GRAEME McDOWELL held his nerve as Europe regained the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Newport by the narrowest of margins.
McDowell won the final match of a memorable tournament 3&1 against the United States' Hunter Mahan to complete a magnificent year for the Ulsterman after his 2010 US Open success.
The decision to send McDowell out last proved to be prudent captaincy by Europe's Colin Montgomerie as McDowell had won on the course at the Welsh Open in June.
But the key to Europe's victory was the third session of two foursomes and four fourballs, played on Saturday evening and Sunday.
Europe won five of the matches - the other was halved - and it meant Montgomerie's men took a commanding three-point lead into the final session of Singles.
For the first time ever, the Singles had been delayed until the Monday after torrential rain wiped out almost all the playing time on Friday and the whole of Sunday morning.
It was hardly an unforeseeable prospect and the weather called into question the ridiculous decision to play Ryder Cup golf in the United Kingdom in October.
The blame lies with the American PGA Tour which insisted that its end-of-season FedEx Cup took place in mid-September, a space in the calendar usually reserved for the Ryder Cup.
The PGA Tour were able to do this because - unlike in Europe - the responsibility for the Ryder Cup in the United States rests with a separate organisation, namely the PGA of America.
And so, while the Ryder Cup is very much part of the European tour, it is not officially part of the PGA Tour.
That is something which drastically needs to change for the good of the competition and to prevent more October scheduling.
Play actually began at the scheduled time on Friday but was suspended after just two hours at 9.43am as heavy rain waterlogged vast areas of the fairways and greens.
A further two hours of action took place on Friday evening between 5pm and 7pm but none of the first session fourballs could be finished in time.
After a slow start, the US led in two matches by a hole, while Europe led in one match by a hole. A fourth match was all square, meaning there was all to play for when the players resumed on Saturday morning.
But, in the end, none of the matches changed hands and so while Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer won the first point of the tournament for Europe, the United States took an early 2.5-1.5 lead.
USA increased their advantage further in the second session by taking three of the six foursomes matches played on the Saturday afternoon.
The efforts of Padraig Harrington/Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter/Luke Donald meant Europe won two matches while Westwood/Kaymer halved their match against Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler.
But the score after two sessions was 6-4 to the Americans and the possibility of Europe taking a lead going into the Singles matches was fast diminishing.
However, after a pep talk from Montgomerie, the European players emerged for the third session with renewed fire in their bellies and turned the whole tie on its head.
By the end of the two hours of golf played on Saturday evening, Europe had a lead in all six matches.
Westwood and Donald were in particularly inspired form, 4 up after nine holes in a foursomes match against the in-form Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.
Meanwhile, in the other foursomes match, McDowell and his Northern Irish compatriot Rory McIlroy were 3 up through seven on Zach Johnson and Mahan.
And the news was just as good in the four fourballs matches. Harrington/Fisher, Peter Hanson/Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Molinari brothers and Poulter/Kaymer all ended the day holding narrow advantages over Furyk/Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton, Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson/Fowler respectively.
Then, on Sunday, the rain came again, and the slim hopes of avoiding a first Monday finish were washed away, with a revised start time of 1.30pm agreed.
Paths around the course came to resemble the Glastonbury mud at its worst, coincidentally on the day tickets for the 2011 festival went on sale.
By the time the players were back out on the course, Glastonbury 2011 had sold out but this would have not have even registered in European players' minds.
They knew that converting their overnight leads into actual points was vital as it would give them a huge advantage going into the Singles.
Westwood/Donald began a procession of Europe wins with a thumping 6&5 victory over Woods/Stricker.
And, in the other foursomes match, McDowell/McIlroy comfortably held off Zach Johnson/Mahan, winning 3&1 after taking the 17th hole with a birdie.
The fourballs matches were much less clear cut and all four of them went down to the penultimate hole at least.
Harrington/Fisher won 2&1 against Dustin Johnson/Furyk while Hanson/Jimenez won the last hole to beat Watson/Overton 2 up.
Poulter/Kaymer withstood a fine comeback at one stage to all-square by Mickelson/Fowler, eventually prevailing 2&1.
But, despite the best efforts of the Americans, USA never held the lead at any time in those three matches.
Their only chance rested in the match between the Molinari brothers and Cink/Kuchar.
Resuming 1 up, the Italians held that advantage until Kuchar nailed a 12-foot putt at the 10th hole to make the match all-square.
Kuchar then sank a 25-footer at the 13th hole to give the Americans a rare lead before the pairs exchanged holes at 15 and 16.
That left the Molinari brothers one down going to the final hole. Cink and Kuchar both carded par fives meaning either of the Italians could win a half-point with a birdie.
Edoardo missed his putt but Francesco made no mistake from just four-foot out after a fine approach shot.
The Molinaris had only managed to halve their match but, given the circumstances and the other results, it felt like another win.
It was another body blow to the Americans' confidence and it meant Europe would take a three-point lead going into the Singles.
Fears that the extra day might result in smaller crowds proved unfounded as 35,000 watched a dramatic day unfold.
Looking to secure his own Ryder Cup legacy, Europe skipper Montgomerie avoided the mistake of his predecessor Nick Faldo and named his strongest and most in-form players at the top of the order.
But it was the Americans who did better in the top matches as Steve Stricker overturned an early Lee Westwood lead to win the top match 2&1.
Stewart Cink should have won the second match for the Americans but missed a four-foot par putt on the 15th green when one ahead and the match finished all square.
Cink was in good company. In the next match, Furyk also blew several chances against Luke Donald who eventually prevailed 1 up.
Donald, though, was in particularly excellent form, holing from 20 feet on the 12th and the 13th to stay 2 up at that stage.
The next two matches on the card were a thrashing each as Dustin Johnson put away Kaymer 6&4 before Poulter responded for Europe by beating Kuchar 5&4.
Poulter's compatriot Fisher also looked set to score a vital point as he led 2 up at the turn, only for his form to desert him completely on the back nine.
Overton took full advantage and beat Fisher quite comfortably by 3&2 in the end.
That turnaround seemed to boost American spirits down the order with Woods particularly inspired against Francesco Molinari.
The Italian had no answer to Woods' blistering form which saw him shoot nine-under-par in 15 holes to win 4&3.
Mickelson and Zach Johnson had also lined up big wins against Hanson and Harrington, eventually prevailing 4&2 and 3&2 respectively.
And so, with Europe requiring two-and-a-half more points for victory, their Ryder Cup hopes relied on Jimenez, Edoardo Molinari and McDowell keeping their leads and holding their nerve.
Cigar-smoking Jimenez is far too wily and experienced a performer to let an advantage slip and indeed he accelerated away from Watson to win 4&3.
But Ryder Cup debutant Molinari did feel the pressure as rising talent Fowler, also making his debut aged 21, birdied the last four holes to win the last three holes and halve the match.
With the Hanson and Harrington matches out of reach, McDowell knew he would have to retain his lead in the so-called 'anchor match' for Europe to win the cup.
Another half-point would tie the overall score at 14-14 meaning the Americans, as holders, would retain the trophy.
Mahan had just pulled back McDowell to 1 up by winning the 15th hole with a birdie. Now was the time for a steady nerve from the man known as 'GMac'.
McDowell delivered immediately, regaining his two-hole lead with a birdie at the 16th.
And, at the 17th, it was Mahan's turn to feel the heat as he fluffed his chip from the front of the green. On missing the subsequent speculative 18-footer, the American conceded the hole and the match.
It was the first since 1991 that the Ryder Cup had been decided by the final match and Europe had done it - but only just - having actually lost three of the four sessions.
Nevertheless, Europe's victory extends the team's remarkable recent record of six wins out of the last eight editions - and four wins from the last five. Meanwhile the Americans are without an away win since 1993.
SESSION-BY-SESSION: HOW EUROPE WON THE RYDER CUP
Session One: Fourballs USA won 2.5-1.5
As the name suggests, this features four balls, one for each player. The player with the lowest score wins the hole for his team regardless of what his team-mate does. If two opponents have the same lowest score, the hole is halved.
Match one:
Lee Westwood(Eng)/Martin Kaymer(Ger) v Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson
Eur won 3 & 2
Match two:
Rory McIlroy(NI)/Graeme McDowell (NI) v Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Match halved
Match three:
Ian Poulter(Eng)/Ross Fisher(Eng) v Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods
USA won 2 up
Match four:
Luke Donald(Eng)/Padraig Harrington(Ire) v Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton
USA won 3 & 2
Session Two: Foursomes USA won 3.5-2.5
Each pair of players takes alternate shots with the same ball. The pair with the lowest score wins the hole. If both teams shoot the same score, the hole is halved.
Match five:
Edoardo Molinari(Ita)/Francesco Molinari(Ita) v Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan
USA won 2 up
Match six:
Lee Westwood(Eng)/Martin Kaymer(Ger) v Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler
Match halved
Match seven:
Padraig Harrington(Ire)/Ross Fisher(Eng) v Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson
Eur won 3 & 2
Match eight:
Miguel Angel Jimenez(Spa)/Peter Hanson(Swe) v Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker
USA won 4 & 3
Match nine:
Ian Poulter(Eng)/Luke Donald(Eng) v Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton
Eur won 2 & 1
Match ten:
Graeme McDowell(NI)/Rory McIlroy(NI) v Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
USA won 2 up
Session three: Foursomes (matches 11-12) and Fourballs (matches 13-16) Europe won 5.5-0.5
Match 11:
Luke Donald(Eng)/Lee Westwood(Eng) v Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods
Eur won 6 & 5
Match 12:
Graeme McDowell(NI)/Rory McIlroy(NI) v Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan
Eur won 3 & 1
Match 13:
Padraig Harrington(Ire)/Ross Fisher(Eng) v Jim Furyk/Dustin Johnson
Eur won 2 & 1
Match 14:
Peter Hanson(Swe)/Miguel Angel Jimenez(Spa) v Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton
Eur won 2 up
Match 15:
Edoardo Molinari(Ita)/Fracesco Molinari(Ita) v Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Match halved
Match 16:
Ian Poulter(Eng)/Martin Kaymer(Ger) v Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler
Eur won 2 & 1
Session four: Singles USA won 7-5
Match 17:
Lee Westwood (Eng) v Steve Stricker
USA won 2 & 1
Match 18:
Rory McIlroy (NI) v Stewart Cink
Match halved
Match 19:
Luke Donald (Eng) v Jim Furyk
Eur won 1 up
Match 20:
Martin Kaymer (Ger) v Dustin Johnson
USA won 6 & 4
Match 21:
Ian Poulter (Eng) v Matt Kuchar
Eur won 5 & 4
Match 22:
Ross Fisher (Eng) v Jeff Overton
USA won 3 & 2
Match 23:
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) v Bubba Watson
Eur won 4 & 3
Match 24:
Francesco Molinari (Ita) v Tiger Woods
USA won 4 & 3
Match 25:
Edoardo Molinari (Ita) v Rickie Fowler
Match halved
Match 26:
Peter Hanson (Swe) v Phil Mickelson
USA won 4 & 2
Match 27:
Padraig Harrington (Ire) v Zach Johnson
USA won 3 & 2
Match 28:
Graeme McDowell (NI) v Hunter Mahan
Eur won 3 & 1
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