Europe’s 18.5 to 9.5 record-setting victory over the U.S. at Oakland Hills Country Club was best summarized by Spain’s 24-year-old Sergio Garcia. “I think that this whole team and also myself, we just live for this,” said Garcia, who scored 4.5 of a possible 5 points to tie for team- leading honors.
Europe’s most dominant performance over the U.S. in 77 years began in the opening match and continued through the last putt in Sunday’s final match.
Europe earned its second consecutive triumph, fourth of the past five meetings and seventh of the past 10.
The U.S. owns a 24-9-2 overall record, but the gap that existed prior to 1983 has shrunk to the diameter of a cup on a green.
It was the European Team, guided by Captain Bernhard Langer of Germany, which made the most of its putting expertise.
On Sunday, Europe took its team play to another level, winning the singles, 7.5 to 4.5, repeating its showing in 2002 on the final day.
Lee Westwood closed out Kenny Perry with a par putt on the 18th green, earning a 1-up victory that put Europe within a half point of retaining the Ryder Cup for another two years.
Minutes later, veteran Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, who had never been defeated in singles, holed a par putt to win his match over David Toms, 1-up, pushing Europe to 14.5 points to retain the Cup.