Miracle at Medinah

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN: The European team and captain Jose Maria Olazabal with the trophy

Miracles do happen as Europe come back from 10-6 down to win Ryder Cup

Of all the wonderful heartfelt quotes from the European camp following yesterday’s rollercoaster Ryder Cup win, perhaps US captain Davis Love II summed it up best. “Today was certainly not what we expected,” said Love.

Down 10-6 and facing a US side backed by a vociferous home support – which at times was over the top and out of order, but that’s a story for another day – and a set of players who finally looked like they actually cared about winning the Ryder Cup, captain Jose Maria Olazabal nevertheless refused to play second fiddle to a rejuvenated US team. He believed it was genuinely possible. And, most importantly, so did his players.

Europe were almost undone before their charge could get going as Rory McIlroy almost missed his tee time, having got confused by the time difference being broadcast by the Golf Channel. McIlroy read the tee times on his phone in Eastern time, whilst Chicago is in Central time. “I was just casually walking out of my hotel room and got a phone call saying you’ve got 25 minutes until you tee off,” said McIlroy. “I’ve never been so worried driving to the golf course before. Luckily there was a state trooper outside who kind of gave me the escort to here, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have got here in time. So just ran into the clubhouse, got my shoes on and picked it up on the first tee.”

With just three games left out on the course, Olazabal’s side incredibly went 13-12 up. Peter Hanson, though, lost on the 18^th green which meant it would come down to either Martin Kaymer, who didn’t play at all on the Saturday, or Francesco Molinari, who was playing Tiger Woods in the last match. Kaymer found the bunker off the tee but hit a glorious approach to some 25 feet, but let his birdie putt roll some six feet past. It didn’t matter as he calmly rolled in the next to regain the cup. And when Tiger Woods missed from five feet in the last match, the extra half point gave Europe the win.

Sergio Garcia, who inflicted a notably painful loss on Jim Furyk, said the previous evening’s drama involving Ian Poulter had given the players just a glimmer of hope that the impossible was possible.

“It was hard but we knew there was a chance. We come back from yesterday afternoon, those two matches… we had a chance today, and obviously everything came right.”

Of his late friend Seve Ballesteros, Garcia added: “I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day, because there’s no chance I would have won my match if he wasn’t there. You know, it was amazing, and it feels so good to be able to win it for him and for our captain, José, it’s been amazing. He’s an amazing guy, just unbelievable.”

Poulter, who is never often lost for words, said: “This was a team performance and you know, what the team have done an unbelievable job today. There was a buzz in the team room last night that didn’t feel like we had a four‑point deficit. For some reason, everyone was calm. Everyone was cracking jokes.

“We just felt we had that tiny little chance, and do you know what, the boys have proved today, and made history. It has been unbelievable. I just can’t actually believe what’s happened. It’s just unbelievable.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered