Team Europe, under the leadership of Rolex Testimonee Luke Donald, secured a hard-fought triumph on U.S. soil, reaffirming their recent dominance in the game's greatest rivalry. Across three days of gripping match-play on Long Island’s notoriously demanding course, Bethpage Black, 24 of the game’s elite golfers battled for supremacy in one of the sport's most anticipated showdowns. In the face of fierce resistance from the home side, Europe rose to the occasion and secured The Ryder Cup once more, ensuring that the coveted Samuel Ryder Trophy travels back across the Atlantic with them.

The Ryder Cup has always embodied golf at its purest — a test of skill, resilience, and unity — and the 2025 edition at Bethpage Black was no exception. Europe and the United States delivered three days of unforgettable theatre on one of golf's most demanding stages. From the intensity of the opening tee shots to the pressure-packed singles on Sunday, the contest showcased why this biennial event remains the pinnacle of men’s team golf and one of the most watched international sporting contests.

This triumph carried historic weight, marking just the fifth occasion in Ryder Cup history that Team Europe has managed to prevail on U.S. soil — a feat regarded as one of the toughest challenges in sport. For Donald, it was a crowning achievement that etched his name alongside two fellow Rolex Testimonees, Bernhard Langer in 2004, and José María Olazábal in 2012, as the only European captains this century to mastermind victory away from home. The accomplishment underscores not only Donald’s tactical acumen and steady leadership, but also the unwavering team spirit and mental fortitude of his players in overcoming the roaring crowds and the unforgiving test of Bethpage Black.

In a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Team Europe produced a supreme all-round performance to secure a momentous 15–13 victory over the United States. The visitors made a fast start on Friday, taking control of the opening foursomes and carrying a 5½–2½ lead by the end of the day. Continuing their spirited performance on Saturday, Donald's side built a commanding 11½–4½ advantage heading into the final day, before remarkable events unfolded on Sunday, where the United States mounted a valiant comeback, securing a record-equalling points tally in Ryder Cup singles history, but ultimately, their efforts were in vain. Europe held their nerve in the decisive matches to seal a famous away win.

With this victory, Donald becomes only the second captain in history to win consecutive Ryder Cups, having overseen the emphatic victory at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy in 2023. Commenting after the conclusion of play at Bethpage Black, Donald spoke of his pride for his players and what The Ryder Cup means to him: "Ryder Cup weeks are the best weeks of our lives. We talk about this all the time. Those individual accolades are fun. Individually, we want to achieve as much as we can. But I think those weeks we spend together are the ones we remember the most and the ones we cherish the most because of the time we get to spend with each other. That's a big part of my captaincy is to create an environment where these guys are having the best weeks of their lives, honestly. We'll always remember this. We'll always go down in history. We talk about all the people that came before us that paved the way for us. Now, future generations will talk about this team tonight and what they did and how they were able to overcome one of the toughest environments in all of sport."

Building on the success of 2023, Donald reappointed fellow Rolex Testimonees Thomas Bjørn, Francesco Molinari and José María Olazábal as his vice-captains, and their combined experience played a key role in guiding Europe to glory. Donald is part of an exclusive group of Testimonees to have led their side to victory at The Ryder Cup, which includes Arnold Palmer (1963, 1975), Jack Nicklaus (1983), Tom Watson (1993), Bernhard Langer (2004), Olazábal (2012), Paul McGinley (2014) and Bjørn (2018).

Continuing his remarkable form in The Ryder Cup, Jon Rahm secured three valuable points for the European side, once again proving himself to be a talisman in the team format and adding to his storied history with the competition. Reflecting on Donald's leadership and captaincy style, Rahm said: "The level of professionalism he's shown us over the last four years, his attention to detail in his post and his knowledge of Ryder Cup and the game and what we do on the golf course day in can day out is what made these last two Ryder Cups possible. He is the captain of this ship, and he's led us better than I can see anybody leading us. He set the bar extremely high for the future captains."

Other members of the Rolex family representing Team Europe included Ludvig Åberg, whose vital point on Sunday proved decisive in the final outcome, along with Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick, the latter featuring in a thrilling singles showdown against fellow Testimonee Bryson DeChambeau.

Despite the outcome, U.S. Team captain and Rolex Testimonee Keegan Bradley was proud of his side's spirit and resolute attitude. Bradley said: "These guys are really an incredible group. They played the last two days when we were way down. You wouldn't have known we were way down. They looked like they were battling. Their body language was good. They were pumping up the crowd. They were fighting the whole way, even when things were not looking good, and I didn't expect anything different today than these guys who are determined, proud, and playing for each other, playing for their team, playing for their country, and they showed the world today that, really, anything is possible. That was a coin flip there for a second. I've never been more proud of anything in my life."

Few sporting events capture the imagination quite like The Ryder Cup, where generations of golfers unite and fierce international rivalry fuels three unforgettable days of drama. At its core, the contest celebrates collective spirit, integrity, and respect — qualities that mirror Rolex’s own philosophy. The Swiss watchmaker’s association with this celebrated spectacle stretches back almost 60 years, beginning in 1995 with Rolex serving as Official Timekeeper for Team Europe. This association has evolved into a global partnership that now spans every edition of the Ryder Cup, on both sides of the Atlantic, and Rolex also lends its support to the qualification journey as Presenting Partner of the Ryder Cup Points Standings. At the 45th Ryder Cup, Rolex clocks complemented the striking landscape of Bethpage Black, blending seamlessly with the course’s undulating terrain, rugged beauty and demanding layout.

In 2027, The Ryder Cup will return to Ireland for the first time in more than two decades, hosted at the prestigious Adare Manor Golf Club in County Limerick. Set within the sweeping 840-acre grounds of the historic 19th-century Adare Manor, the course has earned international acclaim for its impeccable conditioning, strategic design, and seamless integration with the natural landscape, offering players a world-class challenge in one of golf’s most iconic settings. As anticipation builds, Team Europe will arrive in Ireland with their sights set on claiming a third consecutive Ryder Cup victory — a feat not accomplished since 2014.