USA Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson breaks down in tears on live TV as he backs his team despite loss to Europe: ‘My guys showed true heart, true grit’

• Zach Johnson fell short as USA Ryder Cup captain, with Europe securing win
• The emotional 47-year-old praised his players and broke down in tears in Rome
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

American Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson broke down in tears on live TV as he hailed his players, despite their fightback falling short against Europe.

Team USA eventually lost the three-day tournament 16.5-11.5 in Rome, with much of the damage done on an awful first day on Friday.

Speaking immediately after the result was confirmed, Johnson – who has received much criticism from American golf fans – congratulated Europe and became emotional when speaking about his ‘guys’.

‘I think the European team played some phenomenal golf. I think it really is quite that simple,’ he began.

‘I think my guys showed true heart, true grit. A lot of character. They played for each other. I love ’em. Hats off to Luke.’

Zach Johnson was clearly emotional when he spoke to reporters after losing the Ryder Cup

Johnson is pictured sitting at the side of a green during the last day of play at Marco Simone

Johnson was then asked how he planned to help his players move on from this, to which he responded: ‘It’s obviously very raw, very fresh. With that being said, there’s motivation there for certain. You learn a lot from weeks like this. 

‘These guys have learnt a lot about themselves, as will the Europeans. As far as our team goes, there’s motivation. It’s one of those things where you wish you could play [again] in like a month from now. But you know the special thing about it is it’s every two years, that’s one of the special things.

‘The planning and the process, the journey from here back to the States and back and forth is part of the joy and part of the unbelievable bliss of it. I’m honored to represent my country.’

The Ryder Cup was so near but yet so far for the American team captain, whose spirits are high

Team Europe celebrate winningthe 44th edition of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club

Rory McIlroy was visibly emotional on Sunday as he celebrated his singles win vs Sam Burns

The USA’s Ryder Cup attention will now turn to 2025 and Bethpage Black, when America welcomes their European rivals to New York.  

It has been 11 years since either Europe or the USA won on their opponents’ turf – the last time coming in Medinah in 2012 when a miraculous comeback saw Europe leave victorious.

‘I know we’ll reconvene,’ Johnson added as he looked ahead to 2025. ‘Team USA will be better because of it. That sounds cliche and cheesy, but we’ll figure it out. 

‘We’ve got great individuals that surround this team going forward and motivation’s not difficult.’

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