The Miracle at Brookline: How the USA Won the 1999 Ryder Cup
Trailing Europe 10-6, the USA took 8.5 points in Sunday singles to win 14.5-13.5. Justin Leonard’s match with José María Olazábal ended in a half.
Players Mentioned
The United States won the 1999 Ryder Cup 14.5-13.5 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. On September 26, Ben Crenshaw’s team overturned a 10-6 deficit by taking 8.5 of the 12 Sunday singles points: eight wins, three losses and one half. Mark James captained Europe. PGA of America’s comeback history
The Sunday singles results
The Americans won the first six matches in the singles order. Steve Pate and Jim Furyk also won, while Pádraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie took Europe’s three victories.
| USA player | Europe player | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Lehman | Lee Westwood | Lehman won 3&2 |
| Hal Sutton | Darren Clarke | Sutton won 4&2 |
| Phil Mickelson | Jarmo Sandelin | Mickelson won 4&3 |
| Davis Love III | Jean van de Velde | Love won 6&5 |
| Tiger Woods | Andrew Coltart | Woods won 3&2 |
| David Duval | Jesper Parnevik | Duval won 5&4 |
| Mark O’Meara | Pádraig Harrington | Harrington won 1UP |
| Steve Pate | Miguel Ángel Jiménez | Pate won 2&1 |
| Justin Leonard | José María Olazábal | Halved |
| Payne Stewart | Colin Montgomerie | Montgomerie won 1UP |
| Jim Furyk | Sergio García | Furyk won 4&3 |
| Jeff Maggert | Paul Lawrie | Lawrie won 4&3 |
Leonard’s putt secured the decisive half-point
Leonard had trailed Olazábal by four holes with seven to play before bringing the match level. His 45-foot birdie putt at the 17th gave him the lead after Olazábal missed his own birdie attempt. That guaranteed the half-point the United States needed to win the Cup. Olazábal won the final hole, leaving their match tied. PGA of America’s 2012 media guide
American players and members of their entourage rushed onto the 17th green before Olazábal had putted. The premature celebration became a lasting controversy surrounding the victory. Golf Compendium
The four-point comeback set a Ryder Cup record. Europe matched it at Medinah in 2012, also turning a 10-6 deficit into a 14.5-13.5 win. Sky Sports
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