RYDER CUP COMES BACK TO EUROPE.

The heavy rain held play back until the Monday at Celtic Manor in Wales. The 150 strong green staff did a terrific job keeping the course fit for play, but all that was forgotten as Colin Montgomery held the Ryder Cup aloft in front of 30,000 cheering fans at the closing ceremony.

Behind Monty were the magnificent dozen golfers who played fantastic golf to defeat the Americans by a slender margin of 14.5 points - 13.5 points. When each golfer was introduced to the fans, it was Rathmore's Graeme McDowell who got the loudest cheer.

It was Graeme whom Monty selected for the anchor role, and what a brilliant choice it turned out to be. With the game balanced at 13.5 points each it was McDowell who made what Monty described as the best birdie he ever saw under severe pressure at the 16th hole to go dormie two up on Hunter Mahan. A great 4 iron shot at the par 3, 17th and two putts later the crowd went wild.

Following in the famous footsteps of Eamonn Darcy, Christy O'Connor, Philip Walton and Paul McGinley, the 31 year old from Portrush won back the trophy for Europe when everything depended on him.

Graeme had partnered fellow countryman, 21 year old Rory McIlroy in the foursomes and fourball matches. They combined well for a win, a draw and one defeat on the final green to Stewart Cink & Matt Kucher.

McIlroy played some fantastic golf during the week. In the final singles game he got a crucial 1/2 point against Stewart Cink. Rory got a fast start with birdies at the first two holes, only for Cink to birdie the next three to take the lead. After that there was never more than one hole separating the pair.

Padraig Harrington played his part as well. He collected 2 vital wins along with Ross Fisher. They beat Phil Mickleson & Dustin Johnston 3/2 in the foursomes and Jim Furyk & Dustin Johnston 2/1 in the fourballs. Harrington was beaten 3/2 by Zach Johnston in the singles. Johnston made 7 birdies over the 16 holes.

Tiger Woods was in top form in his singles match with Francesco Molinari. Woods was 9 under par when he won on the 15th green.

Quotes from the Ryder Cup.
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Padraig Harrington described the winning feeling as "incredible" and "phenomenal".
"Every Ryder Cup's the same. It's phenomenal. There's nothing like it in golf."

Lee Westwood, "I've never been slapped on the back so often. We are really delighted.
It's been a great team performance against a strong American side."

Ross Fisher added: "This is very sweet. It's a shame there's got to be a losing team and losing side."

Montgomerie: "Graeme McDowell was put there for a very good reason. He's full of confidence and that showed. That birdie on 16 was quite unbelievable."

Montgomery: "I'm very proud. It's a very proud moment for us all here in Europe. They all played to a man magnificently, they all gave 110 per cent and that's all you can ask."

Montgomery: "They (the US) came back extremely well. All credit to them. Tiger showed he was number one in the world. Phil Mickelson did brilliantly."

Asked about his own achievement, Montgomerie said: "I didn't hit a shot so it wasn't much of an achievement, but it's a proud, proud moment."