The Americans won back the Ryder Cup and perhaps a whole lot more Sunday, sending a strong message to Europe with a powerful performance from their youngest team in history.<\/b>
\nSHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) \u2014 The Americans won back the Ryder Cup and perhaps a whole lot more Sunday, sending a strong message to Europe with a powerful performance from their youngest team in history. Scottie Scheffler, one of six Ryder Cup newcomers for the Americans, took down the No.1 player in the world with a 4-and-3 victory over Jon Rahm as the scoreboards around Whistling Straits quickly filled with American red. The final blow came from Collin Morikawa, at 24 the youngest player on the team and already a two-time major champion. He holed a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that assured the Americans at least the 14 1\/2 points they needed. The celebration was on, even as the American were still keeping score. \u201cI woke up this morning and I was trying to tell the guys, \u2018Let\u2019s get to 20 points,\u2019 because this is going to be the next era of Ryder Cup team for the U.S. side,\u201d Patrick Cantlay said, finishing an unbeaten week with a win over Shane Lowry. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of young guys. I think they\u2019re going to be on teams for a long time, and I wanted to send a message.\u201d With two matches still on the course, the Americans already were assured of their most lopsided victory over Europe. Tony Finau had said on the eve of these matches that this was \u201cthe big one\u201d because Europe had won nine of the last 12, and the Americans had so many fresh faces without any lasting scars from watching Europe celebrate so much over the years. The big one became one big rout. The gallery saved one of its loudest cheers for U.S. captain Steve Stricker, the Wisconsin native who has been at the helm of blowouts in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. \u201cThis is a new era for USA golf,\u201d Stricker said. \u201cThey are young. They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good.\u201d The old guy \u2014 Dustin Johnson at 37 \u2014 was pretty good, too. Johnson became the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 to go 5-0, completing his perfect week by beating Paul Casey. The Americans were young, yes, and very good, with four of the top five in the world ranking. They finally played like it. Those four players \u2014 Johnson, Morikawa, Cantlay and Xander Schauffele \u2014 combined for a 14-1-2 record. Stricker wasn\u2019t the only one in tears. Rory McIlroy, who failed to win any of his three team matches, led Europe off again and gave Schauffele his first loss of the week. It wasn\u2019t nearly enough. All day along the shores of Lake Michigan, the outcome was inevitable. McIlroy teared up in his interview when talking about how much the Ryder Cup means to him. \u201cI\u2019ve never really cried or got emotional over what I\u2019ve done as an individual. I couldn\u2019t give an (expletive),\u201d he said on NBC. \u201cBut this team\u2026 to see Sergio (Garcia) break records, to see Jon Rahm come into his own this week, to see one of my best friends, Shane Lowry, make his Ryder Cup debut, all that. It\u2019s phenomenal. \u201cI\u2019m disappointed that I didn\u2019t contribute more this week,\u201d he said. \u201cBut in two years\u2019 time, we\u2019ll go again and give it another so. Sorry for swearing, as well.\u201d As much as this was about a new generation of Americans, this looked to be an aging team of Europeans. They brought winning experience, but not nearly enough form. Paul Casey, one of four Europeans in his 40s, failed to earn a point in four matches this week. Ian Poulter beat Finau and remains unbeaten in singles in his six Ryder Cups. He crouched on the 16th green after winning his match, wondering if this might be his last one. His thoughts also turned to Padraig Harrington, the European captain. \u201cThis is going to be hard, because Paddy is going to be questioned, and that\u2019s not fair,\u201d Poulter said. There was little Europe could have done. This U.S. team was loaded and played like it. \u201cThey had a mission this week,\u201d Stricker said. \u201cYou could tell.\u201d The next step is winning on the road, which the Americans haven\u2019t done since 1993. Europe still has an 11-9-1 advantage since the Ryder Cup was expanded in 1979 to include the continent. Related Articles Ryder Cup: Dustin Johnson is first American since 1979 to go 4-0 in team play\t Ryder Cup: Team USA has biggest Day 1 lead since 1975\t Ryder Cup: Team USA prepares for the \u2018big one\u2019 at home\t Ryder Cup: Team USA seeks answers to why Europe keeps winning\t Ryder Cup: Bryson DeChambeau stands out even as he puts emphasis on Team USA<\/p>\n