While America views this fantastic 39th edition of the Ryder Cup as a 'meltdown" Europe views it as the "greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history" and today is proof of that,,
1. europeantour.com José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, has sent a personal message of congratulations to José María Olazábal, who guided his European Team to a famous 14½-13½ victory over their American counterparts.
President Barosso said: “On behalf of the European Commission, I would like to congratulate you and your team on a magnificent victory. To beat such a talented US team, to retain The Ryder Cup and win on American soil is a great tribute to your superb leadership and the unity of the European team. You have fittingly honoured the legacy of Seve Ballesteros, and cemented your own place in the history of this great competition.
“You have brought together under the European flag a team of players with many different nationalities, languages and cultures from many different parts of Europe. Your victory will be an inspiration to so many people in Europe.”
europeantour.com..
2. Europe may have taken 8½ points from 12 singles matches to win The Ryder Cup, but Captain José María Olazábal believes the seeds were sown the previous afternoon.
The Spaniard saw his players win the final two fourballs on Saturday to cut the deficit to 10-6 going into the final day, giving them hope and crucial momentum.
Ian Poulter birdied his last five holes as he and Rory McIlroy beat Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, while Olazabal’s compatriot Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald saw off Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.
Olazabal said: “The most important part of the week was Saturday afternoon. That session was crucial and I think the players got the feeling of the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup.
“Down the stretch the crowds were very loud but we managed to turn the tide that afternoon session, and I think that was key.
“The way those last two matches went turned around the whole context of The Ryder Cup.”
Olazabal hailed the victory as the greatest moment of his career and paid tribute to his close friend Seve Ballesteros, who died last year.
“It’s going to take a little while before it completely sinks in,” Olazabal added.
“It’s been a very emotional week, especially when things were not going our way, but yesterday everything turned round for us, our players made the putts and had the right breaks at the right times.
Seve
3. Europe’s triumphant players had Seve Ballesteros on their minds after their remarkable Ryder Cup victory in Medinah.
The team wore the colours so associated with Ballesteros – a navy jumper, trousers and white shirt – in the Sunday singles, with an iconic silhouette of the five-time Major winner on their shirt sleeves.
The image recreates Ballesteros’ most famous pose, a clenched-fist salute to the crowd after holing the winning putt in The 1984 Open Championship at St Andrews – an image the Spaniard used for his own company and had tattooed on his left arm.
Ballesteros, who captained Europe to victory in his native Spain in 1997 after playing in the biennial contest eight times, died in May last year after a long illness, but was always going to be a key figure during the captaincy of his Ryder Cup partner and close friend José María Olazábal.
“I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day, because there’s no chance I would have won my match if he wasn’t there,” said Sergio Garcia, who won the last two holes to claim a crucial win over Jim Furyk.
“It was amazing, and it feels so good to be able to win it for him and for our Captain, José.”
Justin Rose had spoken fondly about Ballesteros earlier in the week, remembering how the late, great Spaniard had consoled him during the run of 21 consecutive missed cuts at the start of his professional career.
After also winning the last two holes – both with birdies – to beat Phil Mickelson, the Englishman said: “In the moment you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, but as soon as I came off the green after holing that putt (on the 18th), my first thought was for Seve, absolutely.
“I had a glance down and looked at my left sleeve, and that’s the kind of stuff he would have done today.”
Rose’s close friend and compatriot Ian Poulter was another European player to win the last two holes of his match, making it four wins out of four and an amazing 12 wins in his 15 Ryder Cup matches.
Speaking afterwards, he paid tribute to both Olazábal and Ballesteros, saying: “My Captain picked me to come and play so I owed it to him, and Seve, to win today. It’s been special.”
This week in Scotland..
Ryder Cup heroes Martin Kaymer, Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson can expect a rousing reception this week when they return to European soil to compete in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course at St Andrews.
The European trio will be back on the more familiar footing of The Race to Dubai after the Miracle of Medinah – and for Kaymer and Lawrie the week represents another opportunity to capture a title at the Home of Golf.
Lawrie, who recorded the biggest victory in the singles of The Ryder Cup in Chicago by defeating Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3, was the first Scottish winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2001 and the 43 year old can expect a happy homecoming after playing a key role in the 14 ½ - 13 ½ victory over the United States.
Hero of the hour Kaymer will be hoping history repeats itself in Scotland, having helped seal a miraculous Ryder Cup victory for Europe with his last green success over Steve Stricker at Medinah. Two years ago the German played his part in the thrilling 14½-13½ victory at The Celtic Manor Resort and the following week won the prestigious links event.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and on www.isr1050.com and on http://nsstvradio.com
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