Graeme McDowell delighted with Ryder Cup win
Europe’s Graeme McDowell has spoken of his delight after helping Europe to win back the Ryder Cup from the United States.
US Open champion McDowell was the difference-maker in a nail-biting finish when he won the final singles match 3&2 over Hunter Mahan to give Europe a 14½-13½ victory.
McDowell had to win his match for Europe to lift the cup as, if it had ended in a tie, the US would have retained the trophy. However, the Northern Irishman held his nerve to pick up the win when he birdied the 16th and Mahan conceded the following hole
and therefore the match.
'Absolutely amazing'
He said that: "That was absolutely amazing. The putt on the 16th was stuff I have dreamed about all my life. The US Open felt like the back nine with my dad back in Portrush compared to this. We said we weren't going to check out the leaderboards but the
screens by every green were quite big so it was tough not to notice. On the 10th green I realised it was really tight and the chances were the last matches were going to come into play, but I hoped I wouldn't be needed.”
The 31-year-old added that Europe captain Colin Montgomerie had been an important influence in the team’s victory. He said that: "Colin Montgomerie has been amazing for the last two years, he's been right up for this. There's nothing like Monty, he is the
Ryder Cup for Europe and to do that for him today was very, very special. It's an amazing feeling, there's nothing quite like it."
Europe’s victory means that they have now won four of the last five Ryder Cups and six of the last eight. The next match will take place at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois in 2012.
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