Trailing 9½-6½ after the first two days, Europe looked set for a Medinah-style comeback when they led in seven of the 12 singles matches.
But the hosts turned the tide, Patrick Reed defeating Rory McIlroy in an epic tussle for the first of seven US wins.
Ryan Moore beat Lee Westwood on the 18th green for the decisive point.
It was a particularly sweet victory for US captain Davis Love, who was in charge four years ago at Medinah when Europe won despite being 10-4 down on the second afternoon.
For Europe, who failed in their bid to win the Cup for an unprecedented fourth successive time, Darren Clarke will come under the sort of scrutiny associated with a losing skipper,reports the BBC.
Captain’s picks Martin Kaymer and Westwood played on Saturday afternoon despite poor first days, while three rookies – Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan – played in only one session before the singles, the latter not seen after Friday’s foursomes.
However, Clarke could have no control over the Americans’ superior putting on Sunday, the whitewash the US handed out in the first foursomes or the fact that all 12 of the US team delivered a point while four Europeans drew blanks.
The tussle between Reed and McIlroy, the first of the 12 matches, was most eagerly anticipated not only because it pitted both team’s animated talisman against the other, but because it was deemed likely to set the tone for the rest of the day.
It exceeded expectations on a raucous, emotionally charged front nine of the highest quality.
At one point, both men were five under after the first eight holes, each playing to the ravenous crowd – Reed bowing, McIlroy cupping his ear and shouting “I can’t hear you”.
The highlight came when McIlroy holed a 60-foot birdie putt on the eighth and, when Reed followed him in from 25 feet for a sensational half, the two shared a fist-bump.
But that was the signal for the quality to drop and a McIlroy bogey on 12 followed by a Reed birdie on 16 left the American two up with two to play.
McIlroy managed to take it down to the last, but Reed’s approach to five feet was enough to seal victory and begin the United States’ march to only a third Ryder Cup win since 1993.
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