World No 1 Scottie Scheffler was reduced to tears after suffering a humiliating record defeat at the Ryder Cup as America’s misery continued on the second day in Rome.
Scheffler was seen crying on the back of a golf cart after he and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka crashed to a 9&7 defeat to European pair Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in Saturday’s foursomes.
The hammering came after the pair slumped to an insurmountable nine-shot deficit with just seven holes left to play – the largest margin of victory in any 18-hole match in the history of the event.
Scheffler was consoled by his wife Meredith and tried to conceal his tears by pulling down his cap and rubbing his eyes. He was then dropped for the afternoon fourballs by US captain Zach Johnson.
That result extended Europe’s opening-day lead of 6.5-1.5 by a further point.
Scottie Scheffler was reduced to tears after suffering a humiliating 9&7 defeat alongside Brooks Koepka to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in the Ryder Cup foursomes
It was a record defeat in Ryder Cup foursomes over 18 holes as America’s misery continued
Scheffler’s wife Meredith tried to comfort him as they sat on a golf cart amid the crowds
The United States finally got on the board after Friday’s lockout as Max Homa and Brian Harman defeated Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4&2.
But Europe then took their advantage to 8.5-2.5 as Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood beat Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth 2&1.
Scheffler and Koepka were blown away in their foursome match as Hovland and Aberg won each of the first three holes before Aberg almost made a hole-in-one on the fourth.
Another birdie on the sixth took the European pair five up and with the Americans again struggling to find any kind of rhythm, it was only a matter of time before the contest was wrapped up.
Justin Thomas was filmed saying ‘9&7’ in disbelief to his caddy after finding out the result while out on the course.
‘Today was quite surreal at times,’ said Aberg, who only turned professional in June.
Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland celebrated victory after just 11 holes in the foursomes
The scoreboard revealed the extent of American misery on the second day in Rome
But there was very much a contrasting emotion for world No 1 Scheffler after the huge loss
‘I had to almost pinch myself a little bit.’
The previous largest margin of victory in a Ryder Cup foursomes was 7&6, which had been achieved on three occasions.
The United States’ Hale Irwin and Tom Kite beat Europe’s Ken Brown and Des Smyth by the margin in the 1979 event.
It was matched in 1991 by their compatriots Paul Azinger and Mark O’Meara over Nick Faldo and David Gilford, before Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson beat Westwood and Luke Donald in 2012.
Largest margins of victory in Ryder Cup 18-hole foursomes matches
9&7 – Ludvig Aberg/Viktor Hovland (EUR) def. Brooks Koepka/Scottie Scheffler (USA), foursomes, 2023
7&6 – Hale Irwin/Tom Kite (USA) def. Ken Brown/Des Smyth (EUR), foursomes, 1979
7&6 – Paul Azinger/Mark O’Meara (USA) def. Nick Faldo/David Gilford (EUR), foursomes, 1991
7&6 – Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) def. Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (EUR), foursomes, 2012
7&5 – Jose Maria Canizares/Jose Rivero (EUR) def. Tom Kite/Calvin Peete (USA), foursomes, 1985
7&5 – Ian Woosnam/Bernhard Langer (EUR) def. Paul Azinger/Payne Stewart (USA), foursomes, 1993
Source: Rydercup.com