Europe won the Ryder Cup on Sunday after ensuring they would finish with at least 14.5 points, meaning that they can't be caught by the United States.

Luke Donald's team were left needing four points to reclaim the trophy in Rome overnight and Tommy Fleetwood pushed them over the line by guaranteeing at least a half-point in his match with Rickie Fowler with two holes to play.

Leading 14-11 thanks to wins from Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm's halved match with world number one Scottie Scheffler, Europe needed just one more tied match to secure victory.

Fleetwood was leading by one going into the 16th and made all-but sure that the trophy would return to Europe by driving the green after Fowler put his tee shot in the water next to the fairway.

Fowler failed to hole his approach to the green and that left Fleetwood with two putts to win the Ryder Cup, the Englishman making no mistake.

Fleetwood handed Europe a seventh straight home win and ended the USA's bid to win on that side of the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in 30 years. (AFP)