Ranked: Every player at the 2018 Ryder Cup

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There's only one Molinari
  • Post published:October 1, 2018

Every player ranked in order of their performance at the Ryder Cup as Europe regained the trophy following a 17.5-10.5 win over the USA.

TEAM EUROPE

1. Francesco Molinari

Easily his side’s No 1 as he claimed the most points by a European in a single event. Took down Tiger Woods at the Open and then a few more times this week. Course suited him perfectly.

2. Tommy Fleetwood

Would someone tell Tommy he was a rookie and the event is supposed to overawe him? The Englishman is the new cult hero and one part of ‘Moliwood’. This could spur him on to greater personal achievements even if he was drubbed by Tony Finau on Sunday.

3. Henrik Stenson

Anyone else notice he went 3-0 this week? Only required to play the foursomes – which can’t be easy to get into a rhythm – and won both before a crucial role in putting up blue in his singles at a time when the US were trying to make a late comeback.

4. Sergio Garcia

What a week for the Spaniard who shone as a captain’s pick with just one loss from four matches. Now Europe’s all-time leading scorer.

5. Ian Poulter

He left it late but still delivered with the bulging eyes, furious chest thumps and a singles win over Dustin Johnson. Now only one of them has never been beaten in Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup.

6. Paul Casey

One and a half points from three matches but the Englishman vindicated his selection. His late flurry in a losing cause early on Friday helped Tyrrell Hatton to a win on Saturday in the same format. His half point against Brooks Koepka was monumental with plenty of red at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.

7. Alex Noren

Two points on debut and a role in the side’s Friday foursomes whitewash before capping the victory off with a length putt against DeChambeau to start the party all over again.

8. Justin Rose

Two points from four isn’t the type of week you would’ve tipped Rose to have. His partnership with Stenson continues to thrive but let a point slip early on Friday after losing two of the last three holes. Wiped off the course by Webb Simpson on Sunday too.

9. Thorbjorn Olesen

Arguably could be higher on the list despite a disappointing loss in his only team match on Friday morning. There he was left high and dry by an indifferent McIlroy. Showed his best stuff with a rousing display in relegating Jordan Spieth to another competitive singles loss. How would the momentum have swung had the US side seen Spieth 4- or 5-up against the Dane?

10. Jon Rahm

One point from three but it was a massive one as he beat his idol Tiger Woods. Two fourballs losses (with Rose and Poulter for partners) means it was a less than ideal start to his career.

11. Tyrrell Hatton

The weak link in the team got out there three times and bagged a single point. His putter wasn’t as clinical as it can be.

12. Rory McIlroy

Two points from five isn’t the return you’d expect from the team’s heartbeat. Battled his putter all week and ended rather comically with two in the bunker on the 18th with the game all-square against Justin Thomas.

TEAM USA

1. Justin Thomas

Far and away the best player. And on debut. His partnership with Spieth was excellent and set to continue for many years to come.

2. Webb Simpson

Bagged a win with Bubba Watson in the foursomes (over Garcia-Noren) and then was near faultless in his win over Rose on Sunday to help his side’s push for momentum.

3. Tony Finau

Decent debut with two points from three including smashing Fleetwood on Sunday.

4. Brooks Koepka

Just a single point from three matches before his halved singles match against Casey. Like many of the big guns, he didn’t fire.

5. Jordan Spieth

Loses a few spots despite returning three points from a possible five after a mauling at the hands of Danish rookie Olesen.

6. Bubba Watson

Just because he’s ranked No 6 from 12 doesn’t mean he was good. His style and attitude limit his captain’s options in team format. One point alongside Simpson in foursomes.

7. Patrick Reed

Captain America? Where are you? A singles win helped him off bottom of this pile but the fallout from his split with Spieth continues.

8. Dustin Johnson

The world No 1 returned one point from five matches and lost his unbeaten record in singles.

9. Rickie Fowler

His poor team run continues and failed against Garcia.

10. Bryson DeChambeau

Struggled on debut before a late fight in the singles. Denied something by a wonder putt by Noren on the 18th.

11. Phil Mickelson

Almost certainly his last Ryder Cup and was abysmal. No points from two matches after sitting out Saturday.

12. Tiger Woods

No points from four matches. Look soured. Bad week.