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The Ryder Cup, golf’s biggest team competition, ended in a very close win for Team Europe on Sunday.
Europe beat the U.S. with a final score of 15 to 13. The victory on the final day was an exciting surprise.
Europe only needed to get two wins from the 11 matches on Sunday to defend the Cup. But the U.S. team played very well and fought hard until the end. Europe’s captain, Luke Donald, said the last 12 hours were the most stressful of his life. He said the U.S. team was much tougher than he expected.
The U.S. team began the day by winning the first two matches. They quickly won more points, and made the score close. The U.S. captain, Keegan Bradley, said that the comeback showed that “anything is possible.” However, the U.S. success came too late in the competition.
The tension finally ended with two key matches. First, Shane Lowry from Ireland tied his match against Russell Henley. This half-point brought Europe to 14 points. With 14 points, Europe was guaranteed to keep the Ryder Cup that they won two years ago in Rome. Lowry was very proud.
After, Tyrrell Hatton from England secured the Ryder Cup victory. He got another half-point from his match with Collin Morikawa. This made Europe’s score 14.5 points, which was enough to win the Ryder Cup. Hatton called it one of the hardest days he had ever played.
This is Europe’s 11th victory in the last 15 Ryder Cups. It is also the fifth time they have won the competition when it was held in the United States.
Vocabulary
- Competition – contest; game to find the best or a winner; tournament
- Close – a very small difference in the score between the two teams; the score is almost the same; either team can win
- Beat – to defeat an opponent or win a competition; to win a match/game against another person/team; to complete a game successfully
- Victory – win; success; achievement; triumph
- Surprise – unexpected event; something that causes sudden excitement
- Match – game; a game or contest between two teams or people where they try to win by playing a sport
- Defend a cup – To win a trophy/cup/tournament again after your team won it the time before
- Cup – A special trophy given to the team that wins a big game or tournament; a tournament; 🏆
- Fight hard – To try your best until the game is finished
- Captain – a player that is the leader of the team/players on the sports field
- Tough – Difficult to do or deal with; hard; not easy
- Expected – Thinking that something is likely to happen; anticipated; likely
- Point – A unit of scoring in a game or sports league; A score in a game or competition;
- Comeback – when a team that was losing at the beginning of a game wins the game; To recover from a defeat or disadvantage
- Success – The achievement of a goal; getting the results wanted or hoped for; to complete something well; to do a good job
- Tension – A feeling of worry and excitement
- Tie – To have the same score or result as someone else; when two teams in a game have the same score
- Guarantee – To promise that something will happen; to make certain that something happens
- Keep – hold onto something and not let it go; to save; to store something
- Proud – feeling pleased and satisfied with one’s achievements or possessions; to feel good about yourself
- Secure – To make sure you get or win something important
- Enough – Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Hold – to organize; to arrange; to have an event; host
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Captain Luke Donald called the final day “the most stressful 12 hours of my life.” Why do you think leadership roles in sports are so stressful?
- If you were a sports fan, would you be happier if your team won easily, or would you prefer a very close, exciting victory like this one? Explain your choice.
- The Ryder Cup is golf’s “biggest team competition.” Why do you think team events in individual sports (like golf) are sometimes popular?
- Tyrrell Hatton said the final day was one of the hardest he had ever played. How important do you think mental strength is when a sports competition is very close?
- Europe has won 11 of the last 15 Ryder Cups. What might be the reason for one team winning a competition so often over many years?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
The Ryder Cup, golf’s _____ team competition, ended in a very close win for Team Europe _____ Sunday.
Europe beat the U.S. _____ a final score of 15 to _____. The victory on the final day was an exciting surprise.
_____ only needed to get two wins from the 11 matches on _____ to defend the Cup. But the U.S. team _____ very well and fought hard until the end. Europe’s _____, Luke Donald, said the last 12 hours were the most stressful of his _____. He said the U.S. team was much tougher than he _____.
The U.S. team began the _____ by winning the first two matches. They quickly won more _____, and made the score close. The U.S. captain, Keegan Bradley, _____ that the comeback showed that “anything is possible.” However, the U.S. _____ came too late in the competition.
The tension _____ ended with two key matches. First, Shane Lowry from Ireland tied his _____ against Russell Henley. _____ half-point brought Europe to 14 points. With _____ points, Europe was guaranteed to keep the Ryder Cup that _____ won two years ago in Rome. Lowry was very _____.
After, Tyrrell Hatton _____ England secured the Ryder Cup victory. He _____ another half-point from his match with Collin Morikawa. This _____ Europe’s score 14.5 points, which was enough to _____ the Ryder Cup. Hatton called it one of the _____ days he had ever played.
This is Europe’s _____ victory in the last 15 Ryder Cups. It is also the fifth time they _____ won the competition when it was held in _____ United States.
