Monty the Lord of the Manor as Europe win the Ryder Cup (Roundup)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Oct 4, 2010, 19:14 GMT

Newport, Wales - European captain Colin Montgomerie's decision on Monday to play Graeme McDowell in the last match proved to be a master-stroke, as the Irishman gave his team the point they needed to win the Ryder Cup for the 11th time.

McDowell's 3&1 victory against Hunter Mahan on the 2010 course at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, gave Europe a 14.5-13.5 victory.

A tearful Montgomerie - who never won a major, but whose Ryder Cup career is one of the best - hugged his players on the 17th tee after Mahan conceded a five-foot putt to give McDowell the hole and the match and Europe the game.

After the players and Montgomerie had celebrated their victory with the fans with a champagne bath from a balcony in the clubhouse, the captain received the Ryder Cup from Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones during the victory ceremony.

The Scotsman said he expected a great match and great support.

'The world was watching and Wales delivered. We thank fans for their fairness and appreciation of the game,' he said.

Montgomerie said that this was one of the best moments of his golfing career, but then corrected himself: 'This is the greatest moment of my golfing career.'

At the ceremony, American captain Corey Pavin congratulated Montgomerie and his players on the win.

'Colin and your team, congratulations on a fantastic victory. You guys played better than us, just a little bit, but I congratulate each and every one of you,' he said.

He then paid a tribute to his players.

'I am proud of all of you. We were down in matches, the way you fought back, we nearly got there today,' he said.

'I am very proud of their resolve and their fine play. I can only say it has been an honour and a privilege to call them teammates,' Pavin added, holding back tears.

Earlier, Montgomerie's decision to place McDowell, one of his strongest players, in the last match worked fantastically, as the US Open champion became the European hero.

European player Ian Poulter, who beat Matt Kuchar 5&4 for one of the points on the final day, admitted that there had been some discussion to put McDowell last.

'There was a reason why he was put there and the US Open Champion pulled it off,' he said.

McDowell said that he could not find the words to describe his feelings about the Ryder Cup.

'Trying to win it for your 11 other teammates, the caddies, the fans here have just been unbelievable. There's nothing quite like it,' he said.

'I was really nervous there. I was so nervous. It's a different feeling to winning a major, it is just so much pressure,' he added.

Going into the concluding singles matches, Europe had a three- point lead, but had to wait until the very last match until they managed to secure the fifth point they needed.

Finally, after three days of rain and poor weather conditions - which forced play to continue past Sunday for the first time in the history of the competition - the players took to the course on Monday morning with the sun shining, and it seemed to shine brightly on the European team as they had the early momentum.

But after failing to convert that into points, the Americans fought their way back into the game with a number of magnificent performances.

Tiger Woods, who was down by two after the fifth, came back strongly and hit five birdies and an eagle between the ninth and 15th hole to beat Francesco Molinari 4&3.

It then appeared that the other Molinari brother, Edoardo, could practically ensure victory to Europe, but a late comeback from fellow rookie Rickie Fowler saw the American birdie the last four holes to halve the match.

It then all came down to McDowell, who needed to win his match to give Europe the one-point lead, as the Americans would retain the trophy if the game ended in a draw.

Mahan birdied the 15th to take the match to 1-down, but the golfer from Northern Ireland bounced straight back with a birdie on the 16th to go back to 2-up.

The par-3 17th was then to prove decisive as McDowell played his tee-shot on the edge of the green, while Mahan left his well short and failed to reach the green with his second.

McDowell played his second close to the pin and when Mahan failed to hole his third for the par, he conceded - giving Europe not only the match, but also the title.

Europe has now held the trophy twelve times, as they once retained it after drawing against the Americans.

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