Europe clinched the Ryder Cup 18½-9½ at Oakland Hills, Detroit, against an American team which included Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III. It was the biggest ever margin in the event’s 77-year history, surpassing the 16½-11½ defeat in 1985 at The Belfry.
Europe's 18½ points were the most scored by any team since the event was changed in 1979 to include players from Europe as well as the British Isles. It means Europe have now won four of the last five of the biennial matches.
Europe were brilliantly led by captain Bernhard Langer, and they were Inspired by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie who sank the winning putt. Montgomerie, a seven-time Cup veteran, has struggled since winning the last of his seven European titles in 1999, and has suffered the breakdown of his marriage in the last few years.
He needed to be one of the captain’s ‘picks’ to make the team, but the standard of his play was excellent as he stretched his singles record to seven out of seven with victory over David Toms. "We are one of the closest-knit teams in international sport, " enthused Montgomerie afterwards.
