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| Europe takes dramatic singles series to reclaim Cup |
Sam Torrance's European Team won The 34th Ryder Cup Matches in dramatic and sensational fashion on an action-packed final day at the De Vere Belfry. They won the series of singles matches 7 ½ -4 ½ to complete a 15 ½ -12 ½ triumph and regain the trophy lost at Brookline three years ago.
As usual, it was an epic day full of nervous tension and magnificent golf from both teams, and in the end threw up the most unlikely heroes.
In 1989 it was Christy O'Connor Jnr at The Belfry, in 1995 Philip Walton at Oak Hill, in 1997 Costantino Rocca at Valderrama, and before that Torrance himself in the same Belfry arena. This time it was another Irishman in Paul McGinley, who holed an 11 foot par putt on the 18th green to secure the half point against Jim Furyk that finally saw Europe home.
Europe's winning margin of three points is the biggest since that historic victory in 1985 at The De Vere Belfry.
With the scores level at 8-8 going into the singles, Torrance sent out his experienced men to lead from the front in the hope of securing some early points and gaining some early momentum.
It proved a winning strategy as Colin Montgomerie hit top form to secure the first point with a 5 and 4 victory over Scott Hoch. The reliable Bernhard Langer then won the battle of the 44 year olds by 4 and 3 over Hal Sutton, repeating the success he achieved in 1985, then by 5 and 4.
Padraig Harrington added a further point by 5 and 4 over Mark Calcavecchia and although Sergio Garcia lost a two-hole lead in his see-saw match to David Toms by one hole, Darren Clarke dug deep to gain a half with David Duval.
Blue numbers continued to sweep across the leaderboard as Europe dominated the top half of the draw. Denmark's Thomas Bjorn moved ahead of Stewart Cink for the first time on the fifth and never looked back, eventually winning his match 2 and 1 to keep the momentum firmly with the European Team.
There was never a doubt that this would prove another close call and when Scott Verplank edged out Lee Westwood 2 and 1, the United States had closed the gap to two points.
Europe still needed two points for victory and with US Captain Curtis Strange putting his 'big guns' at the bottom of the order, the finishing line was still a long way off. Enter the European rookies, who stood tall in Europe's hour of need.
Sweden's Niclas Fasth was never behind against Paul Azinger and led by one playing the last. But the doughty American holed an amazing bunker shot for a birdie three to snatch a half point. Meanwhile Welshman Phillip Price rose to the occasion with a sensational 3 and 2 win over World Number Two Phil Mickelson.
Just half a point was needed and it was left to McGinley, who had trailed for most of his match with Jim Furyk to achieve it. He levelled with a birdie four at the 17th before getting up-and-down from wide of the 18th, holing from 11 feet to bring The Ryder Cup home.
Pierre Fulke gained a half with Davis Love III, while his fellow Swede, Jesper Parnevik, secured another half when Tiger Woods conceded his four-foot par putt on the final green.
The 34th Ryder Cup Matches, tragically postponed a year ago, proved to be another gripping sporting spectacle and the many fans of both teams will eagerly await another serving at Oakland |
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