An Epic American Collapse At The Ryder Cup In 29 Photos

1. The American team entered Sunday with a massive four point lead in the Ryder Cup, and the home fans were expecting to enjoy another dominant day.

2. Luke Donald won the first match of the day over Bubba Watson, to make the score 10-7. Still, the USA has a big lead. Whatever.

3. Europe’s Paul Lawrie wiped the floor with Brandt Snedeker for another European point.

4. At least Keegan Bradley, Team USA’s best player all weekend, was putting up a fight against Rory McIlroy.

5. …but McIlroy stormed back to win two of the last four holes and take a full point.

6. Meanwhile, Ian Poulter was busting out the Fierce Face against Webb Simpson.

7. Simpson ended up dropping his match to Poulter, giving Europe four straight points to open up the day. It’s tied, 10-10.

8. Phil Mickelson made a clutch putt to stay 1-up on Justin Rose with just two holes to play.

9. Phil barely missed chipping in for birdie on No. 17, but his par should have been enough to remain up with Rose well away from the hole.

10. But Rose made this incredible putt to win the 17th outright. All of a sudden, the match is tied heading to No. 18.

11. Rose made another ridiculous putt, and stole a point from Mickelson. Europe leads, 11-10.

12. Phil couldn’t believe it.

13. Zach Johnson and Dustin Johnson gave the Americans hope with two vital wins.

15. But Lee Westwood got all aggro and stole a surprising point from Matt Kuchar, to tie the score at 12-12.

16. In the next match, Jim Furyk missed this putt on No. 17 and headed to the 18th all-square with Sergio Garcia.

17. Furyk’s pretty reliable though, and he leaves himself a short putt to halve the hole and earn the Americans half a point.

18. BUT HE MISSES!

21. Poor Jim. Europe leads, 13-12, and needs just one more point to retain the Ryder Cup.

22. Jason Dufner delivers an American point though to make it 13-13. A tie goes to the defending champion, so Team USA needs 1.5 points from the last two matches to win.

23. Dufner was REALLY excited.

Or scared. I’m not sure, what his face is doing here.

24. Steve Stricker, however, blows a short putt on the 17th to give Martin Kaymer a lead heading to No. 18.

25. And Kaymer nails a Ryder Cup clinching putt on the 18th, as Team Europe matches the biggest Cup comeback in history.

27. Tiger Woods, the American anchor Sunday, is rendered irrelevant… but he loses the 18th to halve his match anyway.

28. Final score: Europe 14.5, USA 13.5.

29. Disappointed.gif