Europe successfully retained the Ryder Cup last month at Bethpage Black, with Shane Lowry securing the win by sinking a six-foot birdie putt on his final hole against Russell Henley.
Since making his debut at Whistling Straits in 2021, Lowry has become a key figure for Europe in the Ryder Cup.
This year, the 38-year-old delivered one more time when Luke Donald and his side needed it most.
As Henley missed his putt, Lowry rolled his in, halting the American momentum and giving Europe exactly what they needed from the Sunday singles.
Lowry and Rory McIlroy both took some heat from fans during that week.
But the way he handled it all, especially with how he played on Sunday, spoke volumes about his mental strength.
Shane Lowry’s Ryder Cup admission highlights key difference between US and Europe
After sinking his putt on the final hole at Bethpage, Lowry admitted how much the moment meant to him.
“I mean, I’ve been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game. That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life, honestly. I just can’t believe that putt went in,” he began by saying.
“The Ryder Cup means everything to me. Honestly, I’ve won The Open in Ireland; it’s amazing, it’s a dream come true. But the Ryder Cup for me is everything.
“To do that there today on the 18th green in front of everyone…it was so hard out there.”
Trey Wingo discussed the US team’s failure to win at Bethpage Black on his Straight Facts Homie Podcast.
And he pointed out how something Lowry said after holing the putt that secured Europe’s retention of the trophy shows exactly what makes Team Europe so difficult to beat.
“It does mean more to them, I don’t care what anybody says, it does mean more to them.
“You’re not going to hear a US player say I would give up a major championship to secure the winning putt for the Ryder Cup, which is basically an exhibition. It’s the coolest, most hostile and competitive exhibition there is, maybe in all of sport.
“But would any American player say what Shane Lowry said? ‘I have won The Open in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and this means more to me, this means more to me’. I don’t think there is an American player who would say that.”
Brandel Chamblee offers view on why the Ryder Cup carries more weight in Europe
Brandel Chamblee has offered his perspective on why Europe came out on top at Bethpage Black, pointing to a deeper difference in approach between the two sides.
Chamblee even suggested that the Americans were beaten before play had started, referencing the controversy around players seeking payment to participate.
“The US gave us all a helluva show today and took what was inconceivable and made it look possible. But the reason I think they were so far behind after two days is that they were distracted by the negative response to them pushing to get paid to play in the Ryder Cup and I think that rallied Europe around the common bond of playing for pride and not profit,” said the commentator.
The compensation received by American players highlights the differing perspectives of each side regarding the competition.
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