Graeme McDowell Seals Ryder Cup Win

Graeme McDowell brought the Ryder Cup back to Europe as the tussle with the USA went right down to the final match of the singles, Europe winning by the slimmest of margins.

After a superb third day, which saw Europe take 5 1/2 points from six, Colin Montgomerie and his men were 9 1/2 points up over America's 6 1/2 and they needed five points from the final twelve matches for the Ryder Cup to return to Europe.

Lee Westwood was the first man out yesterday morning and while he made a good start he couldn't hold off Steve Stricker and he couldn't deliver the start that Montgomerie had hoped for.

Rory McIlroy found himself in a major tussle with Stewart Cink, and it came down to the eighteenth hole were the rookie was able to snatch a very valuable half point.

There were wins for Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ian Poulter, who put in the performance of the day as he crushed Kuchar 5&4, as Europe inched towards victory.

But Ross Fisher threw away a lead to let Jeff Overton get a win as America began to battle back. Mickelson hadn't got a single point all weekend but he finally got himself on the board as he saw off Hanson 4&2.

Do you remember Tiger Woods? Well he looked like he was getting back towards his best, despite a slow start against Francesco Molinari.

The Italian went two up over Woods after the first two holes but Woods finally found his rhythm and delivered one of the shots of the day, an eagle on the twelfth.

With Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer falling to Zach Jonhson and Dustin Johnson the USA had clawed their way back into the tie with just two matches left on the course.

Edoardo Molinari was leading American rookie Fowler three up with three to play but the twenty one year old showed great heart to fight back and he levelled the match on the eighteenth to see each side gain a half point.

at 13 1/2 points a piece it all came down to the final match, Greame McDowell was taking on Hunter Mahan, and Europe needed the full point to bring the Ryder Cup home.

The Irishman, who won his first major earlier this year birdied the sixteenth to leave himself two up with two to play. And when Mahan fluffed his chip onto the front of the green.

While McDowell didn't give his putt enough to sink it Mahan had to see his 18 foot shot fall in the hole or it was all over for the USA.

And Mahan saw his ball go wide and Europe had sealed a great win 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw