CHASKA, Minn. _ There was no wild celebration like Brookline in 1999. No gut-punch choke like Medinah in 2012.
The United States won the Ryder Cup on Sunday in a rout at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn., 17-11, thanks to steady play from its 12-member team that was simply deeper and more experienced than its European counterparts.
It was the biggest winning margin for the United States since 1981.
Ryan Moore, the final player to make captain David Love III's squad, came from behind to close out Lee Westwood 1-up in the seventh match of the afternoon.
That gave the Americans 15 points in the three-day spectacle _ a half-point more than needed to hoist the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 and just the third time since that wild day near Boston.
This time, when Moore's putt dropped to beat Westwood with all but three matches already finished the members of the U.S. delegation rose from their spots on the grass and clapped hands or hugged.
Ahead by three points to begin the day, the U.S. faced a front-loaded Sunday singles lineup from the Europeans. Rory McIlroy went out first against Ryan Moore and the two put on a show on the front nine, playing holes 5-8 in 9-under including a pair of yards-long putts on No. 8.
Reed wound up winning that match 1-up, Rickie Fowler upset Justin Rose 1-up and Phil Mickelson earned a halve with Sergio Garcia after the two combined to make 19 birdies.
It was a sign that this was going to be a day for the Americans.
It was, particularly in the back half of matches. The U.S. took five points in matches 7-12.
The scene on the 18th fairway was emotional, especially for Bubba Watson. The seventh-ranked player in the world was left off the U.S. team but named a vice captain early in the week.
The victory completed a two-year soul search for the Americans after they were routed in Gleneagles for a third straight defeat. They formed a task force to address the shortcomings and delivered an emphatic performance at Hazeltine.
