Two years ago, sitting on a media podium after Team Europe wrestled back the Ryder Cup at Rome's Marco Simone, Rory McIlroy made a bold prediction. Maybe it was more of a promise.

"I've said this for the last probably six or seven years to anyone that will listen," he said. "I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that's what we're going to do at Bethpage."

He is well-versed in big, tough accomplishments -- after all, he ended his Augusta National hoodoo this year and completed a long-awaited career grand slam -- but his comments rang true on Sunday as Europe avoided a major collapse to retain the Ryder Cup with a 15-13 margin.

- Uggetti from Bethpage: How Europe backed up McIlroy's words

- Best Ryder Cup moments from Sunday

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