Five matches which helped USA to Ryder Cup victory at Hazeltine
Sunday 2 October 2016 23:52, UK
USA ended a long wait for Ryder Cup glory with a 17-11 triumph at Hazeltine, where several key moments kept the momentum with the home side.
Davis Love III's side claimed only their second win in eight attempts in Minnesota, with victory being their first since Paul Azinger guided the USA to victory at Valhalla in 2008.
The hosts raced in to a 4-0 lead on Friday morning and never lost their advantage at any stage of the weekend, with captain's pick Ryan Moore securing the winning half point for the hosts on Sunday afternoon.
We look back at the five matches which turned the contest in the American's favour…
Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson beat Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer 4&2
The European duo were one of two of Clarke's pairings leading in the back nine on Friday morning, but slipped back when Walker and Zach Johnson got up-and-down to salvage par at the 12th as Kaymer missed from eight feet.
That swung the momentum in the USA's favour as they birdied the next two holes and went three ahead with a par at 15, before Johnson sealed the 4&2 win with a 20-foot gain at 16.
Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler beat Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan 1up
The British pairing were two up with four to play in the foursomes, only to bogey the next and lose to a six-foot birdie from Fowler at 16.
Sullivan then found the water off the 17th tee as Fowler fired his tee shot to four feet to move the USA ahead, with McIlroy unable to find the birdie required to salvage a half at the last - completing a morning whitewash for the hosts.
Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka beat Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick 3&2
Europe fought back to win three of the Friday fourballs and also claimed 2.5 points in the morning session on day two, but Snedeker and Koepka's strong finish ensured the hosts still led heading in to the fourballs.
Fitzpatrick had moved the visitors ahead with seven to play but fell behind when the USA birdied three in a row from the 13th, before the Englishman brought an early end to the contest by sending his approach at 16 into the hazard.
JB Holmes and Ryan Moore beat Lee Westwood and Danny Willett 1up
The match was all square heading to the 17th on Saturday afternoon, where Willett found the water off the tee and Westwood missed a five-footer to save par to put the American rookies ahead.
Westwood looked like salvaging a share of the spoils when he stiffed his approach at the last to two feet, only to dribble his knee-knocker past the hole and give the hosts a third win of the session.
Patrick Reed beat Rory McIlroy 1up
McIlroy needed to get an early point on the board for the visitors in the opening Sunday singles match with Europe trailing 9-6, but Reed won the dingdong tussle to help the USA make the perfct start.
The Northern Irishman had led early in the contest and missed a six-footer to regain the advantage at the 13th, before Reed birdied the 16th and sealed the USA point by matching McIlroy's gain at the last.
