The Beatdown at Bethpage nearly became Bedlam at Bethpage. A dominant Ryder Cup for Team Europe the first two days was nearly undone by a comeback for the ages. The “Miracle at Medinah,” reversed, 13 years later — and then some.

Team USA roared through its early singles matches Sunday, but their brutal opening four sessions of the event eventually came back to haunt them — as Shane Lowry gave Europe its 14th point to retain the Ryder Cup.

Fans packed between holes 15-18 and clung to each drive, each putt, each reaction to something that gave the Americans a chance at the biggest comeback in the tournament since 1979 and anything that gave Europe a chance to avoid collapsing.

The afternoon opened with the Americans trailing 12-5 after Viktor Hovland withdrew from his match with a neck injury, giving each team a half-point. But then Cameron Young — who capped off a stellar Ryder Cup debut — and Justin Thomas drained putts on the 18th to win the first two matches. Team USA was either tied or ahead in nine of 11 matches when the final pairing started the back-nine.

Bryson DeChambeau trailed by five holes early, but he stunned Matt Fitzpatrick to earn a half-point. Scottie Scheffler defeated Rory McIlroy in a showdown of the world’s Nos. 1 and 2 golfers. Ludvig Åberg knocked off Patrick Cantlay.

But a poor performance like the Americans had the first two days made their margin for error nearly invisible.

When Russell Henley sent his first shot on the 18th into the bunker and Lowry sent his onto the fairway, it sucked the energy out of Bethpage. It felt like the final miscue in a weekend full of them that even a nearly spotless Sunday couldn’t erase.

He recovered to set up a birdie putt alongside Lowry, but he left it just short. Lowry made his. And that was all Europe needed.

They avoided the final steps of the collapse. They survived to avoid the history books. They did enough — just enough — to retain and position themselves for a rare win on the road.