (12)
2UP Cantlay v Lowry (10)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (10)
3UP DeChambeau v Garcia (9)
2UP Morikawa v Hovland (8)
Johnson A/S Casey (7)
Koepka A/S Wiesberger (6)
Finau v Poulter 1UP (5)
2UP Thomas v Hatton (4)
English v Westwood 1UP (4)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (3)
Berger A/S Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 11-5 Europe

Another punch of the air by Shane Lowry. This time it’s in celebration of a win, at 10. He’s just two down now. McIlroy moves three up, par enough at 11 after Schauffele found himself trapped in a bunker with a strange grassy knoll in the middle of it, and no backswing. Koepka, having driven 6, nearly drains a long putt for eagle, but the birdie isn’t enough for the win, Weisberger matching him shot for shot. And Casey, in a hazard down the bank at the side of 7, gets up and down to scramble a par that draws him back level with the history-seeking DJ.

Schauffele v McIlroy 3UP (11)
2UP Cantlay v Lowry (10)
3UP Scheffler v Rahm (9)
2UP DeChambeau v Garcia (8)
2UP Morikawa v Hovland (8)
Johnson A/S Casey (7)
Koepka v Wiesberger 1UP (6)
Finau v Poulter 1UP (4)
2UP Thomas v Hatton (3)
English v Westwood 1UP (3)
1UP Spieth v Fleetwood (3)
Berger A/S Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 11-5 Europe

Dustin Johnson is going for five points out of five this week. A left-to-right birdie slider from the fringe at 6 breaks the deadlock against Paul Casey, and he’s currently on course to become only the fifth player to make it five out of five, after Gardner Dickinson (1967), Arnold Palmer (1967), Larry Nelson (1979) and Francesco Molinari (2018).