Scottie Scheffler picked up his first Ryder Cup victory since 2021 when it mattered most, defeating Rory McIlroy in the Sunday singles to kickstart Team USA’s late charge at Bethpage.
A lot of fans had been hoping to see Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler go head-to-head during the Ryder Cup, but by the time they actually teed off on Sunday, Team USA were already well behind, with most expecting little more than a respectable scoreline.
But Keegan Bradley’s team put in a remarkable shift on Sunday at Bethpage.
Scheffler earned his first point of the week after dropping his opening four matches in New York. He edged McIlroy 1 up to give the hosts renewed hope of what could have been one of the most dramatic comebacks ever seen in sports.
Scottie Scheffler shares thoughts after Ryder Cup win over Rory McIlroy
Adding to the momentum, Bryson DeChambeau came back from five down to split his match with Matthew Fitzpatrick just ahead of Scheffler’s result.
Speaking after his round against McIlroy, the 29-year-old explained just how demanding the week had been, noting he had played in every session.
The Dallas native said: “To keep fighting. I battled really hard yesterday and the first day, things just did not work out the way I anticipated them. But I was proud to get a point today. It’s tough. Playing all five matches was a grind.
“Rory and I even chatted about that today. It was a grind but I’m proud of the fight our team showed. Keegan did a good job putting us in position and keeping the energy up and the guys were motivated to come out and play.
“We will see what happens.”
Scottie Scheffler had praise for Bryson DeChambeau after his performance against Rory McIlroy
DeChambeau’s effort helped spark the shift in momentum. Fitzpatrick was dominant early on and seemed on track to record one of the biggest singles wins for Europe.
But the 32-year-old golfer refused to let the match go. He pulled level by the 16th hole, and by then, backing against him would have felt risky.
While it only added half a point to the tally, Scheffler noted that it was a moment that changed his perspective on how things might play out.
“Keegan has been amazing. All our vice captains have been great. It’s been a really special team and it’s been a lot of fun. This week did not go as I anticipated for myself and I’m a little bit bummed but these guys picked me up on this team when I needed it. We have a great team. I love these guys and this team, it’s a special group. The fight these guys showed today and the fight Bryson showed today and yesterday. The way he played in our match in the afternoon was amazing and I don’t think I could do what I did in my match today if he didn’t do what he did in front of me,” the world number one said.
“He’s an emotional leader of our team. He has been great and I’m proud to be battling with people like that.”
The performance from Team USA stood out, especially given where they started. Both DeChambeau and Scheffler played important roles after what had been tough starts to the week for both players.