The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas-Ex Leonard, Americans seize Ryder Cup
09.22.2008 | Men's Golf
Sept. 22, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Texas-Ex Justin Leonard and Team USA finished off a nearly wire-to-wire victory Sunday at The 2008 Ryder Cup, as the Americans topped Team Europe by a 16.5-11.5 margin at Valhalla Golf Club.
The United States captured The Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999, when Leonard sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole of his match against Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal to clinch the Cup for the Americans.
Leonard posted a 1-0-1 mark in foursomes, a 1-0 mark in fourball play and an 0-1 mark in singles play at The 2008 Ryder Cup. Leonard teamed up with fellow Texan Hunter Mahan to score a 3 and 2 victory over Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey in Friday's morning foursomes before registering a 4 and 3 win over Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez in Friday's afternoon fourball play.
Leonard and Mahan halved their foursome match on Saturday against Jimenez and Graeme McDowell. Leonard suffered a 5 and 3 defeat to Robert Karlsson during Sunday's singles action.
