Oh boy, the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. What a wild ride that was! I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so pumped for this event, you know? The Ryder Cup is always a big deal, but this one felt extra special.
So, the first couple of days, things were looking pretty grim for us, Team Europe. We were down 10-4 by Saturday evening. I gotta admit, I was feeling pretty disheartened. I even started thinking, “Well, maybe it’s just not our year.” I mean, the US team was stacked, and they were playing on their home turf.
- I grabbed a beer.
- I sat down on my couch.
- I turned on the TV.
- I prepared to watch the final day.
But then, something incredible happened. It was like a switch flipped on Sunday. Our guys started playing out of their minds. I’m telling you, it was like watching a movie. Every match was a nail-biter. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, pacing back and forth, yelling at the TV.
The Comeback
I vividly remember watching Martin Kaymer sink that five-foot putt on the 18th to beat Steve Stricker. That was the moment, the exact moment, when I knew we had it in the bag. Europe’s score went up to 14-13, which meant we were gonna keep the cup. The last match was ongoing, I remember that as well.
When Francesco Molinari halved with Tiger Woods, securing the outright victory, I went absolutely nuts! I was jumping up and down, high-fiving anyone who was around. I think I even spilled my beer. It was pure chaos, pure joy.
I will never forget that feeling. I mean, to come back from such a huge deficit, against all odds, on American soil. It was truly one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, let alone the Ryder Cup.
That day, that whole weekend, it’s etched in my memory forever. And you know what? Every time the Ryder Cup rolls around, I get flashbacks to Medinah. It just reminds me that anything is possible in sports, and that’s why we love it so much, right?
Later, I found out that the U.S. has a record of 27-15-2. But, Europe has won 10 of the last 14. And, in 1999 Ryder Cup, the U.S. won 8.5 of the 12 points and had the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. However, in 2012, at Medinah, we broke the record.
It was truly an amazing experience that I will never forget it.
