Payback belongs to Europe, and so does the Ryder Cup.

Two years after the Americans thought they had their Ryder Cup problems figured out, Europe reminded them Sunday why it practically has owned this shiny gold trophy for the last quarter-century.

British Open champion Francesco Molinari was just as good on his own as he was with Tommy Fleetwood. The best year of the ItalianB次元官网网址檚 golfing life got even better at Le Golf National when he became the first European B次元官网网址� and only second player since the current format began in 1979 B次元官网网址� to win all five of his matches.

The last one set off a wild, champagne-soaked celebration.

Europe already was assured the 14 1/2 points it needed because they were guaranteed halves in two matches. Molinari made it official. He was 2 up and safely on the green at the par-3 16th green when Phil Mickelson hit into the water, removed his cap and conceded the match.

The finish was most appropriate.

The celebration and singing had already begun. The Europeans were treated like rock stars before more than 50,000 fans. All that remained was Alex Noren in the anchor match. He was 1 up on the 18th hole when DeChambeau stuffed his approach to 2 feet for a conceded birdie. Noren hit the final shot in this Ryder Cup, a 40-foot birdie putt to win the match, and the stoic Swede hurled his cap.

Europe won, 17 1/2-10 1/2, the most lopsided victory since consecutive 18 1/2-9 1/2 victories by Europe more than a decade ago when the Americans looked utterly lost. They formed a Ryder Cup Task Force, spearheaded by Mickelson, after the 2014 loss. The idea was to build continuity and momentum, and it seemed to work when they won at Hazeltine in 2016.

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Now, maybe itB次元官网网址檚 back to the drawing board.

Mickelson was desperate to make this team because the 48-year-old saw it as his last chance to win a Ryder Cup on European soil. He wound up losing both his matches. He started the week by setting a record with his 12th Ryder Cup appearance. He ended it by setting a more dubious Ryder Cup record with 22 losses.

He wasnB次元官网网址檛 alone. Tiger Woods went 0-4, the first time in his eight Ryder Cups that he failed to contribute a single point.

But this was more about the Europeans as a team, and they were tougher than ever on a course they know well.

B次元官网网址淭his team has been incredible from the start,B次元官网网址� Molinari said. B次元官网网址淲e were determined to do the job. Nothing was going to stop us. And you saw it on the course.B次元官网网址�

Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles, the Americans needed to put red points on the board early to build momentum. It never happened. Justin Thomas won the leadoff match over Rory McIlroy, but not until the 18th hole.

Webb Simpson and Tony Finau, the lone bright spot among the wild-card picks for U.S. captain Jim Furyk, won easily. Behind them, Woods was hanging tough against Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson started to pull ahead of Ian Poulter.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always a moment where it looks like a spark of light,B次元官网网址� Furyk said. B次元官网网址淲hen it was there for us, Europe played really well.B次元官网网址�

It wasnB次元官网网址檛 there long.

Rahm won two straight holes with pars to seize control. Johnson went from 1 up to 2 down in a four-hole stretch that ended his chances.

Rahm dropped his putter after making a 5-foot birdie on the 17th hole as Woods stood to the side of the green, arms crossed. One week ago, he overcame four back surgeries to win for the 80th time on the Tour Championship, a signal that he was all the way back.

And then at the Ryder Cup, it was another result with which he is far too familiar. Woods has played on only one winning team in 1999.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 disappointing because I went 0-4, and thatB次元官网网址檚 four points to the European team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檓 one of the contributing factors to why we lost the cup, and itB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of fun. ItB次元官网网址檚 frustrating because I thought we were all playing pretty well, and I just didnB次元官网网址檛 perform at the level that I had been playing, and just got behind early in the matches and never got back.B次元官网网址�

Thorbjorn Olesen, who had played only one match the previous two days, went 5 up at the turn over Jordan Spieth and won in 14 holes. Spieth is now 0-6 in singles matches in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Sergio Garcia was in tears.

He played so poorly this year that he failed to qualify for the PGA TourB次元官网网址檚 post-season. Thomas Bjorn picked him anyway, saying he was like the captain of a football team. Garcia showed why by going 3-1. That final victory over Rickie Fowler made Garcia the biggest contributor in Ryder Cup history with 25 1/2 points.

But this was more about team, and about redemption, even for a team that now has won nine of the last 12 times.

B次元官网网址淲e took a really tough loss at Hazeltine a couple of years ago and that stung,B次元官网网址� McIlroy said. B次元官网网址淭hat was my first experience of what it feels like to be on the other side, so coming in here, obviously none of us want to feel like Sunday afternoon.B次元官网网址�

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Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press

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