The 2016 Ryder Cup will certainly be remembered for living up to the hype as it was an absolutely thrilling tournament with plenty of emotion and drama. Ryan Moore sealed the 17-11 win for the United States team as they beat Europe for the first time since 2008 and just the third time over the last two decades. While the US win was the biggest story from the tournament there were some specific individual performances that stood out for both good and bad reasons. Here is a look at the biggest winners and losers from the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Winner: Patrick Reed
Reed was the unquestioned leader for the US team as he picked up points at the 12th and 16th holes and rolled in a match-ending birdie on 18 to beat Rory McIlroy by one up. Reed improved to 6-1-2 in his Ryder Cup entries and he was clearly the biggest reason why the US managed to seal such a convincing victory. Reed’s battles with Rory McIlroy will be remembered for a very long time as the most entertaining matchup of the tournament.
Loser: Jordan Spieth
Spieth played a role in the US side earning the victory as Reed’s partner but it definitely felt as though it was Reed alone that secured their 2.5 points. Spieth didn’t have his best performance at the Ryder Cup and it really felt like it was Reed carrying him along in the pair’s match with Sergio Garcia and Rafael Cabrera Bello. Spieth’s poor iron play that has plagued him all season was on full display and according to the Golf Channel he actually somehow injured himself while high-fiving Reed. Spieth lost his singles match to Henrik Stenson as well. He might have been a part of the winning team but Spieth definitely struggled at this year’s Ryder Cup.
Winner: Phil Mickelson
For as good as Reed was for the American contingent, there was plenty of talk about Phil throughout the tournament as the veteran leader that was dialed in once again over the weekend. Mickelson may have put on the most entertaining show as he matched Reed’s 63 with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a shot that only earned a halve point after Garcia answering on that hole. Mickelson was outstanding from start to finish and he certainly provided a veteran edge for the US side with both his performance and his overall leadership.
Loser: Lee Westwood
There was certainly plenty of discussion about team Europe captain Darren Clarke making a mistake when he selected Lee Westwood as a member of his team and the numbers certainly support that assertion. Westwood failed to record a single point n the weekend and his struggles were epitomized by a close putt he missed on Saturday that cost him his match. Westwood lost the final three holes to fall to Ryan Moore in his singles match and he recorded just one point in seven matches overall. That is a rough performance for a veteran and captain’s pick and it’s one of the many reasons why the European side lost by a lopsided 17-11 score.
Winner: Brooks Koepka
Koepka had a relatively successful performance at the Ryder Cup. Remember, this was his first time playing in the event and he managed to finish with a 3-1-0 record. He absolutely smoked Danny Willett on Sunday, finishing that off with a final score of 5&4.
He was continuously a big asset off the tee (that’s one of his strengths) and he made a lot of other players look bad with his length. Not only is he going to get an invite back, he’s going to be one of the crucial foundational pieces of the American roster in the years to come along with Spieth, Reed, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas.
Loser: The Crowds
Sadly, the fans were among the biggest losers of the week. There were numerous reports both in the media and on Twitter of despicable behavior by the fans. Whether it was singing or yelping as European golfers were trying to hit or shouting obscenities to Rory McIlroy. It wasn’t everyone but it was definitely poor sportsmanship at its finest.
