United States Ends Eight Year Drought—Wins Ryder Cup

This win was for The King.

A week after Arnold Palmer’s passing, the United States Ryder Cup team used what he meant to the game as added motivation. Phil Mickelson shined as a leader, a veteran, and a mentor but also understood the important element that Palmer played this past weekend.

Chants of 'Arnold Palmer' ring out at the #RyderCup closing ceremony. #RIPArnie https://t.co/jxClw4igsM

— PGA Amateur Golf (@PGAAmateurGolf) October 2, 2016

The U.S. was coined by Rory McIlroy as the best team to ever be assembled, and he may have been right.

Led by captain Davis Love III, and young superstars Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka, the United States beat the Europeans for the first time since 2008. Not only did this weekend end the streak of Ryder Cup horrors, it also accomplished something Bubba Watson has wanted to do for all of his professional career.

The Sunday singles favored the Americans 7.5-4.5 to finish with a 17-11 win. The biggest margin of victory since a dream team win in 1981.

The final round featured the match-up everyone was talking about, Patrick Reed vs. Rory McIlroy.  The two squared off in an amazing display of competitiveness and it might go down as the most enthusiastic round in Ryder Cup history.

It was a match for the ages. #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/x63tPMegZc

— PGA Amateur Golf (@PGAAmateurGolf) October 2, 2016

The emotionally charged round was all in good fun between two athletes leaving it all out on the course. Rory McIlroy congratulated Patrick Reed and thanked him for a tough match.

But this tournament was for the Americans. It was a total team win and as sports cliche as it can get, but the drought for the U.S. has ended. You could see how much the win meant for everyone, and for the first time in many years it looked like they were having fun together. It must be fun to win.