Ryder Cup 2025 live: Europe win Ryder Cup in nailbiting finish against resurgent USA – UK Times

“Yeah I think the emotions of the week, I think we’re always excited to get these types of events started. Keegan and our vice captains put us in a position to succeed. They did everything that was asked of them.

“I had extreme confidence in what this team could do, and that’s due to our captain. I think they did an amazing job. Keegan did an amazing job.

“My emotions yesterday afternoon when the matches ended, I think it’s hard to put into words how much it hurts to lose all four matches. To have the trust of my captains and teammates to go out there and play all four matches and lose all four, it’s really hard to put into words how much that stings and hurts.

“I’ll go back and reflect on that. But one of the coolest things was these guys picking me up last night. The guys on this team, this is a really special group of guys. We have a special captain, and I was proud to be standing there fighting with these guys today. I think it showed a lot about our team. I think it showed a lot about the job all these guys did to put us in a position to succeed.”

“I’m definitely good walking up that hill on 18. I did that enough today. It’s really hard to explain how fast, I mean, not only the week but just the day goes. And I was — I think I was maybe behind my putt, about to go into it on 17 when I assumed Cam made his. I heard a roar and I backed off. And then to see that he had won his match and then it was like, okay, you know, it just is one of those things like yeah, we all — we all, deep down, I’m sure we felt like we could. But in reality, you look at it, it is what it is. But like Keegan said, everything kept happening and happening and happening.

“You know, you’re just — the next match is the most important when you’re in a position like we were going into today. It was just important to get whoever was the closest to winning their match through and it just kept happening and happening. Yeah, it was so cool to be part of.”

“It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week,” McIlroy said after a 15-13 win over Keegan Bradley’s side.

“Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman. You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”

“The Europeans won one match today. You think about the odds of something like that happening, just on a coin flip would be incredible,” he said.

“When you go out in sports and you’re battling your butt off to win, it just shows you just how proud these guys are and how much they want this and how much this means to them.

“To go out there today and do what they did is close to a miracle.”

He continued: “This is no one’s fault but mine.

“When you are the leader of the team and you’re the coach, the captain, whatever you want to call it, and you lose, you have to take the blame.

“This is no one else’s fault.

“This is no one else’s, the PGA of America or whatever it is. Sometimes in sports, you go up against an opponent that sometimes beats you; they play better. And they played better than us. We gave it a great fight, that’s for sure.”

“To be honest, it’s been one of the hardest days I’ve probably ever experienced on a golf course,” he said.

“Going out number 10 of 11 matches today, obviously hoping that everything was wrapped up, but you still want to take pride in your individual record and stuff.

“I mean, the US lads put up an incredible fight. It was to be expected. They are amazing players.

“Selfishly, I was really hoping that it wouldn’t have to come down to me. And yeah, the last five, six, seven holes were just horrible to be honest.

“But at the end of the day I’m just so happy that we’ve managed to win.”

“I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes,” said McIlroy in a press conference after Europe held off a remarkable United States fightback to win the trophy 15-13 on Sunday. “The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.

“Look, nothing was going to happen – there wasn’t going to be physical altercation or anything like that – but there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

“It’s a minority of the crowd, it’s not the majority. The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful, but I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf.”

He continued: “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.

“Golf teaches you very good life lessons, it teaches you etiquette, it teaches you how to play by the rules, it teaches you how to respect people.

“Sometimes this week we didn’t see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.”

“I was nervous but I felt like this is where I belong. I’ve experienced some amazing things but this is like…. I can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s something that I’ll remember forever. My brother had a baby boy today, as well. They will be sitting at home watching this, it’s unbelievable.

“My dad, he’ll drink a few beers tonight. He’ll be really happy.

“This is the best team in the world. I don’t care what anyone says. This is the best tournament in the world.

“This is the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Luke Donald has rubbished Keegan Bradley’s push to change the envelope rule that saw Europe gain half a point after Viktor Hovland withdrew from his singles match against Harris English due to injury.

A neck problem forced Hovland to sit out the Saturday afternoon fourballs match with Matt Fitzpatrick against Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, which Europe won one up.

“Yeah, it has to change,” Bradley says. “I have a few ideas but I’m not going to tell you right now. I mean, the rule has to change.