World No1 Scottie Scheffler admitted his Ryder Cup nightmare was among the darkest moments of his professional life, after a bruising week that saw him lose all four of his opening matches on home soil.
The American star arrived at Bethpage Black as the nation’s standout, coming off a great PGA Tour season in which he captured six titles and posted 17 top-10 finishes.
Yet, instead of leading by example, Scheffler slipped into unwanted history as the first US player ever to begin a Ryder Cup with four straight defeats. His losing streak stretched to eight consecutive matches in the competition before he beat Rory McIlory in the Singles on Sunday.
The emotional toll was obvious, with Scheffler openly admitting how badly the experience had been for him.
“I can’t tell you how much I needed these guys this week,” he said as he pointed to his USA teammates.
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Scottie Scheffler had an uncharacteristic Ryder Cup
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“These guys picked me up when I needed it last night. It’s been one of the lowest points of my career, but because of them it turned into something meaningful.”
That sense of solidarity became a lifeline for the 28-year-old, whose confidence had been rocked by repeated defeats.
His teammates rallied behind him, offering encouragement and perspective at a time when the Ryder Cup spotlight felt unbearably harsh.
Scheffler’s fortunes finally shifted on Sunday, and in the most high-profile of circumstances. Drawn against Rory McIlroy, the world No2, he delivered a gritty singles victory in what was the first Ryder Cup clash between the two top-ranked players.
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Scottie Scheffler was able to win the Singles against Rory McIlory on Sunday
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Trailing with seven holes to play, Scheffler clawed back momentum by winning two of the next three. His decisive blow came at the 14th, where he seized a lead he refused to surrender.
The narrow 1-up win was not enough to swing the contest overall, but it contributed to a spirited American fightback before Europe closed out a 15–13 victory.
Scheffler acknowledged the physical and mental strain of playing in all five sessions, calling the week “a grind” and admitting fatigue had played its part.
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He was quick to praise Bradley and the vice-captains for guiding the team through difficult moments. “Keegan has been amazing,” he said. “All of our vice-captains have been great.”
He also credited the energy provided by teammates earlier in the singles session, particularly Cameron Young, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau. The latter, Scheffler noted, had been “the emotional leader of our team” during a week when morale was often fragile.
Scottie Scheffler praised his teammates for helping him regroup for the Sunday singles
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Looking back, Scheffler reflected on the swings of fortune that defined the contest. “When I go back and look at the first couple days, at times it felt like a perfect storm of things were happening against us,” he said.
“Today, we finally had some stuff that seemed to go right.”