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Europe Wins Ryder Cup

04 October 2010 22:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Europeâ€™s golfers have reclaimed the Ryder Cup, beating the United States by a single point, 14 1/2 to 13 1/2, in a dramatic finish, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
The rain-delayed international team event at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, had to be extended one day, ending on a Monday for the first time in the competitionâ€™s 73-year history.
The Europeans had a seemingly commanding three-point lead heading into Mondayâ€™s 12 singles matches, but the United States battled back into contention by winning six of them and halving two, to square the match at 13 1/2 â€“ 13 1/2.
Facing Europeâ€™s U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, American Hunter Mahan needed to halve the last match to earn the half point needed to retain the Cup. But Mahan flubbed his chip shot on the 17th hole, then missed his last-chance putt from off the green to give McDowell a 3 and 1 victory and the decisive point to claim the Ryder Cup.
Sunday had been one of the greatest days in European Ryder Cup history, as the hosts won both of the rain-delayed foursomes matches and three of the four fourballs matches. That rallied the Europeans from a two-point deficit to a three-point advantage, and as it turned out, they needed every bit of it.
Europe team captain Colin Montgomerie and his American counterpart Corey Pavin had both predicted a close contest that could come down to a final singles match and it did.
The Ryder Cup is a biennial event which pits a 12-man team from Europe against 12 players from the United States. The defending champion needs 14 points to retain the Cup while the challenger must earn 14 1/2 to claim it. The U.S. team has not won the Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993.
Reports say the biennial Ryder Cup is the third most watched sporting event in the world behind footballâ€™s World Cup and the Olympics.