Cool McDowell guides Monty's marvels to Ryder Cup victory

The 47-year-old Scot is to hand over the captaincy for the trip to Medinah, Chicago in 2012 when Europe will defend the famous trophy they fought so hard to win over the last four days.

The captain cut an emotional figure on the 17th green yesterday as Graeme McDowell anchored his European team to victory against a defiant United States at Celtic Manor.

The Ulsterman won the battle of nerves in the decisive game with Hunter Mahan by holing a 10-foot putt on the 16th before closing out the match at the next to secure a dramatic victory for Europe.

But as ever with European victories it was a team effort, and while McDowell took the plaudits from his fellow players, his inspirational captain was quick to acknowledge the contribution of all 12 players.

"This match wasn't won (yesterday), it was won on Sunday evening with five and a half points out of six, giving us the three-point advantage," said Montgomerie, acknowledging the near whitewash Europe inflicted on Corey Pavin's men on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

"The Americans were brilliant (yesterday), they came out strong and they battled hard.

"But we won this; we won this because we were three points ahead and that was a team effort.

"That was the whole team gaining at least a half in that session. That's why we won the Ryder Cup.

"And I thank every one of the guys here who helped me in my quest to be a winning captain, I thank you all."

The United States won the singles 7-5 and came within half a point of retaining the Cup they won at Valhalla two years ago.

That performance ended an era of dominance for Europe and reignited a passion for the match among the Americans.

It continued yesterday as Pavin's men showed tremendous spirit and almost pulled off a comeback to rival that of Brookline in 1999 as Steve Stricker toppled Lee Westwood at the top of the order to spark a red storm.

But Europe's unity proved indestructable. The response came from Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who all won their matches, while Rory McIlroy gained a priceless half against the Americans' player of the week, Stewart Cink.

The Cup was hanging in the balance when Rickie Fowler birdied the last four holes to salvage a half out of a match Edoardo Molinari looked destined to win when dormie three up.

But US Open champion McDowell overcame his nerves and the pressure of performing in front of 35,000 mud-soaked spectators, who made this historic Ryder Cup one to remember for decades to come, by prevailing against Mahan.

"It's the proudest moment to captain these fantastic players and to captain them to success," said Montgomerie, who never lost a singles match in eight Ryder Cups as a player.

"I have a reasonable playing record in this competition but I never had a winning record as a captain.

"And you only have one go. And it was down to us (yesterday) to do what we had to do."

Jose Maria Olazabal is the likely successor. The Spaniard was drafted in as a vice-captain on Saturday after the first of two lengthy rain delays at the stunning South Wales course forced a change to the format.

"I think it's only right the captaincy should be shared between the very good candidates we have now in Europe," added Montgomerie.

Then, by way of job done, he said: "This trophy is back in European hands. Europe's a big place. The Ryder Cup is in Europe and we are delighted that it is."

Despite Montgomerie deflecting the attention from himself and McDowell as best he could, Padraig Harrington – one of six Europeans to lose their matches on what was nearly a red letter day for the USA – led the tributes to one of the Ryder Cup's most passionate disciples.

The three-time major winner, who has played on three of the last four European teams to win on home soil dating back to 1997, said: "I know Colin says that it was all about the team, and it is very much that way and that's what he kept us thinking; but I think we all knew in the team how much this meant to Monty.

"He's done so well as a player, it's only fitting that he win as captain. Things don't always work out like that – you don't automatically get guaranteed to be a winning captain just because you were a winning player.

"I think everyone in the team was aware this was the one opportunity he would get to cap a really unbelievable Ryder Cup career and we didn't want to let him down.

"As much as he didn't play on that, it was very obvious to the team members that he deserved it. We wanted to deliver for Monty.

"As a team we wanted to guarantee that his captaincy would do his playing career justice, and it did. Well done, Monty."