Ryder Cup hero Shane Lowry opens up on the 'hardest couple of hours of my whole life'

The Irishman, who has long spoken of his passion for the competition, described the moment as one of the proudest of his career after holding his nerve on the final green at Bethpage Black to deny the United States an improbable comeback.

Europe, who began the final day with a record seven-point lead, looked set for a comfortable defence of the trophy, but Keegan Bradley's side stormed back by collecting four-and-a-half points from the opening six singles matches to set up a tense finale.

Lowry, trailing one down to Russell Henley, produced the decisive moment when he rolled in a nerveless seven-foot putt at the last, sparking wild celebrations from his team-mates and ensuring Europe could not be beaten.

"I mean, I've been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game," said Lowry, who celebrated his decisive putt before bursting into tears.

"That was the hardest couple of hours of my whole life, honestly. I just can't believe that putt went in."

Drained after three gruelling days in a hostile atmosphere, Lowry admitted he turned to his caddie on the walk up the 18th and said: "I have a chance to do the coolest thing in my life here."

"The Ryder Cup means everything to me," he added. "Honestly, I've won The Open in Ireland; it's amazing, it's a dream come true. But the Ryder Cup for me is everything.

"To do that there today on the 18th green in front of everyone... it was so hard out there.

"I mean, fair play to the U.S. lads; we knew they were going to come out fighting."

Lowry, featuring in his third Ryder Cup after experiencing defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021 and triumph in Rome in 2023, went on to say of Donald:  "He's the greatest captain I think that's ever lived. He's the most amazing man in the world. Honestly, he's done the best job."

Lowry's Ryder Cup heroics sees him join other Irishmen who have achieved similar feats, including Paul McGinley at The Belfry in 2002, Darren Clarke at The K Club in 2006 and Graeme McDowell in 2010 at Celtic Manor.

"You think back to the Irish greats in the game, they have all holed putts to win the Ryder Cup and I got my moment today," he said.