One of the biggest challenges for Davis Love III after the 2012 Ryder Cup must have been stopping himself reflecting on all of the decisions which potentially led to the Miracle at Medinah.
For two days, the 2012 Ryder Cup could have hardly gone better for the Americans. Europe looked to be on the ropes in Chicago, finding themselves 10-4 down at one stage.
Of course, the visitors winning the final two matches out on the course on Saturday afternoon helped create a feeling that Jose Maria Olazabal‘s men still had a small chance.
But Europe would make the most of their opportunity. They won the top five matches on Sunday in the singles. And when Martin Kaymer holed his six foot putt on the 18th hole later on in the day, it confirmed that the Samuel Ryder trophy would be returning across the Atlantic.
The pin position which cost USA the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah
Some questioned Love III’s decision to rest Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson on Saturday afternoon. The pair had won all three of their matches until that point, including beating Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7&6 earlier on the second day.
But it was another decision which cost Team USA, according to Nicolas Colsaerts.
Colsaerts had stolen the show on Friday afternoon in his first Ryder Cup match. And speaking this week on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, the Belgian claimed that just one pin position on Sunday proved crucial in Europe’s victory.
“What happened on the Sunday as well, winning all the first games, and then when you look at how many things happened, a putt here, a putt there. The thing that is crazy is that if you look at the highlights of Sunday, if the pin position was different on 17, I guarantee you the US would have won, because they all had draw players, the wind was off the right, the pin was a long way right near the water and the bunker,” he said.
“If the pin was in the middle of the green, the US would’ve won. And so sometimes it tells you how a little detail makes a difference in a competition like the Ryder Cup.”
The European players who won their matches on Medinah’s 17th hole at the 2012 Ryder Cup
Both Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy won their matches on the 17th green, while many will remember the incredible putt Justin Rose holed in his epic duel with Phil Mickelson. Mickelson very nearly chipped in after a stunning effort on the same hole.
Just three matches – including Colsaerts’ loss to Dustin Johnson – did not pass through the par three over the water.
It is truly remarkable how well Europe played on Sunday. There was certainly little hint of what was to come when they found themselves 8-4 down after the first three sessions.
For those of us who will never know the feeling of hitting a shot in the Ryder Cup, it feels too simple to say that one pin position cost the USA.
It really felt as though Europe were never going to allow themselves to get beaten on that Sunday.
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