Ryder Cup 2012: Breaking Down the Americans' Epic Collapse

The Europeans completed a historic comeback to win the 2012 Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, this year’s American team will have to live with their disappointing meltdown.

Leading 10-6 after the tournament’s first two days, the Europeans knew they could only emerge victorious if they equaled the incredible feat of the 1999 USA team. However, they would have to do it on foreign soil, whereas the Americans had a friendly home crowd spurring them on.

Facing impossible odds, the Europeans delivered one fine performance after another, and the United States failed to respond.

Here were the three key developments that led to the Americans’ defeat.

Momentum

When Ian Poulter defeated Webb Simpson to tie the score at 10 points apiece, the possibility of a comeback was all of a sudden very real for both sides.

This had an extremely powerful effect on the Europeans, and a devastating one on the Americans. So much of golf is mental that confidence is an invaluable asset, while doubt is a debilitating disadvantage.

Once the Europeans started taking point after point, the Americans’ strut became much less pronounced, and the momentum that was built up by the away team was impossible to stop.

The early surge was extremely beneficial to the Europeans, and this was crucial to the Americans’ collapse.

The 18th Hole 

Half of the singles matches played today were in doubt when the players stepped up to their tee shots on the 18th hole. The Americans went 1-5 in these situations, as noted by ESPN.com.

The Europeans did not blow out the Americans in each individual match during the singles round, but when a point was on the line, the United States representative shrunk while the visitor stood tall.

Whether it was overconfidence heading into the round or an inability to respond to the Europeans' surge, the Americans woefully underperformed late in their rounds.

These failures on the 18th hole were absolutely devastating for Team USA on Sunday.

Bad Luck 

In a game where centimeters are vastly important, players need luck on their side.

There were plenty of shots by the Americans that can be attributed to poor judgment or concentration. However, Fred Albers of PGATour.com notes that Jim Furyk’s putt that lipped out on the 16th hole and Phil Mickelson’s shot on the 17th hole—which came painfully close to dropping—were simply unlucky breaks. 

This tournament was decided by just a few shots, and the smallest shred of good fortune in a timely moment could have handed the Americans the Ryder Cup.

On some days, the ball just will not cooperate, and that was certainly the case for the Americans on Sunday.