JOURNAL SPORTS
Sam Burns and the USA team nearly conjured up a magical comeback Sunday at the 45th Ryder Cup, but could not overcome Europe’s brilliant play over the first two days and clutch shots on the final day in a closer-than-expected 15-13 defeat.
Europe dominated the American side in the first 72 holes of competition, in foursomes and four-ball play on Friday and Saturday, and was on the brink of one of the biggest winning margins in Ryder Cup history.
The USA sparkled Sunday in singles play, as Europe struggled to score the clinching points until very late in the day, before Burns’ match with Scotsman Robert McIntyre was complete.
It ended when Burns’ drive on the 18th hole found a sand trap leading to his eventual bogey, and allowing McIntyre’s par to earn a tie for the afternoon, giving each side a half point. That completed the day’s competition.
Europe won only one singles match Sunday, but tied in four. The foreigners needed only 14 points for an overall team tie to retain possession of the Ryder Cup that they won in 2023, and bot that when Shane Lowry birdied the 18th to tie the USA’s Russell Henley. Tyrell Hatton’s draw with Collin Morikawa in the match in front of Burns-McIntyre put the visitors over the top and gave them the overall win.
Though Burns’ forte’, his putting, was not a strong suit over the weekend, the Choudrant resident was competitive in all three of his starts.
Friday afternoon he teamed with Patrick Cantlay, whose sizzling birdie binge on the back nine led the USA pair to a draw with the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Lowry.
Saturday afternoon, again in four-ball competition, Burns/Cantlay were in a tight match but this time fell 1-up to Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick.
