Ryder Cup Result: Europe do it by the slimmest of margins!

Ryder Cup Betting / Joe Dyer / 04 October 2010 / 1

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

More Ryder Cup glory for Colin Montgomerie

"After surging into early leads across the majority of the singles matches Europe suffered an American backlash."

Home team regain the Ryder Cup but it's no easy ride on the final day at Celtic Manor

Europe have won the Ryder Cup 14.5-13.5 on a day of top-quality sporting drama at Celtic Manor.

In contrast to the rain soaked course of the first few days, players teed off beneath bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds in south Wales.

After surging into early leads across the majority of the singles matches Europe suffered an American backlash, seeing a board once dominated by blue gradually turn red as a three point lead was chipped back to the slimmest of margins.

Lee Westwood, sent off as the standard bear, saw an early lead hauled in and overturned by Steve Stricker while young German Martin Kaymer was dominated by Dustin Johnson, losing 6&4. Rory Mclroy scored the first points of the day when he halved his game with Stewart Cink, while Luke Donald struck back for Europe with a final hole win over Jim Furyk.

Blows were traded after that with Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez despatching Matt Kouchar and Bubba Watson to add two European points to the board. Tiger Woods and Jeff Overton got past Francesco Molinari and Ross Fisher to nullify the European gains.

With Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson holding significant advantages over Peter Hanson and Padraig Harrington it was soon down to Edoardo Molinari and Graeme McDowell to land the European win which has seemed such a shoo-in at the beginning of the day.

However, four birdies on the last quartet of holes from Rickie Fowler obliterated Molinari's advantage and he could only secure a half point. And with that it was all over to the Irish US Open champion who was two up on Hunter Mahan.

But in contrast to the drama elsewhere, Mahan could not apply the pressure needed and a choice drive, iron and one putt from McDowell on the 16th ensured he could not lose the game. A duffed chip by Mahan on the par-three 17th meant winning a point was a near impossibility for the American who conceded.

Cue the celebrations.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(1)

Mike Norman | 04 October 2010

Yes, great drama - my nerves are shot to bits.

Massive credit to Monty, he could easily have loaded the top half with his stars and tried to win the cup early. But he paid huge respect to the USA team by putting US Open champion McDowell out last, knowing that the Ryder Cup could be decided by that match.

He was right, and McDowell held his nerve... just!

But as you say Joe, cue the celebrations. All round my house for a few pints of Guiness and some episodes of Eurotrash.

Europe, Europe, Europe!!!