Under captain Ian Woosnam, the European Ryder Cup team had a record-equalling 18½-9½ victory over the United States at the K Club near Dublin in September, equalling their winning margin of two years earlier at Oakland Hills. Europe have now beaten the United States in five of the last six matches. It was also the first time Europe had achieved three straight victories.
The winning European team was Paul Casey, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, David Howell, Robert Karlsson, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, José Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood
Woosnam’s decision to choose Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood as ‘captain’s picks’ turned out to be an inspired move, with Clarke winning all three of his matches and Westwood finishing as Europe's joint leading points scorer on four with Sergio Garcia.
Woosnam dedicated the win to Darren Clarke's wife Heather who died of cancer six weeks before the Ryder Cup.
US captain Tom Lehman said: “I just don’t think there’s ever been a European team which has played better. They played tough and were full of emotion and passion.”
