Fleetwood and Thomas jousted through the back nine and also made it to the last all square. Again the American’s would emerge victorious, Thomas dropping a 15-footer. 12-7.
In the only real beating handed out, Xander Schauffele strolled to victory over Jon Rahm, winning four of five holes on the back nine to ease to a 4&3 win. 12-8.
European eyes were suddenly scouring the scoreboard to see where the 2½ points needed were going to come from.
Aberg provided one. A par on the 17th was enough to see off Cantlay’s challenge. 13-8.
DeChambeau’s drive and desire had hauled in Fitzpatrick. Sensational birdies on the 14th and 15th, and a par on the 17th, was enough to also send them down the last all square. This time there would be no American birdie though and Europe had a half point. 13½-8½.
DeChambeau still celebrated it like he’d won the Ryder Cup. And suddenly, the US team had belief that this might just be possible. The fans were certainly invested. Perhaps too much at times.
McIlroy was once again the focus of their attention. The Northern Irishman has been abused all week and Sunday was no exception, with barbs being fired from the sidelines.
But he had somehow kept his head to deliver 3½ points from four matches. His opponent on Sunday, the world number one Scottie Scheffler, had lost all four of his outings. The American was due a point.
And he delivered. McIlroy, who conceded neither player was at their best, pushed him to the 18th but was unable to hole a monster birdie try as Scheffler put another point on the board. 13½-9½.
Europe still needed a half from somewhere. Anywhere. But for the first time in three days there was no blue to be seen.
Hatton and Robert MacIntyre were in dogfights with Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns respectively in the final two matches out on the course.
US Open champion Spaun held off Straka. 13½-10½.
But then hope. Lowry birdied the 15th to drag Henley back to a one-hole lead and they became the fifth match to head down 18. Both players found the green with their second shots. Henley putted first and missed. Lowry, from eight feet, had a chance to win the hole, halve the match and reach the 14 points Europe needed as holders to retain the trophy.
It dropped. And Lowry exploded.
The emotion flooded out as he jigged and wheeled across the green. He had been embroiled in several spats with the fans during his round with McIlroy on Saturday so you could understand his levels of celebration as American fans began to flood out of the course. 14-11.
Europe had not come for the tie and retention though.
The final three matches also went to the final hole. Griffin held off Hojgaard. 14-12.
It looked like Hatton would be the one. His birdie on the 12th had drawn him level with Morikawa and the two were unable to separate themselves. If the Englishman could match Morikawa’s score on the 18th, the trophy would be won.
The American’s lengthy birdie putt missed. Hatton had two putts to win the Ryder Cup from 20 feet. He cosied his birdie try to tap-in. Morikawa conceded. The celebrations could properly begin. 14½-12½.
Scotland’s MacIntyre brought up the rear and won the final hole with a par to snatch a half point against Burns. 15-13.
It also meant the US had remarkably matched the Ryder Cup record of 8½ points in the singles but all the celebrations were blue.
McIlroy declared after the win in Rome two years ago that they would win in Bethpage. He also said “winning away is the hardest thing to achieve in golf”.
He was correct on both fronts.