What do Europe need to win Ryder Cup 2023? How many points are needed and what the all-time record is
After another dominant session on Saturday morning, Europe lead the United States by a score of 9.5 to 2.5 in the 2023 Ryder Cup.
That seven-point lead is a joint-record margin after three of five Ryder Cup sessions – equal to the Americans’ leads at this stage in 1967 and 1975.
It also means that with 16 points still up for grabs, the European contingent require just five more points to reach the all-important mark of 14.5 points needed to win back the Ryder Cup.
As it stands, Europe will fancy their chances to do just that over the final two sessions in Rome.
And they may even have in their sights the modern era record-winning margin of 19-9, which was remarkably just two years ago when the Americans thrashed Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021.
‘No mercy from Europe’
With world No 1 Scottie Scheffler reduced to tears following a record loss on Saturday morning, Rory McIlroy said the talk in the Europe team room had been about “showing no mercy” to the Americans.
“Last night we talked about enjoying what we did yesterday but coming out and showing no mercy today and the way Ludvig and Viktor and we started off set the tone,” McIlroy said, after he and playing partner Tommy Fleetwood racked up a 2&1 win over Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in their first foursomes match on day two in Rome.
Scheffler was pictured crying after he and playing partner Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner, were thrashed 9&7 by European duo Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in the Saturday morning foursomes.
It was the largest margin of defeat in an 18-hole match in the competition’s history, with the Americans failing to win a single hole and only breaking par once in the 11 played. The defeat also compounded the misery for the visiting team at Marco Simone after they ended the first day trailing 6.5-1.5.
It also came after Koepka vented his frustration after Friday’s play, accusing European linchpin Jon Rahm of acting “like a child” after a dramatic comeback victory in the fourballs.
Following their heavy loss to open the second day of this year’s Ryder Cup, both Scheffler and Koepka were sat out by American captain Zach Johnson for the afternoon fourballs.
Englishman Fleetwood said he was honoured to play with McIlroy, adding: “So many people on this planet dream of playing with Rory and I’ve been the one who’s had to do it the last two mornings and I’m happy to be along for the ride.
“There were a couple of hiccups here and there but we holed the putts when we needed to and Rory bailed me out on the last two there.”
What do Europe need to win Ryder Cup?
With a total of 28 points available over five sessions at the modern Ryder Cup, 14.5 is the tally required for an outright win – meaning Europe need five more points from a possible 16 in order to clinch victory in Rome.
Ryder Cup scores after fourballs on Saturday morning (30 September)
To notch an overall record win, surpassing the 10-point margin achieved in the USA’s 19-9 win last time out, Europe will need 10 more points over the final two sessions of competition.
On Saturday afternoon there are four points on offer in the foursomes, with the final 12 points up for grabs in Sunday’s singles.
In the increasingly unlikely event of an almighty American comeback and a 14-14 tie, the USA would retain the title as the reigning champions.
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