After Europe lost their grip on the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National, we rate the performances of Darren Clarke's side.
Thomas Pieters: P5 W4 L1 (played five, won four, lost one)
Thomas Pieters 9/10:
Five matches, four wins, and a star is born. Many questioned him as a
wildcard pick, but he answered those critics in some style. Unflappable
on his debut, and a great foil for McIlroy as he finished the Ryder Cup
as the leading points scorer.
Rory McIlroy: P5 W3 L2
Rory McIlroy 8/10:
The team's talisman without question, and we've never seen him so
highly charged as he spent the week fighting fire with fire. Three
brilliant wins with Thomas Pieters, but the energy and emotion he
displayed throughout took its toll as he ran out of steam against
Patrick Reed.
Rafa Cabrera Bello: P3 W2 L0 H1
Rafa Cabrera Bello 8/10:
Forged a brilliant partnership with fellow Spaniard Garcia, and their
foursomes comeback on Saturday morning was memorable. Unlucky to be left
out in the afternoon, and a cracking win over PGA champion Jimmy
Walker.
Sergio Garcia: P5 W1 L2 H2
Sergio Garcia 7/10:
Like McIlroy, one of the main targets for abuse, but he dealt with it
well. Unbeaten with Cabrera Bello, and he was incredibly unlucky to not
get a singles win. Nine birdies were not enough in a sensational halved
match with 10-birdie Phil Mickelson.
Henrik Stenson: P5 W2 L3
Henrik Stenson 7/10:
A little inconsistent throughout the week, but he stuck it out for all
five sessions despite a dodgy knee and did well to hold off Spieth on
Sunday. Such a shame the partnership with Justin Rose that starred at
Gleneagles yielded only one point.
Justin Rose: P5 W2 L3
Justin Rose 6/10: The
Olympic champion struggled on the greens all week. He won good points
alongside Stenson and Chris Wood, but he faded down the stretch against
Rickie Fowler in a close contest on Sunday.
Chris Wood: P2 W1 L1
Chris Wood 6/10: Sat
out day one, played well in a brilliant foursomes win with Rose, and
then left out of the fourballs. Almost snatched a half with Dustin
Johnson with a late rally on Sunday, and he deserved to have played more
golf.
Matt Fitzpatrick: P2 L2
Matt Fitzpatrick 4/10:
Hard not to sympathise with the youngster on his debut. Played only
once over the first two days, and the result was done and dusted by the
time he slid to defeat in his singles.
Andy Sullivan: P2 L2
Andy Sullivan 4/10: Didn't
do much wrong in his foursomes defeat with McIlroy in the opening
session, but we didn't see him again until the singles. Led early
against Brandt Snedeker, but the American barely missed a putt on the
back nine.
Martin Kaymer: P4 W1 L3
Martin Kaymer 3/10:
Holing "that" putt at Medinah was an all-too distant memory for the
German this past weekend. Below par in every part of his game, he lost three
matches before salvaging some pride with a good comeback win over Matt
Kuchar.
Danny Willett: P3 L3
Danny Willett 2/10:
His focus must have been affected by the exploits of his brother at the
start of the week. Lost both his four-balls, and soundly thrashed by
Brooks Koepka despite leading after five holes.
Lee Westwood. P3 L3 Lee Westwood 1/10:
A 10th Ryder Cup appearance, and probably his worst. Awful on Friday
morning, he did at least take himself out of the firing line before
being sent out in Saturday's four-balls, when two short missed putts at
17 and 18 really hurt. His week was summed up when he was two up with
three to play against Ryan Moore, who won the last three holes.
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