Ryder Cup Win Was 'American Masterpiece'

Patrick Reed shook his fists with fury for every big putt he made. Phil Mickelson leaped higher than when he won his first Masters. Ryan Moore delivered the final point in this American masterpiece Sunday at the Ryder Cup. The 17-11 victory over Europe at the Hazeltine Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., was their biggest rout in 35 years, the AP reports. This wasn't about being maybe the best team ever assembled. The Americans were a team, and that was all that mattered. For the first time since 1975, every US player won at least one match. And for the first time since 2008, the Ryder Cup is staying in America.

Four years after Davis Love III saw his team blow a 10-6 lead at Medinah, he watched them make more birdies and eagles than he could count as they filled the scoreboard with American red. "There was a lot of pressure on these guys over the last couple years," Love said. "We haven't had a good run lately, and I'm thrilled for them that they got the win," he said. "This team has been questioned and beat up for a long time, and I'm proud of the way they came together." European captain Darren Clarke said: "The American Ryder Cup team deserved to win. And we're all gutted and disappointed. And we will be back stronger to fight in two years' time in Paris." (More Ryder Cup stories.)