Europe 14½ USA 13½ – Europe Regain the Ryder Cup
It may have been Monday but the drama on the final day of the 2010 Ryder Cup was everything that Sir Terry Matthews wanted it to be. Graeme McDowell, playing in the final match, won the 17th hole to clinch a one-point victory for Europe.
Fans spilled onto the green as Hunter Mahan removed his cap to shake the Northern Irishman’s hand, conceding the hole and the match. The scene was fantastic. The weather was perfect. Europe had won a thriller in Wales.
McDowell holed a 15-foot putt on the 16th green, after Hunter Mahan had left his approach short, to go two up with two to play. The 17th secured a three-and-one victory.
“I got asked earlier to compare the back nine on Sunday at Pebble Beach [where McDowell won the US Open earlier this year] to how I felt out there today,” said McDowell, “I can safely say, that I’ve never felt that nervous on a golf course in my life before.
“We said we weren’t going to check out leaderboards; the guys playing down the order were not going to focus on what was going on out there. But the screens by every green were quite big, and it was kind of tough to not notice.”
McDowell said he knew he would be put down the order and was happy for a tough match. His contest with Mahan turned out to be crucial. “I looked up at the scoreboard on the 10th green and I realised that things were really, really tight and chances were the last matches were going to come into play. Obviously I hoped I wasn’t going to be needed.
“It was a different level completely to what Pebble Beach was, and you know, this is why this golf tournament is extremely special and will continue to be probably the greatest golf event on the planet.”
McDowell’s match became a must-win for Europe after Eduardo Molinari had halved his match with Ricky Fowler. Molinari was four up with six to play, but contrived to lose the last three holes.
Fowler, playing his first Ryder Cup, went on a run with birdies at the final four holes to grasp a precious half point for the Americans.
But despite winning the singles seven-five, the USA left themselves with too much to do after being blown away yesterday afternoon. A session of golf Colin Montgomerie said was where the Ryder Cup was won.
Many expected a straightforward victory for Europe with a strong top order in the singles. But Lee Westwood ran into Steve Stricker in superb form. Westwood made six birdies and an eagle but lost on the 17th as he pulled his tee shot right, onto the path.
Rory McIlroy was held to a half by Stewart Cink as the Americans pulled to within a point as Dustin Johnson comfortably beat Martin Kaymer six-and-four.
It was very nervy stuff for the home fans – out in decent numbers despite the match rolling into a fourth day. Ian Poulter did his patriotic best to calm nerves with a big win, five-and-four over Matt Kuchar. “I said this morning on the range that I would deliver a point. I’m pretty passionate about this format. I love The Ryder Cup. I always have,” said Poulter.
“I’ve watched so many matches over the years, Seve, Ollie, Colin, Nick, all the guys; they just pour out passion upon passion in this event. I love it. I love it from the first tee. I love it from the songs. And I love it with all 11 teammates. It truly is the best tournament in the world, and will always be.”
There was plenty of praise for the Ryder Cup. The tournament’s importance to the Americans has always been under question, but Hunter Mahan crying in the press conference was testament that this means a lot to them. “It’s right that he [Mahan] should be up there gutted,” said Lee Westwood.
The competition provided terrific drama. Further agony for Europe came as Ross Fisher slid a putt to stay in his match past the right hand edge of the 16th hole. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson came out with big wins, over Francesco Molinari and Peter Hanson respectively. The Americans were on a charge.
Europe had to hold what they had. What they had was the bare minimum five points. Luke Donald was taken to the 18th by Jim Furyk but he held a one-shot lead. Miguel Angel Jimenez came up with a four-and-three win over Bubba Watson – a surprise result to many.
Jimenez, 46, said he was still passionate to play in the Ryder Cup, despite so many young guys around him. “I believe probably this is my last Ryder Cup,” said Jimenez, “but if I am able to play in two years’ time, I will be there on the team, of course. But I hope, also, these new people who are coming, who are going to defend the Cup for us, we just have to give the way to them. It’s life.”
Life for Colin Montgomerie is now, if not perfect, content. No-one could doubt that Monty deserved to captain a winning Ryder Cup team after playing in eight events and never losing a singles match. His failure to win a major is compensated by his achievement in the Ryder Cup and naturally he described today as the greatest moment in his golfing career.
“I think we all knew in the team how much this meant to Monty,” said Padraig Harrington, “he’s done so well as a player; it is only fitting that he wins as a captain.
“But things don’t work out like that. You don’t automatically get guaranteed to be a winning captain just because you’re a winning player. I think everybody in the team was aware that this was the one opportunity you would get to really cap off an unbelievable Ryder Cup career, and we didn’t want to let him down.”
They didn’t. Just. Monty takes home the golden chalice.
