Europe, led early on by Ian Poulter and Luke Donald, regained the Ryder Cup after fending off a brilliant fightback by the US in yesterday’s last-day singles.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell earned the winning point, beating Hunter Mahan three and one in the final match to give the home team victory by 14.5 points to 13.5.
Poulter crushed Matt Kuchar five and four, while Donald beat Jim Furyk one-up, before the Americans clawed their way back, rookie Rickie Fowler stealing a valuable half after brilliantly birdying the last four holes against Italian Edoardo Molinari.
Photo: Reuters
With the overall score level at 13.5 to 13.5, McDowell sank a curling birdie putt from 12 feet on the 16th green to go two up on Mahan, before securing the win with a conceded par at the 17th.
Crowds of just over 35,000 at a sun-splashed Celtic Manor were treated to one of the most riveting last days at a Ryder Cup in recent memory as Europe won the trophy for the fourth time in five editions.
The home team had led by three points going into the event’s first-ever Monday finish, but the Americans cut the deficit to just one when Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker claimed the first two points.
Johnson routed Martin Kaymer six and four, before world No. 4 Stricker beat second-ranked Lee Westwood two and one seconds later to give the US hope of retaining the trophy they won in 2008.
Poulter, who screamed in delight after draining a 25-footer to birdie the third, then notched Europe’s first point of the day by rolling in a six-foot birdie putt on the 14th green.
Donald, playing in the third match, was three up on Furyk after 13 holes, but had to hold off a late surge by the American before sealing the win with a two-putt par at the last.
Pony-tailed Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez never trailed in his match against US rookie Bubba Watson before winning four and three to give Europe a commanding 13-9 lead.
However, the US edged closer as rookie Jeff Overton came from two down to beat Ross Fisher three and two, after the Briton bogeyed four of his last five holes.
World No. 1 Tiger Woods added more red for the US with a sizzling display of golf as he overwhelmed Italy’s Francesco Molinari four and three.
Woods had gone two down after two, before covering his last seven holes in seven-under, the highlight a hole-out from the fairway to eagle the par-four 12th.
Phil Mickelson, who had charged four up after four holes against Swede Peter Hanson, put the US just one point behind at 13-12 with a four and two win.
Ryder Cup rookie Fowler then produced his late birdie blitz, sinking a curling 15-footer at the last, to earn a half.
Moments later Zach Johnson completed a three and two triumph over Irishman Padraig Harrington to level the score at 13.5 to 13.5, before McDowell gave European fans a day to remember in the bottom match.
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