Europe retained the Ryder Cup. Team USA took a swing at immortality. 

After spending the first two days at Bethpage Black getting humiliated in their homeland — before a crowd widely condemned for bad behavior — the Americans found their pride on the final day of the 45th Ryder Cup, stringing together a series of stirring performances that brought out the best of an electric New York crowd. The U.S. limited the Europeans to just one win across 11 singles matches, but ultimately could not overcome a seven-point deficit built up over the first two days, losing 15-13 to become the first team to fall at home since 2012. 

“The boys really fought,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said. “That was incredible. They were fighting the whole way, even when things were not looking good, and I didn’t expect anything different [from] these guys who are determined, proud and playing for each other, playing for their team, playing for their country, and they showed the world today that really anything is possible. That was a coin flip there for a second. 

“We were this close to doing this.” 

Facing the largest Sunday deficit under the current format (since 1979) — and in danger of suffering the worst home loss in the 98-year history of the event — the U.S. nearly pulled off a miracle, claiming 5½ out of the first seven points — and tying a Ryder Cup record with 8½ singles points — before Shane Lowry’s cup-clinching 6-foot putt on the 18th hole crushed all hope, coming just after Russell Henley missed an 8-footer to win the match. 

“I definitely felt the nerves coming down the stretch,” said Henley, who also left a putt short on 17. “I’ve never felt nerves quite like that. It was quite an experience, quite an atmosphere. Very disappointed the way I finished, leaving those putts short.” 

The quest to complete what would have been by far the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history became more difficult — and ultimately consequential — when Europe’s Viktor Hovland withdrew from play with a neck injury, resulting in both teams earning a half point. Europe needed to claim only 1½ of the final day’s 11 points at stake. 

Long before the U.S. rally, the home crowd was surprisingly positive and largely PG — taking it easy on Rory McIlroy, mostly sticking to dad jokes and “Caddyshack” references — celebrating the smallest victories. A half-hearted “I believe that we can win” chant on the 12th hole was quickly slapped down by a strong European response — “I believe in Santa Claus” — reminding the crowd of its delusional dream. 

“It’s obvious that it was an extreme long shot,” Justin Thomas said. “We’d be stupid to sit here, all of us thinking this is going to happen. We know it could, but we just wanted to come out and battle, and that’s what we did.” 

Then, math cowered to momentum. 

Cam Young continued his stretch as the top U.S. player, claiming his third point of his first Ryder Cup with a birdie on the 18th hole to finish 1-up over Justin Rose. Justin Thomas also hit a tiebreaking putt on 18, defeating red-hot Tommy Fleetwood. Xander Schauffele dominated Jon Rahm (4 & 3). Bryson DeChambeau recovered from a five-hole deficit to finish square with Matt Fitzpatrick. Scottie Scheffler won the headlining bout against McIlroy 1-up. 

“Obviously, it was hard not to peek when there were some ‘U-S-A’ chants ripping through the property,” Schauffele said. “But for the most part, [Bradley’s] message to us was to focus on our point.” 

Even after Ludvig Åberg put the Europeans within a half point of the cup — defeating Patrick Cantlay (2 & 1) — the Americans were even or ahead in the four remaining matches, trailing 13½ to 10½. 

The U.S. players who finally showed up stood together off the 18th green, in front of the 5,000-seat grandstand dominated by red, white and blue, convinced they were to join the 2004 Red Sox and 28-3 Patriots in the class of the greatest comebacks in sports history. 

“Everything had to happen exactly that way for them to win,” Bradley said. “And it was looking for a second like it was happening.” 

Until Henley missed, and Lowry — who cursed at fans the previous day — shouldered the weight of a continent. 

“That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life,” Lowry said. “I can’t believe that ball went in. … Walking down 18, I said, ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing of my life here.’ ” 

America did, too. 

Immortality, inches away.