Monty hails McDowell

European Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie has hailed Graeme McDowell's birdie putt on the 17th hole and admitted that moment will live with him for "many, many years".

Super Mac's superb performance in the singles helped the Europeans clinch victory at Celtic Manor yesterday with the final day going down the last match for the first time in 19 years, US Open champion McDowell saw Europe over the finish line finishing 3&1 over Hunter Mahan sealed a 14½-13½ success.

"There were some superb victories with Luke Donald's victory down the last hole and of course G-Mac's.

"To hold him as 12th man, if you like, towards the end was a good decision by us all.
Fantastic

"He was the Wales Open champion on this golf course, he is the current US Open champion and he was put there for a reason because he can handle himself in that situation and by God he did.

"That birdie on the 16th will live in my memory and live in all our memories for many, many years to come."

Europe win the Ryder Cup

Europe have today won the Ryder Cup beating USA 14½ to 13½, after much rain this weekend the Ryder Cup final day went into Monday with Europe leading 9½-6½ overnight. With both Lee Westwood and Rory McIlory losing groundb. The stage was set for Graeme McDowell to steal the show and win it for Europe. USA had struggled to find any consistency and were always chasing Europe clawing back 13½ each and the Ryder Cup came down to the final match thanks to some clutch putting by 21-year-old Rickie Fowler. But it was then left for McDowell to finish things off nicely.


Needing a full point to secure the win, US Open champion McDowell sent cheers reverberating around the course as he sunk a brilliantly-judged 15-foot putt for birdie at the 16th to move two-up with two to play. Victory was then confirmed when Mahan, following a poor chip, failed to sink a long putt for his par at the short 17th, conceding McDowell's putt to hand Europe to spark wild European celebrations.

FINAL SCORE: EUROPE 14½ – USA 13½
Match 1: Westwood v Stricker - US wins 2&1
Match 2: McIlroy v Cink - Halved
Match 3: Donald v Furyk - EUR wins 1 UP
Match 4: Kaymer v D Johnson - USA win 6&4
Match 5: Poulter v Kuchar - EUR wins 5&4
Match 6: Fisher v Overton - USA wins 3&2
Match 7: Jimenez v Watson - EUR wins 4&3
Match 8: F Molinari v Woods - USA wins 4&3
Match 9: E Molinari v Fowler - Halved
Match 10: Hanson v Mickelson - USA wins 4&2
Match 11: Harrington v Z Johnson - USA wins 3&2
Match 12: McDowell v Mahan EUR wins 2 up

Monty confident on Westwood's fitness

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie says he is encouraged by news of Lee Westwood's fitness battle ahead of the contest in October.

The world number three was forced to pull out of this week's USPGA Championship because of a calf injury and has been advised to rest.

"He will be hitting balls in four weeks, which is great news for everybody in Europe," said Montgomerie.

"Our team will be greatly weakened if he didn't make it, so I'm delighted."

"That gives him still another couple of weeks to prepare," said Montgomerie.

"He wants to play in the preceding event (The Vivendi in Paris on September 23-26) and I would be glad to see him there.

"But if he doesn't I'm sure three practice rounds around Celtic Manor will be good enough for Lee."

GOLF: Colin Montgomerie names three vice captains

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has named Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley as his vice-captains. Europe face United States in the Ryder Cup which is due to take place at Celtic Manor in Wales in October. Europe are looking to regain the Cup after losing out the United States last year.

Europe are favourites for this years tournament after great success from European players this season, vice captain Paul McGinley added, "Based on world rankings, we're clear favourites,"

He added, "It's not often you can say that about a European side, usually it is only the Americans that are clear favourites. This is undoubtedly one of the strongest European teams we have had."