2016 Ryder Cup: Sunday Birdies & Bogeys

By Golf Digest

October 02, 2016

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Photo By: PGA of America via Getty Images

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Birdie: The McIlroy/Reed match

Rarely does reality live up to the hype. This was the exception, as both were five under through the first eight holes on Sunday. Punctuating shots with fist pumps, roars and shushes, McIlroy and Reed played to the crowd, feeding off the atmosphere and each other. The duo ran out of steam on the back nine, their once-invincible putters catching a cold. Still, the battle reached the 18th green, with Reed dramatically sealing the deal with a birdie putt. It was an instant classic, a match that epitomizes everything the Ryder Cup strives to be. -- Joel Beall

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Birdie: Patrick Reed

It’s hard to quantify the significance of Reed's win over McIlroy, especially given the energy surrounding the pairing. It set the tone for the Americans to recapture the Ryder Cup. Reed's amazing performance in Saturday’s four-ball win with Jordan Spieth was ultimately outdone by his victory for the ages over McIlroy. Reed fist-pumping all over Hazeltine was a common sight this week, and it provided the U.S. the type of swagger it desperately had been missing in this event. -- Stephen Hennessey

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Bogey: Jordan Spieth

He scored 2.5 points in five Ryder Cup matches, but that doesn't capture Spieth's performance at Hazeltine this week. The two-time major winner was often a bystander to Patrick Reed in team format, and was thoroughly outplayed by Henrik Stenson on Sunday, his match eventually ending with a bizarre penalty stroke when his ball moved in the water hazard. In four career Ryder and Presidents Cup singles matches, Spieth has yet to record a point. -- JB

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Birdie: Thomas Pieters

After losing his first-ever Ryder Cup match (by a lot), Pieters got paired with Rory McIlroy for the next three matches. And the pairing worked, as the couple went undefeated. Pieters slid easily into the role, getting hyped with Rory and shushing the rowdy crowd -- literally and figuratively -- with play that made everyone forget he’s a rookie. On Sunday Pieters was on his own, and showed that he didn’t need to be under Rory’s wing. He was down two after two, then rattled off six birdies to close out J.B. Holmes for a three-and-two win. The Europeans may have lost the Ryder Cup, but having a rookie go 4-1-0 is always a victory. -- Keely Levins

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Birdie: Darren Clarke's front-loading strategy

A three-point deficit demands a bold plan, and the European skipper at least recognized the need for some early fireworks to give his team even a glimmer of hope on Sunday. On that front, Clarke's plan delivered. Although Rory McIlroy was immersed in a death battle with Patrick Reed, Clarke got big points from Henrik Stenson and Thomas Pieters to provide the rest of the Europeans some motivation as the shadows lengthened at Hazeltine National. -- Sam Weinman

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Bogey: European depth

Then again, the only way a plan like Clarke's works is if the other players can feed off the early energy. But this is where the holes in Clarke's lineup were apparent. Although the Europeans pulled to within a point thanks to wins by Stenson, Pieters, and Rafael Cabrera Bello, there were too many overmatched players on the European side to deliver late. -- SW

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Birdie: Brooks Koepka

Koepka made his Ryder Cup debut this week, not that you'd know. The Florida State product delivered three points for the United States, including a 5-and-4 beatdown of Danny Willett on Sunday. The 26 year old is one of the longest guys on tour, with an underrated touch around the greens. He has just one PGA Tour win, but don't be surprised if his display at Hazeltine springs Koepka to bigger and better things in 2017. -- JB

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Birdie: The Mickelson/Garcia match

It’s fitting this epic match ended in a draw. With a combined 75 Ryder Cup matches between them, the two legends put on an intense exhibition on Sunday that featured 19 birdies (10 by Mickelson, nine by Garcia). We’ve seen some world-class golf played by both competitors over the years, but rarely do you see two players rise to the moment at precisely the same time. -- SH

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Bogey: Danny Willett

Look, it's not completely his fault. The early attention placed on the Masters champion thanks to his brother's incendiary comments about U.S. fans was an invitation for ridicule. If Willett was to silence the Hazeltine galleries, he would need to do so with his clubs. He never did. Willett went 0-3 in his Ryder Cup debut, including a hammering at the hands of Brooks Koepka on Sunday. Willett will likely get more opportunities to play in golf's most pressure-filled event. On the positive side, it pretty much has to go better than his first. -- SW

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Birdie: Brandt Snedeker

Patrick Reed may be the face of the U.S. win, yet Snedeker turned in the best top-to-bottom effort of the weekend. Playing in just his second Ryder Cup, the 35 year old went undefeated in three matches in Chaska. Moreover, when he was sidelined on Saturday afternoon, Sneds donned a Viking hat and joined the crowd in rooting the Americans on. When the U.S. needs a veteran in upcoming team events, Snedeker should be on the short list of candidates. -- JB

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Bogey: Lee Westwood

Westwood made the team via captain’s pick, as Darren Clark hoped the former No. 1 in the world could tap into his past experience in the Ryder Cup. Alas, Westwood’s 10th appearance for the Europeans was one he’d rather forget. His loss to Ryan Moore officially gave the event to the Americans, and dropped the 43-year-old’s record on the weekend to 0-3. And it wasn't just that Westwood came up empty, but how, getting blown out of the water on Friday and missing a gimme for a tie on Saturday afternoon. When the Europeans evaluate what went wrong at Hazeltine, the no-show from it’s veteran’s selections -- Westwood and Martin Kaymer combined for one point in seven matches -- will be the elephant in the room. -- JB

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RYDER CUP: PLAYERS & PRESSURE

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2016 Ryder Cup: Sunday Birdies & Bogeys

Shop This Look

Birdie: The McIlroy/Reed match

Birdie: Patrick Reed

Bogey: Jordan Spieth

Birdie: Thomas Pieters

Birdie: Darren Clarke's front-loading strategy

Bogey: European depth

Birdie: Brooks Koepka

Birdie: The Mickelson/Garcia match

Bogey: Danny Willett

Birdie: Brandt Snedeker

Bogey: Lee Westwood