Kohler, United States
The United States crushed Europe 19-9 to recapture the Ryder Cup on Sunday in a performance captain Steve Stricker called the “greatest of all time.”
Collin Morikawa, the 24-year-old world number three, delivered the winning half point when he tied his match with Viktor Hovland at Whistling Straits.
He was one of eight 20-somethings on a US team that featured nine players in the world’s top 11 — all gunning to regain the coveted trophy won by Europe in France three years ago.
“Speechless,” US captain Steve Stricker said, tearing up as he talked of the commitment that resulted in dominant victory. The Americans became the first team to notch 19 points, beating the previous record of 18.5 achieved twice by each team before.
“This is the greatest team of all time right here,” Stricker said. “These guys are unbelievable. “They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game.
They are just so good.” World number two Dustin Johnson, at 37 the oldest member of the team, provided a template for his younger colleagues, his 1-up victory singles victory over Paul Casey giving him a perfect 5-0 record in a maximum five matches.
He became the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 — and just the fifth player ever — to go five-for-five when he prevailed in a tightly contested battle with Casey that saw them tie the first five holes.
Johnson took the lead for good at the eighth, but he never led by more than two and couldn’t put Casey away until the bitter end.
Johnson said he shared a key trait with his young teammates in that fueled their bid to stop Europe winning a fifth Ryder Cup in six editions. “We do not like to lose,” he said.—APP
