Europe produced the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history to reel in the United States and retain the trophy at Medinah Country Club on Sunday.
Trailing by 10-6 going into the closing 12 singles, Jose Maria Olazabal’s men thrillingly won the first five matches out and went on to make sure of victory when Martin Kaymer defeated Steve Stricker 1 up in the penultimate match.
He clinched it with a six-foot putt at the last, 21 years after his fellow German Bernard Langer missed from a similar distance to hand victory to the United States at Kiawah Island.
That gave the Europeans the 14 points they needed to make sure of keeping the small, golden trophy for another two years, and then minutes later Tiger Woods missed a four-footer at 18 against Francesco Molinari to hand overall victory to Europe 14-1/2 to 13-1/2.
“This is indescribable,” Kaymer said.
“I was so nervous in the last two or three holes. Olazabal came up to me on the 16th and told me we needed my point to win the Ryder Cup. I loved that feeling. Loved it.”
The Americans had started the 12 closing singles 10-6 ahead and needing 4-1/2 points to win the cup for just the second time in the past decade, the other time being at Valhalla, Kentucky four years ago.
Jose Maria Olazabal’s team were left with the mammoth task of winning eight out of the 12 singles to put the overall match score at 14-14, thus ensuring Europe retained the cup as holders.
No European side had ever managed to comeback from 6-10 down in the Ryder Cup and no US team had ever lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since the competition began in 1927.
First point home was a blue one as Luke Donald led from start to finish to see off crowd-pleaser Bubba Watson 2 and 1.
Then Paul Lawrie, Europe’s oldest player, pulled off an upset by trouncing Tour Championship winner Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3.
And when world No.1 Rory McIlroy, who nearly missed his tee-time due to a mix-up over time zones, completed a 2 and 1 win over the previously unbeaten Keegan Bradley, and Ian Poulter finished a perfect 4-0 by defeating Webb Simpson 2 up, the overall match was tied at 10-10.
Dustin Johnson beat Nicolas Colsaerts 3 and 2 to put the Americans back ahead only for Justin Rose to win the last two holes with monster putts to defeat Phil Mickelson 1 up.
Zach Johnson edged Graeme McDowell 2 and 1, but Sergio Garcia won the last two holes to stun Jim Furyk and Lee Westwood completed a 3 and 2 win over Matt Kuchar to make it Europe 13 United States 12.
Jason Dufner defeated Peter Hanson 2 up and it was level at 13-13.
It all came down to the last two matches and they were both all square.
Woods moved one up on Molinari, but Kaymer took the 17th against Steve Stricker and he sunk the nerve-jangling six footer at the last to ensure Europe had the 14 points they needed.
By the time Woods flopped at the last, Europe had taken the singles by an unthinkable 8-1/2 to 3-1/2.
An emotional Olazabal paid tribute to the late Severiano Ballesteros, his great friend and Ryder Cup playing partner, who died from a brain tumour last year.
“Seve will always be present with this team,” he said.
“He was a big factor for this event, for the European side.”
US skipper Davis Love said that he would not have done anything different in his tactics or selections.
