By Ed Leahy
Europe have won the Ryder Cup after a thrilling finish at Celtic Manor, which came down to the final match, as the victory was secured by the narrowest of margins. Read how the 12 singles matches unfolded with our blow by blow text commentary.
E-mail sportonline@rte.ie
FINAL SCORE: EUROPE 14.5-13.5 USA
SESSION 4
Lee Westwood Lost 2&1 v Steve Stricker
Rory McIlroy Halved v Stewart Cink
Luke Donald Won 1Up v Jim Furyk
Martin Kaymer Lost 6&4 v Dustin Johnson
Ian Poulter Won 5&4 v Matt Kuchar
Ross Fisher Lost 3&2 v Jeff Overton
Miguel Angel Jimenez Won 4&3 v Bubba Watson
Francesco Molinari Lost 4&3 v Tiger Woods
Edoardo Molinari Halved v Rickie Fowler
Peter Hanson Lost 4&2 v Phil Mickelson
Padraig Harrington Lost 3&2 v Zach Johnson
Graeme McDowell Won 3&1 v Hunter Mahan
15.46 Well that's about it from Celtic Manor. Just the trophy lift to come and the champagne will flow.....actually there's Padraig Harrington with a bottle of bubbly on the balcony.....check back in later when we will have a photo gallery of the story of the Ryder Cup. Now back to work, the lot of you.... G'luck.
15.44: GMac interview: Cannot describe it this tournament, trying to win for your team, for the fans, for Europe and for Monty. The back nine at Pebble Beach was like playing a round with my Da in Portrush compared to this. Monty was amazing and to do it for him was extremely special.
15.41 A great session for the Americans winning it 7-5. Everyone can leave with their heads held high and it will be nice heading Stateside now in two years with only 14 points required to retain the trophy.
15.38 Harrington to camera with Jimenez in tow - 'This is the heart of the team' pointing at Jimenez...'thank you thank you, I love you' the reply from Miguel...beautiful stuff.
15.37 Monty interview: 'Full of praise for the Americans. Tiger proved why he is world number one. Mickelson was excellent. The three-point lead was the difference in the end. A huge honour to have led this team to victory.'
15.34 Thanks for all the feedback throughout. could get to respond to all as it got just a little bit nervy at the end....but what a way to spend your working Mondays - if only they were all this exciting.
15.31 Monty is absolutely loving this long walk home and well deserved. We've all had a bit of a giggle at Monty's expense over the years but hats off today to the big Scot and the backroom team that he assembled.
15.24 Great scenes at Celtic Manor as the Europeans mob GMac. Monty looks like he is about to cry.......good tears of course. A fantastic finish in what will go down as one of the greatest Ryder Cups of all time. An unbelieveble finish thanks to Rickie Fowler heaping huge pressure on Portrush man Graeme McDowell. He did it at Pebble Beach four months ago and he's done it again on a comparable scale at Celtic Manor.
15.23 FINAL SCORE: EUROPE 14.5-13.5 USA
15.21 Mahan - putter out.....looking good - concedes and Mahan shakes McDowell's hand.....it's all over....EUROPE AND GMAC SECURE THE RYDER CUP.....
15.19 Here goes......leaves it a bit short....about six feet to the hole. Mahan another chance to put the pressure on and make McDowell putt the tasty six footer.
15.19 Two putts to win it for GMac and Europe....
15.18 Mahan needs to chip this in.....fluffs it.....unbelieveable!!
15.17 Great time for an ad break Sky Sports...!!
15.13 McDowell on the par three 17th....taking his time....looks good - hits the green but starts to roll back towards the bunker. Stops on the fringe.....Mahan hits straight but short of the green. Up and down should be enough for McDowell.
15.12 GMac cool as you like on the 17th tee. Monty up for a bit of a chin wag....
15.09 Here goes. Taking his time....downhill cannot attack with this putt has to ease it down in the general direction......off it goes......slow as you like.....we're right behind it....starting to drift to the right.....falls in.....YES!! TWO UP TWO TO PLAY
15.07 Mahan gets to ten feet with a nice chip - McDowell now can put a bit of daylight between them. Will he go for it?? Cannot go too far past.
15.06 Mahan needs to get up and down in two to have any chance of getting anything out of this hole. Has to play first as well. This could not have been scripted better...
15.04 LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13.5-13.5 USA
15.04 Mahan short on the 16th - great chance for GMac here. Great shot - birdie chance coming up....
15.03 Harrington is eventually put out of his misery after putting up a brave effort on the back nine. Johnson 3&2.
15.01 Fowler taking his time and putting through the shadow of the trees......here goes.......steps away again......hits it, slowly, and looks wide, coming back and............IN - what a putt and what a halve....a crazy finish there. Hats off to Fowler....take a bow, son...
15.00 Molinari rolls down the hill and gets it close. Fowler to putt for the hole and to halve the match.....
14.59 Over on 16. Mahan drives into the heavy rough - will struggle to reach in two. McDowell nails his drive. Right down the middle - now what's all that fuss on 18????
14.55 Fowler to hit first, Molinari just a bit closer..... Great effort - about 18 feet to the hole. Now for Molinari.....safely on and should get down in two but leaves Fowler with a great chance to win the hole and the half point that he had no right to win three holes ago...
14.54 GMac makes par so Mahan has to putt. Shouldn't be a problem and it's not. Back on 18, Fowler decides to lay up and has a decent lie. Now who can get up and down. In normal circumstances, you would fancy Molinari........but
14.51 Is it all falling apart....?? Molinari's lay up is in the light rough - but Fowler is in a sticky lie. Still only needs to halve the hole for the point. GMac has chipped on but a ten footer for a four. Mahan should easily make three. So 1Up with three to play by the looks of things...
14.49 Oh dear - GMac has popped it up but only to the fringe of the rough....could be a big hole for Mahan.
14.47 Fowler in the rough on the 18th after his drive. Mahan close on the 15th after two. McDowell needs to get out of a horrible lie and need to get down in two.
14.47 GMac looking shaky on 15. In the rough off the side of the short par four.
14.46 Harrington still in the game - three down with three to play...
14.43 Fowler........straight in the middle - unbelievable golf here...off down the 18th now....
14.42 Harrington makes another birdie on 15 but too little too late...
14.41 Huge tension now on 17. Molinari just drifts past. Fowler now to win the hole......
14.39 Mickelson about to finish Hanson off on the 16th - a sublime shot into the green while Hanson has missed the green.
14.37 Fowler nails his tee on the par three 17th - about 20 feet. Molinari follows him down onto the dancefloor but a little further away. Fowler needs to hole this putt to stay in the match.
14.36 Eeeeeeekk....Fowler wins 16 after Molinari got tangled up in the deep rough from his drive. Needs to win both holes for a half - big hole now the 17th...
14.34 Halve on the fourteenth. Harrington and Hanson both pull one back but too little too late and even Mickelson doesn't seem too bothered as he tries to chip down the green into the hole.
14.32 Mahan goes with the putter - looks way off but gets close enough in the end. Should be a halve here provided no more nerves...
14.29 BAck to the 14th and Graeme McDowell - nice chip - rolls up and just past the hole. Great effort, that should be good enough for a halve. Now for Mahan - may need to pop this in...
14.28 Hanson needs to win the four holes....and not a bad start on 15 to within eight feet of a hole in one...
14.27 Mahan is short as well....not as short as McDowell but a chance missed you would think...
14.26 McDowell's second into the 14th - a daunting prospect with all that water to carry....oh dear, leaves it well short and could easily have popped off left into the water. Hope that shakes him up a bit. Next up Mahan. Sniffing a chance surely...
14.23 Fowler gave it a great go down from off the back of the green - just misses.....next up Edouardo....Oh leaves it short. Well, can't be beaten now so guaranteed half point at least.
14.20 Fowler off the back of the short part four. Molinari lines it up.....big swing.....looks good.....is that Sergio Garcia on the edge of the green guiding it in.....looks like it.....one hand up from Sergio to signal it's on the green....two hands up....it's an absolute gem...surely a putt to win the match here for Edouardo. Over to you now GMac...
14.16 Mahan misses with a great effort for a birdie on 13. Leaves GMac with a similar chance to win the hole. Here goes..........huge putt.....looks good....right on line......oooh just runs out of steam. Good halve there.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13-11 USA
14.14 Tiger just about to put another score on the board...putts in a decent 15 footer to take a 4&3 win. Great display by Tiger.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13-10 USA
14.12 Overton finishes Fisher off on the 16th after Fisher went hard at the hole to win - went too far past and missed it back. 3&2 win for Overton.
14.10 GMac loses the 12th after getting into trouble off the tee.
14.08 Fowler just misses a chance to win the 14th - Molinari stays three up with four to play.
14.06 Now let's get Edouardo Molinari home and hope GMac keeps doing what he does best and keeps ahead in the final game.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13-9 USA
14.02 Jimenez plays one of the shots of the day out of the bunker on 15. He was almost kneeling down when he played that out and watched it run up to the hole. Now Bubba needs to hole a15 footer or else this match could be over.....missed it.....SHORT....can you believe that???? Jimenez now with a two footer for the match and to put Europe 13-9 ahead...................JIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMEEEENNNNNEEEZZZZZ........get in. Great win 4&3.
14.00 Eddie Molinari nails a beauty from the rough onto the 14th green. Huge pressure on Fowler now. This point is as good as in the bag. Now for Fowler - hits from the fairway and now side by side with Molinari - so Fowler actually making a game of it.
13.56 Still looking like a 15-13 European win. Can Fowler make a charge at Eddie Molinari - probably the USA's only chance because McDowell looks cool as you like. Watson needed a big shot on 15 but followed Jimenez off to the left.
13.55 GET IN MR GMAC - three up with seven to play....
13.54 Overton with a tricky 10 footer to go three up......misses - Fisher's chip was enough for the halve so still something to play for there.
13.53 Mahan lips out on the 11th - GMac with a great chance to go three up. Come on Graeme......
13.50 Jimenez stays three up with four to play, while Fowler gets back to three up on the 13th. GMac on the 11th for eagle....a long way up and stops short. Should make birdie. Mahan has a go for eagle but drifts off early - should be a halve here.
13.45 Can Fisher give it one more push on the 15th?? Nope - in the water at the back left. Chalk up that point for Overton. This is coming down to the wire...
13.44 One player who is certainly looking back to his best is a certain Mr T Woods. Tiger is on fire as is Zach Johnson - 4Up now over Harrington.
13.42 Europe are now down in four so cannot see them getting anything from those games. It looks more and more that it's going to come down to McDowell to hold on for a win. Jimenez and Molinari look like they are going through the motions so 14 points should be in the bank. Not seeing much of GMac on the coverage so cannot gauge how he is playing.
13.41 Fisher misses his par putt and hands Overton a two hole lead. Looks like this one is going to go the way of the American for definite now.
13.36 Fowler makes a mess of a bunker shot so that should be in the bag for Ed Molinari. Fisher now with a chance of birdie after losing control of the game with Overton. Misses and still four feet for par. Overton looking good for a point in that match.
13.34 Eddie Molinari is played unbelieveable golf. Nails it to within four feet of the 12th. Hanson on the other hand has just lost the 11th to go three down. This Fisher v Overton game is now looking very important.
13.33 LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 12-9 USA
13.30 Furyk gets out first time but travels ten feet past. Donald two putts for a win from 18 feet - easy peasy, right?? Here goes.....LUUUUUUUUUKE as they crowd shout. Sits on the cup and Furyk walks over and shakes hands. Another point for Europe and what a round of golf from Donald.
13.28 Scores up to date now - got a bit distracted on the 18th green - very exciting stuff. And now about to do it all again as Donald and Furyk approach. Donald safely on and all he needs is a halve. Furyk chips.......looks good but just falls off the fringe and into McIlroy's bunker - that's a point in the bag unless Furyk can chip in.
13.24 McIlroy interview: 'Felt more pressure on the first bunker shot - played a great shot but caught the fringe. I might not have said this a year ago but this is the best golf tournament in the world.'
13.23 LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 11-9 USA
13.20 So Cink for the win - looks even less than 20 feet to be honest - just runs out of juice and falls below - chance for a half for Rory.......................aghhhh.........come on Rory...........YEEEEEESSSSS - that's worth a point on its own. Great half point from Rory and massive credit for the pressure putt to finish.
13.19 Great shot by Rory - leaves him about five feet - over to Cink now - if he drops this it's a point for America....
13.16 Cink is safely on the green about 20 feet from the hole. McIlroy about to play out of the bunker. A great shot from the bunker could win it for him. Anything inside Cink's ball will be a good shot. Here goes......get up....stay up......oh dear.....falls back and slides back into the sand.....needs to get up and down now to have any chance of a half point - best case scenario at this stage...
13.15 Donald and Furyk both miss birdie putts so they're following the group ahead down the 18th. Great display by Furyk to still be in this game. Donald is apparently six under for the day and only one up...
13.13 Cink lays up on 18 - you're not going to believe this but McIlroy is going for the tricky 18th greeen in two.....I can't watch. Over the water at least and may have found the sand. Should be fine - hard to say who has the advantage though.
13.12 Woods moves one ahead, GMac loses one, Overton back to all square - a good few minutes for the Americans.
13.11 Hats off to Donald and Furyk on the 17th - both within 15 feet under such pressure as well.
13.10 Actually, hold that thought. Furyk is really hanging in against Donald. A great game there with Furyk winning the 16th to get to within one. A very nervy par three 17th coming up. Jimenez and Eddie Molinari pushing further ahead.
13.08 Now let's just concentrate on the 18th for a few minutes. It's likely to come down to the third shots on this tricky final hole.
13.05 Huge win for Poulter - destroying one of the best players on the US team. Great for team morale that one.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 10.5-8.5 USA
13.03 POULTER DELIVERS - what a performance from the Milton Keynes Don. A 5&4 win for Mr Stylish.
13.02 Cink lets McIlroy off the hook again and misses a short one on 17. Off down the 18th all square - let's see who has the biggest....confidence now. Come on Rory.
13.01 Corey pavin with a big dirty grin on his face - at least his boys have put up a good show today - still think they will fall short - just.
12.58 Poulter is on fire - he guaranteed a point to his captain and he is just about to deliver on his promise.
12.55 Just a note on scoring - not always up to date on every match as some scores are coming through the wires and others from the live feed which is obviously a few minutes ahead....
12.54 Great halve for McIlroy to stay all square with two to play.
12.52 Furyk putting great pressure on Donald but the Englishman is taking everything he throws at him. Two up with three to play.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 9.5-8.5 USA
12.50 Another point on the board as Dustin Johnson secures the win over Martin Kaymer. Getting very tasty now.
12.49 First point of the day to the USA as Stricker wins 2&1 over Westwood. Looked like a European banker until the last stretch when Stricker just stayed so consistent throughout. A great point for the USA and surely will send great vibes back through the team.
12.44 Back to some emails: From Kieran: 'Sitting here in the middle of the UAE desert........260 miles from civilisation following your updates........c'mon Europe!!!' Just a little bit hotter over there, I'd imagine, Kieran - enjoy the heat.
From Alison: 'I think Paddy will come good. He had a massive practice round there on Tuesday scoring 12 birdies. Let’s hope he can do something similar today.' Keep the faith Alison - who is a Dub living in Cork, I feel your pain!! Only joking, Cork's a great place...
12.42 Maybe it will come down to the final pairings and if so , what a call by Monty putting the GMac in there. three up now after six - but still a long way to go.
12.40 Dustin Johnson now five up with five to play. USA to score two points in the next five minutes after Westwood hit's the path with his tee shot and Stricker already on. McIlroy now may be first to score for Europe today.
12.37 Cink misses a n eagle putt by a distance considering he was only about 15 feet starting off. Should be a halve. And again McIlroy not giving anything outside two feet. And is it getting to Cink - appears so as he flies past the hole - how did McIlroy win that hole?? All square with three to play.
12.36 Stricker with a putt to win the match on 16...Rolls it down but turns too late and misses by a couple of inches. Now Westwood must finish a four footer to stay in the match. Here goes - phew, match stays alive and over to the par three 17th.
12.34 Eddie Molinari keeping his beak ahead of Rickie Fowler, going back 1up at the eighth. Johnson's 15 foot putt has looped the cup before dropping to win the sixth against Harrington.
12.32 Westwood needs something special on 16 but Stricker is inside him again and nothing seems like it is going to stop Stricker scoring the first point of the day. Jimenez finishes two up at the turn with a great putt to win the hole.
12.30 Martin Kaymer in big trouble, now four down after 12 as Johnson is turning on the style. Poulter still flying though. Just chipped in on the 11th to go four up.
12.28 Harrington tipping along nicely now after winning the last two holes. All square now after four.
12.26 Fisher two up at the turn. Getting much more interesting now. The English boys look to be key to this Europe victory. If Donald, Poulter and Fisher can all get home, it should be enough with plenty of close matches at the tail. GMac has pushed on to 2Up after four.
12.23 McIlroy with a chance to win on 14. Helps it down hill but too far left and the ball eventually comes back on line, but it has gone four feet past. Pressure now to halve after Cink drops his four footer.
12.20 Remarkably, the USA haven't won the 15th since Friday. But Stricker reverses the trend with a great eagle and moves two up with three to play. Donald wins the 13th thanks to Furyk missing a five footer.
12.18 Even Harrington getting in on the action nailing his approach to within four feet on the fifth. Donald lips out, missing a chance to go three up on the 13th.
12.17 Bubba misses past from 12 feet to give Miguel the hole, while Mr consistent #2 Ian Poulter has just gone three up after ten. Hanson getting his act together now as well - four down after four, now only two down after six.
12.15 Followed by a wonder shot by Donald on the par three 13th. Two up and still firing at the pin. A definite contender for player of the tournament is Mr Donald.
12.14 And then Jimenez chips in off the eighth green. Good man, Miguel.
12.14 Projected score now down to 15.5 to 12.5. Still a nice victory for Europe if it stays like that but another couple of swings and the pressure will be on.
12.11 After making Cink sweat, Rory missed his putt and sort of sheepishly picks up Cink's marker and hands it to him. No eye contact as they pass. Can see this one hotting up before the end. Can just imagine Cink to himself, 'don't get involved, Stewart, keep the head down'.
12.07 McIlroy making Cink earn his hole here on the 13th. Cink doesn't appear too impressed by the young whipper snapper... Good man, Rory. Make him sweat for everything.
12.04 From RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen on Twitter.com: ' If you froze scoreboard now, it would be Europe 17.5 to US 10.5. One point short of a record winning margin.' A nice picture but can't really see it being that one-sided at the close - the Americans are putting on a bit of a charge at the moment.
12.02 Westwood has now fallen behind as Stricker wins the 13th. That water could prove very costly not just for this match but for the confidence a Stricker win might send down the field. Tiger's pulled one back on the sixth - seems like a great game there as well.
12.01 McIlroy gets back to all square but then finds water a la Westwood on the 13th. Just cannot help but go for the pin every time, McIlroy. Great to watch but Monty will not be impressed.
11.56 Email from Seán in Achill: 'Hanson is having a nightmare of a game. Westwood, McIlroy, Franceso Molinari, Padraig and McDowell to win it for Europe.' I love your patriotism, Seán, but I don't think we'll need Harrington and McDowell's points. However, the Americans are having a bit of a purple patch at the moment. I'd be happy with a half point from Paddy but GMac should be a banker you'd imagine. E-mail sportonline@rte.ie
11.50 Does Phil Mickelson not get on with his teammates or does he just prefer to play on his own?? Four up after four for Lefty after a very poor showing in the foursomes/fourballs... Funny old game this.
11.49 It's unlucky 13 for Westwood - in the water just off the green. Kaymer pulls one back.
11.47 Get in. Harrington pulls one back on the third.
11.45 Kaymer is looking to get one back at the ninth. Approach stops inches from the flag. Great chance to get back to 1Down at the turn. Molinari two up against Woods with another 12 footer. Better off being a bit further back than those three to four footers that he hates.
11.43 Pressure putt for McIlroy - yes, straight in. McIlroy is pumped. Ready for a charge down the home straight so?? Stricker wins the 12th to get back to all square.
11.42 Francesco Molinari hitting the ball absolutely perfectly at the pin every hole, it seems. Great chance to win the fifth. Ten feet to the hole - Tiger is about 30 feet away.
11.40 Stricker set to win the twelfth to get back all square - Westwood would have to hole a 40 footer to halve. Donald misses an eight footer to lose the tenth. Two up with eight to play. McIlroy's ball actually ended about ten feet back and will need to hole it to halve.
11.37 McIlroy's third on the par five 11th spins back, hits the flag and rolls five feet back - unlucky there. Jimenez wins the fifth despite Bubba playing a great shot out of the water.
11.35 Westwood's first poor shot off the twelfth tee. Chance for Stricker to get back to all square. Harrington loses the second hole as well to go two down. Come on, Paddy.
11.33 GMac opens with a win on the first - nice ten foot putt to go 1Up.
11.31 Westwood's eagle attempt on the 11th lips out - in fact it rols right around the circumference of the hole and stops an inch away. Over on the third, Mickelson is in auto pilot mode, three up after three.
11.30 Some quality shots being played here - Furyk and Donald to within four feet of the pin on the ninth. Donald three up at the turn.
11.24 Overton misses an absolute sitter to win the fifth - Fisher gets out of jail after finding the water to stay 2Up.
11.14 McIlroy misses his long birdie putt on the tenth - Cink up next and does the opposite to McIlroy who left it short - Cink goes three feet past. Should be a halve here.
11.23 Everyone out on the course now and Harrington opens poorly losing the first. McDowell last out approaching the first green. Tiger gets one back on the fourth - nice putt, Tiger.
11.19 Fowler fought back on the second to square the match but Eddie Molinari hits back on the third with a great putt to go back one up.
11.18 Ross Fisher lands one on the fifth green a foot or two from the flag - back spin takes it back off the green and worse, down the bank and into the water. How unlucky is that??
11.15 Westwood's effort isn't great at the tenth. Four feet left to save par. But Stricker with a chance to win hole first. About 25 feet and it looks downhill - could fly past if he goes for it. A great effort just fading over the last two feet. McIlroy misses a 12 footer for a win on the ninth. 1 Down at the turn. Lucky he had such a good start because Cink is playing great golf. Westwood stays one up with eight to play.
11.10 Stricker putting it up to Westwood again at the par three tenth. Both on the green with Stricker just a bit closer. Great match this one. McIlroy hits a great approach on the ninth - needs to get back on track. It would be nice to be all square at the turn.
11.08 Lee Westwood is giving absolutely nothing away. Follows Stricker's putt down the hill and home. 1Up at the turn. Stricker must be wondering what he has to do here. Lefty off to a great start sinking a 30 foot putt to take the first against Peter Hanson.
11.05 Looking like a beautiful autumn day now at Celtic Manor. T-shirts all round. Might suit the Americans if the greens speed up a bit. Stricker sinks a putt on the ninth to put pressure on Westwood. Kuchar finds water on the fifth - very unlucky as it rolled off the green.
11.05 At last, Tiger on the screen. Nice and safe onto the par three third. Molinari off the green so a chance for Tiger here.
11.04 Stricker playing decent golf but Westwood just keeping on top of him - every hole Westwood's approach shots just seem to be that little bit better.
11.01 Tiger who?? Molinari sinks another to go two up after two. Haven't even seen a shot by the world number one yet....!!
10.56 Kaymer is a bit wet behind the ankles.... Or one ankle at least as he tries to play out of the water hazard. He causes a big splash but thankfully the ball pops out. Cink back in front taking the eighth but Francesco Molinari plays a great approach to the second. Brother Eddie gets in on the act straight away on the first, taking the hole against Rickie Fowler. Kaymer's dip was in vain as he ends up losing the hole. Furyk with a chance to get a hole back but if he has to resort to 25 feet putts to win holes, you'd have to fancy Donald all the way today. Stays three up.
10.53 Bubba fights back on the second to get back to all square after Jimenez took the first. Scoreboard is already looking very blue with only Johnson leading for the Americans.
10.51 Monty's openers are doing the skipper proud. Donald is absolutely flying on 3Up after six. Fisher is showing great form all weekend and has just sunk another birdie to go two up after three.
10.48 Westwood misses his putt so Stricker with a half chance to get back a hole. 24 feet uphill - just short, not a great effort to win a hole. All square on that hole as Westwood stays ahead.
10.42 Kaymer back on track with a win at the fourth to get back to one down. Westwood and stricker safely on the green. Cink misses out giving McIlroy a chance. Over on the third Poulter has gone one up with a cracking putt. McIlroy's effort loses pace and drifts below the hole. Here's Franco on the first. Get in. One up on the Tiger.
10.39 Donald moves two up with another great putt. Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods approach the first green. Great approach from Francesco. How's that putter working today, Francesco??
10.38 McIlroy with another birdie chance on the seventh after a great tee shot. Cink follows him onto the green but about 30 feet compared to McIlroy's 15 footer.
10.37 Rory gets back to all square but Westwood has to settle for a halve. Kuchar sinks a great putt on two to halve.
10.32 McIlroy is well inside Cink and has a chance to get back all square. Oh dear, Kaymer misses his par putt to gift Johnson the hole.
10.29 Cink and McIlroy side by side on the sixth fairway. Cink's approach reaches the green but a long way off the flag. Over on the third, Johnson with a putt to win the hole - ouch, bad effort after that amazing tee shot. Stricker and Westwood in a great battle, both hitting lovely tee shots on the par three seventh.
10.26 Stricker's putt is very poor leaving the door open for Westwood to go two up. Oh dear, Westwood misreads as well missing a great chance to go further ahead. Likewise, Donald just shy on the fourth green to go two up.
10.23 Johnson to within eight feet on the par three third. Looks like he's brought his A game today. Fisher off to a flyer on the firstr with a great birdie to take the hole. Kaymer tries to get close to Johnson but way over the other side of the green. Tough to halve this. Stricker's approach to the sixth is not quite as good as Westwood's but not far off.
10.21 Cink has two putts to win the fifth. Westwood though, is on fire. Another sublime approach on the sixth from about 165 yards. Stops five feet away. Cink takes the fifth to move one up.
10.18 McIlroy in trouble on the fifth. Found sand with his drive and now lands in the hazard. Cink should take this hole. Ross Fisher and Jeff Overton approach the first green. Another tough game to call - both are playing very solid stuff this weekend.
10.15 Kuchar first up for birdie - about 30 feet - great pace but just comes up short. Chance for Poults. Westwood has hit a great approach on the fifth. Back with Poults - similar line to Kuchar and closer but a poot effort and leaves himself with three feet to save par. Westwood nails his putt on the fifth to go one up. And Poulter tidies up on the first. All square there.
10.12 Poulter lands inside Kuchar on the first green. Two birdie chances coming up there. Donald almost chips on for a birdie but will have to putt as Furyk has just holed a great putt for four. Still a bit to do but a solid five footer for par to send Donald one up.
10.09 Furyk rolls off the green on three and right down into the drink. The one place you can get in trouble on the third and Jimbo finds it. Donald might as well get out the putter here and pop it down the middle. No need. Finds a nice lie just off the edge. Should be the hole for Donald unless Furyk does something ridiculous. Cink makes back to back birdies to get back all square. Great comeback there. McIlroy will know now that he is in a battle.
10.05 Solid par for Johnson on the first and Kaymer still not on the green in three. Needs to hole from the bunker. Good effort but stops two feet short. Advantage Johnson and a decent start from the Americans all round.
10.04 Furyk almost chips in on the second leaving Donald with a testing six footer to halve. No problem - stays all square.
10.02 Kuchar and Poulter on the first tee and both safely away. Probably the toughest match to call today as both players are in form and very consistent. I'm thinking Kuchar might edge this - he had an unbelievable finish to the season in America.
9.58 Kaymer's second comes with the sound of fore. Not great and just misses the crowd - may have found sand. Johnson plays a very tasty second, safely on the green. Furyk in a little bit of trouble on the second. Westwood, meanwhile, about to putt to get back all square. About 12 feet to go here. A shadow on the green - wow sunshine!! Westwood - nice and slow - and in , great putt. Game on.
9.56 Westwood hits a beauty onto the fourth from about 175 yards, pin high about 15 feet from the flag. Chance to get straight back here.
9.55 Mist appears to be burning off - slowly - as some blue skies appear in Wales. Great putt from Cink to pull one back. Great match this.
9.53 Great chance for Cink to get a hole back on the third as he gets closer than McIlroy on the green on the par three. McIlroy has a chance to put pressure on but misses past.
9.50 Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson next to tee off. This would have been the 2010 PGA Championship play-off if Johnson hadn't 'grounded' in that 'bunker'. Chance for Johnson to show what might have been. A total contrast of styles here - should be an interesting game. My money is on Steady Eddie Kaymer. Johnson's game is just too erratic for matchplay, you'd imagine.
9.48 Stricker rolls down to within two feet and Westwood concedes as he cannot beat four. Red on the scoreboard - remember what that looks like??
9.46 McIlroy for a win on two. About 20 feet to go plenty of pace but just offline. Will make par no problem. But Cink still has a tricky ten footer for a halve..... Oh misses. McIlroy needs to roll this in to go two up. And...no problem - get in there. Rory two up. He's off to a flyer.
9.44 Donald home in four on the first. Furyk must hole a six footer after a fantastic third shot from distance. No problem for Jim who rolls it in for a halve
9.43 Westwood rolls it up the bank but it's underhit and it rolls back down to him. Great chance for Stricker to win the hole.
9.42 Furyk on in three on the first. Back on the second McIlroy on in three while Cink is just off in three, leaving McIlroy with another chance to push ahead.
9.40 Stricker's tee shot on the par three third is decent and Westwood follows him onto the green, but Westwood's ball just falls off down the bank, leaving him with a tricky second.
9.39 Furyk's ball turns up in the heavy rough and has to dig it out leaving him a good nine iron into the green. Donald safely on in two. A good chance to put some more blue on the scoreboard.
9.35 Westwood chips on at the second and should secure par. But Stricker has a 15 footer for the hole. Starts off well but just fades before the cup and drifts below to halve the hole.
9.33 Furyk first off as match number three eventually gets going. Camera is waiting down the fairway hoping something appears through the mist - a quick scan but cannot find anything. It really does look like a blind shot from the tee as Donald's swing looks solid. ANd so it appears - middle of the fairway.
9.32 McIlroy guides a slow one down to the hole and, yes, just gets there and falls in for a winning start. One up for McIlroy.
9.30 Westwood in the bunker on the second. Back on the first, Cink chips on and should be alright from there, leaving Rory with a winable putt to go ahead.
9.27 Luke Donald has just appeared on the first tee to a reception normally reserved for rock stars or footballers - 'one Luke Donald, there's only one Luke Donald'. The crowd are very giddy and Donald is loving it. Jim Furyk sneaks in and starts playing up to the crowd as well. He looks down through the mist as if he can't see where he is going. 'It is down there' comes a shout from the crowd. Furyk applauds and loves it.
9.25 Cink's approach to the first isn't great and sits in the long grass on the edge of a bunker. McIlroy goes straight at the flag and lands about 20 feets short. Advantage Little Mac.
9.20 Stricker makes Westwood putt from two and a half feet. Westwood strokes home and then concedes Stricker's putt that is only a couple of inches closer. A little bit psychological there from Westwood perhaps?
9.17 The craic on the first tee is already in full swing. Rory McIlroy and Stuart Cink ready to get going. You've got Big Mac we've got Little Mac is the cry from the crowd. McIlroy looking like he's loving it, while Cink appears to be pretty amused as well. Cink's drive looks decent - not that we can see anything until it lands, and likewise McIlroy. Two balls land almost side by side. Great start, no fear from Rory up against Major winner Cink.
9.13 Stricker in the bunker off the first. Needs to get up and down. Well that's the up part - a cracking shot to within a couple of feet. That'll be conceeded. Westwood now lining up a birdie putt through the Celtic Mist - is that what they call Celtic Mysticism?? Anyway, 20 yards to win the hole. Good effort but drifts past to two feet - imagine they'll both pick up.
9.06pm Stricker's tee shot is straight down the middle as Bing Crosby would have said. Westwood's drive lands just off the fairway. Two good strikes.
9.05pm Westwood and Stricker are about to tee off.
8.54am It is quite misty at Celtic Manor, but play is not under threat.
8.51am The crowds are in full voice on the first tee with a chorus of 'there's only one Lee Westwood' being sung. Bit cringy to say the least, but in 10 minutes the serious stuff is about to begin.
8.50am They are calling it 'Magic Monday' at Celtic Manor as the singles area about to get underway. Europe needs five points to regain the trophy. You would have to fancy them. This isn't Brookline '99 when a number of key players were tired going into the final day when four ckear of the USA.
Lee Westwood v Steve Stricker
Rory McIlroy v Stewart Cink
Luke Donald v Jim Furyk
Martin Kaymer v Dustin Johnson
Ian Poulter v Matt Kuchar
Ross Fisher v Jeff Overton
Miguel Angel Jimenez v Bubba Watson
Francesco Molinari v Tiger Woods
Edoardo Molinari v Rickie Fowler
Peter Hanson v Phil Mickelson
Padraig Harrington v Zach Johnson
Graeme McDowell v Hunter Mahan
(First match starts at 9.05am with the rest following at 12-minute intervals).
