Ryder Cup team pick up another trophy

Ian Woosnam has expressed his delight after Europe's Ryder Cup side, beaten to the BBC Team of the Year award by St Helens Rugby League Club, were named today as the Golf Writers' Trophy winners for 2006.

Woosnam captained Europe to an unprecedented third successive victory over the Americans at the K Club and the team matched their record nine-point winning margin from two years ago.

Darren Clarke, whose courageous and unbeaten performance just six weeks after losing his wife Heather to cancer was the highlight of an emotional week in Ireland, was the runner-up in the annual poll and Richie Ramsay, the first Scot to win the US Amateur Championship since 1898, finished a close third.

"At last!" said Woosnam. "Thank God we've won a prize after that BBC fiasco. I am very honoured, both for myself and on behalf of the players. It was an unbelievable performance. To get 18 1/2 points, to equal the record and also to win all five series of play for the first time ever is the stuff of dreams.

"It was a very special week. It was the best week of my life without question, very hard but the best. I can't say enough about my wonderful players and the way they played."

Clarke won three matches out of three at the K Club despite having played only one tournament in the previous two months.

"I am very grateful for all the recognition I have received and I would especially like to thank the golf writers for their support, not just this year, but throughout my career," said the Irishman.

"But for the Ryder Cup team to win this trophy is absolutely the right result. To win as we did was a stunning performance and Woosie was fantastic as our captain. We had 12 players all playing to their best and I was just proud to play my part."

Ramsay described himself as "just a guy from Aberdeen who loves playing golf" after he defeated John Kelly in the final of the US Amateur at Hazeltine.

He became the first Scot to win the title since Finlay Douglas in 1898 and the first Briton since Harold Hilton in 1911. He will play in three major championships in 2007, including the Open at Carnoustie.

Ramsay finished ahead of Ryder Cup players Paul Casey and Padraig Harrington, while Laura Davies, who won the Order of Merit on the Ladies European Tour for the seventh time, also featured in the voting.