Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry belt out classic anthem on victorious European team bus

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“I was so disappointed after Whistling Straits. We all were.”

Seven of the 12 European players that suffered a 19-9 thumping, at the hands of USA, secured Ryder Cup redemption in Rome. Not long after, Rory McIlroy already had his team’s next goal locked in.

McIlroy won four points for Team Europe as they swept to a 16.5 to 11.5 victory at Marco Simone Golf Course. In the post-tournament press briefing, giddy with success, the four-time major winner slapped the table he was sitting at and declared:

“I think one of the biggest accomplishments in sports is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.”

It was then on to the Team Europe bus and both McIlroy and Shane Lowry led the way with the ‘Europe’s on fire, USA is terrified’ chants:

EUROPE IS ON FIRE 🏆🇪🇺#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/eiASuCaQ78

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023

As he has so expert and adroitly done for the 2023 Ryder Cup, golf writer Paddy Morgan has you covered for all the action from Marco Simone. Let’s pitch in…

Europe have too much for USA in the end as the unbeaten home record continues – By Paddy Morgan

Jon Rahm vs Scottie Scheffler

Rahm got off to a fantastic start as he hit a great drive and holed the putt to win the first hole. Rahm missed the green and only achieved a bogey at the third hole. An unbelievable response as Rahm won four and five to go 2up. Scheffler showed why he is number one in the world as he won the sixth.

Scheffler hit the fairway at the par five ninth but Rahm ended up in a bunker then pulled his second shot into the rough. A birdie by Scheffler was good enough to win the ninth. The shot that Rahm hit from the right of 10 was shot of the week. Rahm made a mess of the 11th as he could only manage a bogey and Scheffler went 1 Up after holing his birdie putt. Rahm bounced back to win the par five 12th and hit an incredible wedge shot to go 1 Up at the 13th.

Scheffler continued to dig deep as he won the 14th with a birdie and hit an unbelievable shot to go 1up at the 15th. The 16th hole was halved in birdies after two fantastic chip shots. Scheffler missed the fairway at the 18 th and was forced to lay up but made a mess of his chip shot in putting it over the green. A two putt from Rahm was good enough for a halved match. A fantastic battle from two of the best players in the world.

Viktor Hovland vs Collin Morikawa

Hovland went to 3up after Morikawa made a mess of the par four sixth. Morikawa reduced Hovland’s lead to 2up at the end of the front nine. Hovland was absolutely superb as he was six under for 11 holes and reached 4 Up. Morikawa won the 14th but the American gifted the 15th to Hovland after missing the fairway. This game came to an end at the 15th as Hovland won 4&3.

Justin Rose vs Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay took an early lead after winning the second hole. Cantlay drove the green at the 11th and went 3 Up. Rose yet again holed huge putts as he won the 13th and 15th . Cantlay drove the green at the 16 th but Rose holed another remarkable putt to half the hole. Cantlay holed a great putt at the 17th to win the game 2&1.

Rory McIlroy vs Sam Burns

Burns missed the green at the first and lost the hole with a bogey. McIlroy went 2 Up after a birdie at the fifth. McIlroy’s shot at the par three seventh was incredible and holed the putt to go 3 Up. Burns won the ninth with an eagle.

McIlroy won the 10th and went 4 Up after getting up and down for birdie at the 11th. The two shots that Burns and McIlroy hit at 15th were extremely impressive as they halved the hole with birdies. Burns continued the game after winning 16th. The game came to an end at the 17th as McIlroy won 3&1. McIlroy had a great Ryder Cup as he won four matches.

Matt Fitzpatrick vs Max Homa

Fitzpatrick hit a fantastic tee shot at the fifth and holed the putt for eagle to go 2 Up. Homa got the game back to all square after winning the sixth and eight hole. Homa went 2 Up after winning the 10th hole. Fitzpatrick holed a putt to win the 15th and reduce Homa’s lead to 1 Up

Fitzpatrick made a mistake as he put it in the water at the 16th but Homa made a cardinal sin as he followed the Englishman into the water. A par at the 16th and 17th brought the game down to the par five 18th . Homa took a penalty drop out of the rough but got it up and down to win the match 1 Up.

Tyrrell Hatton vs Brian Harman

Hatton holed a great putt at the first and was 2 Up after four. Harman done well to hole putts to half the sixth, seventh and eight hole. Harman holed a great putt from off the green to win the 10th hole. The fightback didn’t last long as Hatton played a great chip shot at the 11th and holed a putt at the 13th to
go 3 Up. This game came to an end as Hatton played an incredible bunker shot at the 16th to win 3&2.

Ludvig Aberg vs Brooks Koepka

Koepka went 1 Up after one and strengthened his lead to 3 Up after seven. Aberg responded with an eagle at the ninth but Koepka went back to 3 Up after 11 holes. Koepka was back to his best playing on his own and tapped in a putt to win the match on the 16th 3&2.

Nicolai Hojgaard vs Xander Schauffele

Hojgaard got off to a great start as he was 2 Up after three but was all square after six. Schauffele came strong around the turn as he went 2up after 12. Hojgaard won the 14 th with a birdie to bring it back to one down. Schauffele holed a great birdie putt to win the 15th and this match came to an end at the 16th as the American won 3&2.

Sepp Straka vs Justin Thomas

Thomas went 1 Up early on and 2 Up after 13 holes. A moment of magic as Straka holed his chip shot at the 16th to make it one down. Thomas missed the fairway and
had to lay up at 18th and Straka’s second shot ended up in a bunker. Thomas put another point on the board for USA as he won 1 Up.

Shane Lowry vs Jordan Spieth

Spieth made two birdies and had an eagle at the fifth to reach 3 Up. Lowry bounced back and showed a lot of passion as he won six and eighth. Spieth was playing well but was all square after 14 holes. A fantastic piece of short game by Lowry on 16th and 17th to go 1 Up. This game ended in a halved match.

Tommy Fleetwood vs Rickie Fowler

This game went back and forth before Fleetwood went 1up after a holed shot at the ninth. Fowler won the 14th with a fantastic birdie and was only one down. The tee shot that Fleetwood hit at 16th to find the green was incredible. Fleetwood was the victor as his win confirmed Europe as 2023 Ryder Cup winners.

Robert MacIntyre vs Wyndham Clark

MacIntyre started great but Clark battled and was only one down after 10 holes. MacIntyre played an incredible chip at the 15th to remain narrowily in front. MacIntyre had a great Ryder Cup as he finished with a 2&1 win against the current US Open champion.

McIlroy, Rahm and Hovland were fantastic and Europe Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald did an incredible job, especially in coming up with Fleetwood Mac. USA played better in singles but were too far behind to win due to a poor start.

FINAL SCORE: 16.5 Europe to 11.5 USA.