From Paul Gallagher at the Belfry
Paul McGinley reached the pinnacle of his career this afternoon by holing the all-important putt on the final green which gave Europe victory in the 34th Ryder Cup at the Belfry.
"I knew how important the putt was it was, it was to win the Ryder Cup, and fortunately I was given the opportunity," said McGinley.
Sam Torrance's bold decision to pack the front order with his best players in the final day singles reaped huge dividends as Europe, led by an influential Colin Montgomerie in the top match, won by a 15' - 12' margin.
"I will be honest with you, only the birth of my children and the marriage to my wife has been more special than this. I will remember this moment forever," said an emotional Torrance.
McGinley realised his life-long dream when he made a par at the last to halve his match with the `American Eagle' Jim Furyk. The Dubliner made it difficult for himself by pulling his 200yard approach so far left it was closer to the ninth green than the last.
But he answered the call when it was needed. A recovery pitch to within nine feet set up the all-important putt as another Irishman went down in the annals of Ryder Cup folklore. Philip Walton was the only other Irishman to secure the vital point in Europe's win at Oakhill in 1995.
But who from these shores could forget the achievements of Christy O'Connor Jnr when he played the infamous 2-iron into the 18th at this very venue and Eamonn Darcy's input at the Muirfield Village in at 1987 as Europe retained the Cup for the first time.
McGinley was praised for his efforts by being thrown into the lake, which protrudes the 18th, by his teammates. His only lifeline was a national flag which he proudly absorbed himself in much to the delight of the waiting photographers.
Montgomerie was unquestionably Europe's guiding light over the whole week (four-and-a-half points out of a possible five) and today his 5&4 trouncing of Scott Hoch set the pattern for the day as Europe won the singles - 7'-4'- for only the third time in the Cup's history.
Curtis Strange may in due course come in for criticism for the way he approached the singles. By leaving his best players like Tiger Woods to the end, he effectively rendered their input useless as the Ryder Cup had already been won by the time their match was going to count. The US Captain's logic was to have his `Big Guns' there at the death should the match have gone to the wire.
"This has been fantastic, honest to goodness...We just got a European butt-whipping today," said Strange who remained upbeat.
That said, Phillip Price produced the biggest upset of the day in the penultimate match when he defeated the world number two Phil Mickelson 3&2, bucking any theory Strange had to call on his best players. As all around him were building up to into a frenzy, Price appeared the calmest man at the Warwickshire venue in surely another high-point in the career of another European player.
If Montgomerie set the initiative, then players like Padraig Harrington and Bernhard Langer were the best support act you could ask for. First the Dubliner more than redeemed himself from a slow start to the week with a convincing 5&4 win over Mark Calcavecchia in the fifth match. Moments later the evergreen Langer was never in trouble during his 4&3 victory Hal Sutton, a point which breathed real hope through the rest of the team in the lower order.
The dogged figure of Paul Azinger popped up with a miraculous bunker shot at the 18th to put European celebrations on hold for a little while longer. The Florida resident holed from the sand for birdie when it looked as though Niclas Fasth would have two putts from the right-hand side of the green to secure victory. He didn't and that opened the door for McGinley's heroics.
Ironically, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were the only players on the European side to lose their singles after contributing so much over the first two days in the fourball series. El Nino went down by one hole to, arguably the most consistent American performer, David Toms in the second match while Westwood never had an answer for Scott Verplank. The Englishman eventually lost 2&1 but the initial damage was done when he lost the opening three holes to birdie.
In the other games Darren Clarke had a hard fought battle with David Duval in a match where both shared the point. It was a fair result and ensured no Irishman lost on the final day. Thomas Bjorn was defiant throughout in his victory over Stuart Cink while Davis Love III and Woods conceded their matches as halves when the result of their games were no longer relevant.
This has been a memorable occasion, one of the sporting highlights in anyone's lifetime. To have witnessed this spectacle first hand has been nothing short of a privilege.
How the final day singles were won in chronological order:
Match 1 C Montgomerie beat S Hoch (5&4)
Match 5 P Harrington beat M Calcavecchia (5&4)
Match 4 B Langer beat H Sutton (4&3)
Match 2 S Garcia lost to D Toms (1hole)
Match 3 D Clarke halved with D Duval
Match 6 T Bjorn beat S Cink (2&1)
Match 7 L Westwood lost to S Verplank (3&2)
Match 8 N Fasth halved with P Azinger
Match 11 P Price beat P Mickelson 3&2
Match 9 P McGinley halved with J Furyk
Match 10 P Fulke halved with D Love III
Match 12 J Parnevik halved with T Woods