Greatest Duels: The Most Unforgettable Sunday Singles Matches in Ryder Cup History
From 'The Concession' to the duel at Hazeltine, the Sunday Singles have produced the most legendary moments in golf. We relive the most dramatic one-on-one showdowns in Ryder Cup history.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The Ryder Cup is a team event, but it is decided by 12 individual battles. The Sunday Singles session is the ultimate crucible of pressure in golf, where team fate rests on individual shoulders. It is where legends are born and history is written. As the players at Bethpage prepare for their duels, we look back at some of the greatest singles matches ever contested.
1969: 'The Concession' – Jack Nicklaus vs. Tony Jacklin
At Royal Birkdale, the entire Ryder Cup came down to the final match. On the 18th green, American legend Jack Nicklaus holed his four-foot putt. His opponent, Tony Jacklin, was left with a tricky two-footer to tie the match. A miss would mean an outright U.S. victory. In an act of sportsmanship that would define the spirit of the Ryder Cup, Nicklaus picked up Jacklin's marker, conceding the putt. The gesture resulted in the first-ever tie in Ryder Cup history. Nicklaus told him, "I don't think you would have missed it, but I wasn't going to give you the chance, either." It remains the event's most iconic moment.
1999: The Comeback Putt – Justin Leonard vs. José María Olazábal
The climax of Team USA's historic comeback at Brookline came down to this match. To clinch the cup, Justin Leonard needed to win a half-point against the Spanish stalwart. On the 17th green, Leonard drained an astonishing 45-foot bomb of a putt for birdie. The American players and crowd erupted in celebration, a controversial moment as Olazábal still had his own putt to attempt. The moment, however, encapsulated the raw emotion of the American victory and is one of the most famous putts in golf history.
2016: The Duel at Hazeltine – Patrick Reed vs. Rory McIlroy
This was the benchmark for modern singles warfare. Two of the game's most passionate and talented Ryder Cup players went head-to-head in the opening match of the day. For eight electrifying holes, they traded spectacular birdies and explosive, roaring celebrations, including Reed famously shushing the European fans. Reed ultimately won the match 1 UP, setting a defiant tone for Team USA's dominant home victory. It was a masterclass in high-level, emotional match play that will be remembered forever.
Today, 24 more Ryder Cup players will step into the arena, each with a chance to write their own name into this illustrious history.
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