Europe retained the Ryder Cup when wildcard selection Colin Montgomerie beat David Toms of the United States by a hole in the last-day singles at Oakland Hills Country Club today.
The point gained by the 41-year-old Scot took Europe to an unassailable total of 14.5 points.
Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk won the first two matches of the day after the Americans made a fast start, but wins by Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood and a half by Darren Clarke put Europe ahead by 13.5 points to 8.5.
Europe had led the U.S. by a record 11-5 going into the final day, needing just three more points from the 12 singles encounters to retain the trophy they won at The Belfry in 2002.
No team in Ryder Cup history since the first match in 1927 has lost with such an advantage, although the U.S. did famously overturn a 10-6 deficit at Brookline in 1999.
When Montgomerie had sunk his putt, the remaining players continued their games.
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were poised and ready to repeat another Irish ending to the European Ryder Cup tale as last two players out.
McGinley, no stranger to heroic Ryder Cup finishes, did his bit with a 3&2 victory over Stewart Cink.
Harrington, the last man out, beat 50-year-old Jay Haas, who put up a stern fight in his last Ryder Cup. The Dubliner took his time over his final putt, holing the 20-footer with the European team and fans poised and ready to uncork the champagne and start the celebrations proper.
Final Score: USA 9.5 Europe 18.5
Ryder Cup singles results
Tiger Woods -v- Paul Casey
Woods wins 3 and 2.
Phil Mickelson -v- Sergio Garcia
Garcia wins 3 and 2
Davis Love -v- Darren Clarke
Finished all-square
Jim Furyk -v- David Howell
Furyk wins 6 and 4
Kenny Perry -v- Lee Westwood
Westwood wins 1 up
David Toms -v- Colin Montgomerie
Montgomerie wins 1 up
Chad Campbell -v- Luke Donald
Campbell wins 5 and 3
Chris DiMarco -v- Miguel Angel Jimenez
DiMarco wins 1 up
Fred Funk -v- Thomas Levet
Levet wins 1 up
Chris Riley -v- Ian Poulter
Poulter wins 3 and 2
Jay Haas -v- Padraig Harrington
Harrington wins 1 up
Stewart Cink -v- Paul McGinley
McGinley wins 3 and 2
Filed by Barry J Whyte
