18:00 GMT – AFP IS CLOSING THIS LIVE REPORT AFTER Europe clinched the Ryder Cup for the eighth time in their last 10 attempts, delivering a resounding 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 beating to the once-dominant Americans at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, a 38-year-old Ryder Cup rookie, sealed victory when he landed his approach shot at the 15th hole on the PGA Centenary Course just inches from the hole to clinch a 4 and 3 win over Keegan Bradley that gave Europe an unbeatable total of 14 1/2 points.
“Hit the wedge of my life to close the game out,” Donaldson said. “You can’t really put words to it. It’s unbelievable.”
The Europeans matched their longest winning streak in the series with a third consecutive Ryder Cup triumph while Tom Watson’s US squad failed in its bid for a first victory on European soil since Watson captained a 1993 triumph at The Belfry.
Early triumphs by talisman Rory McIlroy and 2010 Cup-clincher Graeme McDowell along with reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer lifted the hosts.
A halved match by England’s Justin Rose — unbeaten over the three days of competition with three wins and two halves to top the points tally — put Europe on the brink.
Europe had built a 10-6 lead entering Sunday’s singles thanks to a thumping combined 7-1 winning margin in Friday and Saturday’s foursomes, equalling the 1975 US squad for the format’s most lopsided domination.
Read on to find out how Europe sealed victory for captain Paul McGinley.
17:38 GMT – TROPHY FACT – The Ryder Cup trophy was named after the English businessman Samuel A. Ryder who donated it to the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain in 1927.
17:30 GMT – POSING WITH TROPHY – Champagne corks are popped and the bubbly is sprayed by Europe’s players before they crowd in to pose for picturers with the 17-inch tall, solid gold Ryder Cup trophy and celebrate their 16 1/2 – 11 1/2 victory.
17:19 GMT – ANDY MURRAY TWEET – “Great job Europe… sounds like a very clinical performance at gleneagles! Imagine the celebrations could get a bit messy tonight!” tweets British no. 1 Andy Murray via his official handle @andy_murray.
17:11 GMT – MCGINLEY SPEECH – “We the European team feel very humbled and honoured to be able to raise the trophy very shortly,” says Paul McGinley of the Ryder Cup trophy as he addresses the assembled crowds at Gleneagles, his image beamed onto a mammoth big screen.
“The whole of the continent is very proud to stand behind these twelve players in their moment of victory.”
McGinley thanks his wife and children and those of the European team members. He also thanks the caddies who get a resounding round of applause and the fans for their “noisy support”, sparking chants of “Ole, ole, ole, ole,” from the masses.
Now for the national anthems of the United States…
CLOSING CEREMONY UNDERWAY AT GLENEAGLES
16:54 GMT – MCGINLEY ‘PROUD’ – Europe have emerged with the trophy for the eighth time in 10 starts and team captain Paul McGinley says credit should go to all of his players.
“Proud is the first word,” McGinley says. “It has been a huge team effort.”
Trailing 10-6 when Sunday’s 12 final singles matches began, the Americans needed the greatest rally ever on European soil to pull off a stunner in Scotland.
FINAL SCORE: EUROPE 16 1/2 USA 11 1/2
16:41 GMT – DUBUISSON V JOHNSON – MATCH HALVED – Zach Johnson of the USA pulls one back on the 18th to level his match with Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, leaving the final overall score at Europe 16 1/2 USA 11 1/2.
16:35 GMT – FINAL MATCH DUBUISSON v JOHNSON – EUROPE 1-UP – The final match between Victor Dubuisson and Zach Johnson is going up the 18th with the Frenchman one up – the presentation ceremony will follow shortly after its completion.
16:20 GMT – ALEX FERGUSON REACTION – Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been following the play at Gleneagles and he praises the spirit in which the 40th Ryder Cup has been played.
“There’s been really fantastic camaraderie between both teams,” Ferguson tells Sky Sports television from the PGA Centenary course.
Of his motivational speech to the Europe team before the first day’s play on Friday: “It was just a general chat with all of them – I probably got more out of it than they did!
The Scotsman says all the players deserved their places in the two Ryder Cup teams.
“That’s why they’re playing to day – you saw the competition today, the margins were so small.
“Some of the putting was outstanding. These guys deserve their place in the pantheon of great golfers.”
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 16 USA 11
16:02 GMT – POULTER V SIMPSON – MATCH HALVED – USA’s Webb Simpson goes onto the 18th one up but Ian Poulter drags it back to save another half for Europe, meaning the Englishman is unbeaten in Ryder Cup singles dating back to 2004.
15:59 GMT – GARCIA V FURYK – EUROPE WIN 1-UP – Garcia hits his approach close to the flag on the 18th, close enough to concede – it leaves Jim Furyk a testing 15-footer to halve the hole which he misses and it’s another point for Europe.
GARCIA BEATS FURYK ON FINAL HOLE
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 14 1/2 USA 9 1/2
15:46 GMT – MCILROY REACTION – World no. 1 Rory McIlroy says credit should go to Jamie Donaldson for his iron shot onto the 15th green that clinched the win for Europe.
“It was incredible,” McIlroy tell Sky Sports television. “We’re just watching the ball in the air and it lands right by the hole. It’s really great for Jamie as he’s been great in the team room, lots of fun, and has been playing well all week.”
“Paul McGinley has ben absolutely immense all week,” McIlroy adds of team captain Paul McGinley.
The Northern Irishman also ackowledges his own role in the victory after his comprehensive five and four win over Rickie Fowler.
“I came out today and played the best golf I’ve played all week – personally for me it puts the icing on the cake of what’s been a fantastic summer.”
15:40 GMT – BRADLEY CONCEDES – Jamie Donaldson sealed Europe’s Ryder Cup victory when he smacked an iron to within two feet of the pin on the 15th after Keegan Bradley’s approach which landed 20 feet away.
The American looked over at captain Tom Watson, who said: ‘Pick it up. They’ve won’.
15:35 GMT – ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ – “It’s unbelievable,” Jamie Donaldson tells Sky Sports television after sealing Europe’s victory by beating Keegan Bradley five and three.
“I knew it was getting tight there at the end and everyone was focusing on my group – I tried not to spend too much time looking at the scoreboard and managed to close it out.”
EUROPE WINS RYDER CUP
15:30 GMT – EUROPE RETAINS THE RYDER CUP – Europe have retained the trophy with Jamie Donaldson’s halving of the 14th, leaving him four up with four to play and guaranteeing the half point Europe need, AFP sports editor Allan Kelly reports from Gleneagles.
EUROPE RETAINS THE RYDER CUP
15:21 GMT – GARCIA V FURYK – ALL SQUARE AFTER 15 – Garcia sinks his birdie putt at 15 – and Furyk misses! All square in this one.
15:20 GMT – DONALDSON V BRADLEY – EUROPE 4-UP AFTER 14 – Donaldson lines up a 30-foot putt from the edge of the 14th – he gives it a thwack but it slides past the hole leaving him a tricky six-footer. He steps up to take it but it slips past – and the USA live to fight another day.
15:11 GMT – GARCIA V FURYK – USA 1-UP AFTER 14 – USA’s Jim Furyk has his nose in front of Sergio Garcia with five to play but it’s likely to count for little with Europe’s victory looking imminent.
15:07 GMT – DONALDSON V BRADLEY – EUROPE 4-UP AFTER 13 – Welshman Jamie Donaldson sinks a putt to halve the 13th and maintains his four-shot lead over Keegan Bradley – he could clinch the half point Europe need very soon.
15:03 GMT – POULTER V SIMPSON – EUROPE 1-UP AFTER 13 – USA’s Webb Simpson pulls one back on Ian Poulter on the 13th but the Englishman keeps his nose in front with five to play.
EUROPE NEED HALF A POINT TO RETAIN RYDER CUP
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13 1/2 USA 9 1/2
ROSE HALVES MATCH WITH MAHAN
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 13 USA 9
KAYMER BEATS WATSON FOUR AND TWO
KUCHAR BEATS BJORN FOUR AND THREE
MICKELSON BEATS GALLACHER THREE AND ONE
14:46 GMT – REED BEATS STENSON 1-UP – Patrick Reed misses a 15-foot eagle putt to win his match against Henrik Stenson on the 18th green and sinks to his haunches.
Stenson is left with a six-footer to save his skin – but drags it left! The USA have their first point of the singles and the scores stand at Europe 12 USA 7.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 12 USA 7
USA WIN FIRST SINGLES POINT – REED BEATS STENSON ON 18TH
14:38 GMT – GARCIA v FURYK – ALL SQUARE AFTER 12 – Europe’s Sergio Garcia holes a snaking 12-foot putt on the 12th to drag himself back to level pegging with Jim Furyk.
14:32 GMT – G-MAC APOLOGY – On US TV, Graeme McDowell apologizes to his wife, Kristin, for being away from her on their wedding anniversary as she didn’t make it to Gleneagles this week, AFP correspondent Jim Slater reports.
“She wanted me to get her a point,” McDowell says. The Northern Irishman’s 2 and 1 win over Jordan Spieth leaves him with a 3-0 record this week, his first unbeaten run at a Ryder Cup.
McDowell hit the Cup-clinching putt at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010.
14:25 GMT – STENSON V REED – ALL SQUARE AFTER 16 – Europe’s Henrik Stenson has pulled a shot back on Patrick Reed and the match is level pegging with two to play.
EUROPE NEED TWO MORE POINTS TO RETAIN RYDER CUP
14:21 GMT – EUROPE NEED TWO – Europe now need just two more points to reach the all-important 14 which will give them an unassailable lead over the USA and see them retain the trophy they won at Medinah in 2012.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 12 USA 6
MCDOWELL BEATS SPIETH TWO AND ONE
14:09 GMT – KAYMER v WATSON – EUROPE 4-UP AFTER 13 – Martin Kaymer is four up on Bubba Watson as he plays a sensational iron shot on the 13th to within six feet of the pin – but Watson replies with an even better shot to within three feet!
Watson holes his putt but Kaymer sinks his too to halve the hole.
BJORN v KUCHAR – USA 3-UP AFTER 8
14:00 GMT – STENSON V REED – USA 1-UP AFTER 14 – Patrick Reed still up on Henrik Stenson on the 15th – they both play nice approaches to the green leaving themselves makeable 12-foot putts.
LATEST: EUROPE UP IN FOUR, USA UP IN FOUR, THREE ALL SQUARE
13:56 GMT – MCDOWELL V SPIETH – EUROPE 2-UP AFTER 15 – Graeme McDowell looks unstoppable now against Jordan Spieth, stretching his lead over the 21-year-old to two up with three to play.
MCILROY BEATS FOWLER FIVE AND FOUR – LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 11 USA 6
MCILROY v FOWLER – EUROPE 5-UP AFTER 13
13:35 GMT – MCDOWELL V SPIETH – EUROPE 1-UP AFTER 13 – McDowell really flying now – the Northern Irishman edges ahead for the first time in his match against Spieth with five holes to play.
13:23 GMT – MCDOWELL V SPIETH – ALL SQUARE AFTER 12 – Europe’s Graeme McDowell birdies the par-four 11th and has fought his way back from being three down against youngster Jordan Spieth to level pegging at the 12th.
MCILROY v FOWLER – EUROPE 4-UP AFTER 10
13:15 GMT – McIlroy v Fowler – Europe 4-up after 10 – This from AFP correspondent Jim Slater on the Centenary course as Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy storms away from world no. 10 Rickie Fowler: “It’s a little premature to look up this record for Rory but the most lopsided singles win in the 18-hole match format in Ryder Cup history was 8 and 7, managed by USA’s Tom Kite over Howard Clark in 1989 and USA’s Fred Couples over Welshman Ian Woosnam in 1997.
“Just saying – could be an early lunch for the world No. 1.”
13:02 GMT – Gallacher v Mickelson – USA 2-up after 8 – Phil Mickelson, controversially overlooked during yesterday’s fourballs and foursomes, is making his point to team captain Tom Watson – the big Californian is two up on Scottish debutant Gallacher after eight holes.
12:59 GMT – Kaymer v Watson – Europe 3-up after 7 – Martin Kaymer drops a shot a the 7th to slip back to 3-up against reigning Masters champions Bubba Watson.
FIST-PUMPING REED
12:55 GMT – Fist-pumping Reed – “A fiery Patrick Reed has got the crowd’s hackles up with his fist-pumping passion and shushing gestures to quieten them down – his match with the reserved Swede Henrik Stenson is drawing a big gallery and its noisy!” reports AFP sports editor Allan Kelly from the course.
“They are all square after nine – look out for a rowdy back nine!”
12:44 GMT – Scoring system – A quick recap of the scoring system – one point is awarded for a match victory in the singles and half-a-point for a tie with a total of 28 available of the course over the three days.
Defending champions Europe need to reach 14 points to retain the Ryder Cup; the USA need to get to 14 1/2 points to win the match and regain the trophy.
12:32 GMT – Mahan v Rose – USA 4-up after 7 – USA’s Hunter Mahan sinks a six-footer to extend his lead to three over Englishman Justin Rose before making it four on the seventh.
LATEST SCORE: EUROPE 10-6 USA
12:15 GMT – Spieth 3-up on McDowell – “Jordan Spieth of the USA is 3-up over McDowell after 7,” reports AFP’s Jim Slater of the 21-year-old American.
“Garcia and Furyk match is getting going. They have met in singles in 1999 and 2012 and each won once as part of their team’s comeback from 10-6 down to win the Ryder Cup in each of those years.
“The way things are going they might be in the cup-clincher if third-ranked Garcia can pull it off.”
ROARING START FROM RORY
12:05 GMT – Roaring start from Rory – “Rory McIlroy has opened birdie-eagle-birdie for a 3-up lead after 4 on Rickie Fowler in the feature match,” reports AFP’s sports correspondent Jim Slater out on the course.
“Perfect start for the world number one coming off his British Open and PGA Championship wins. And a rough start for Fowler, who made the top five in all of this year’s majors but is 0-2 with five halved in Ryder Cup play and looking like he will stay winless.”
12:03 GMT – Matches 8 to 12 – Match 8 – Sergio Garcia v Jim Furyk – tees off 1200 GMT
– Garcia and Furyk have played each other twice before in singles – the American won in 1999 at Brookline, Massachusetts and Garcia won two years ago at Medinah
Match 9 – Ian Poulter v Webb Simpson – tees off 12:12 GMT
Poulter has a 100 percent record in Ryder Cup singles winning all four. Both he and Simpson are so far winless this week.
Match 10 – Jamie Donaldson v Keegan Bradley – tees off 12:24 GMT
Donaldson is a Welsh rookie – Bradley lost his only Ryder Cup singles to McIlroy two years ago
Match 11 – Lee Westwood v Jimmy Walker – tees off 12:36 GMT
Westwood playing in his ninth Ryder Cup singles, having won three of his eight previous ones. This is his 41st Ryder Cup match and he is third in the all-time list of most appearances.
Walker is a Ryder Cup rookie playing his first singles match.
Match 12 – Victor Dubuisson v Zach Johnson
Dubuisson is just the third Frenchman to play in Ryder Cup and with two wins out of two so far is already the most successful. A win would make him the first rookie since Phil Mickelson in 1995 to end with a 100 percent record.
11:50 GMT – Birdie Gallacher at 2nd – Debutant Stephen Gallacher sinks a putt for birdie on the par-five second to go 1 up in his match against Mickelson.
NICKLAUS ON FIRST TEE
11:45 GMT – Nicklaus on first tee – “Jack Nicklaus, the course architect and the all-time leader with 18 major titles, is on hand and spoke with US captain Tom Watson on first tee,” reports AFP correspondent Jim Slater.
“The fourth hole on the course is named Gowden Beastie (Golden Bear) is Jack’s honour. Retired NBA legend Michael Jordan has also been on hand this week as a spectator. Tiger Woods is injured and absent.”
11:39 GMT – Kaymer v Watson, Bjorn v Kuchar – A quick look at matches 6 and 7 from AFP sports editor Allan Kelly on PGA Centenary Course:
Match 6 – Martin Kaymer v Bubba Watson
Kaymer has won one of his two previous singles, Watson has lost both of his.
Match 7 – Thomas Bjorn v Matt Kuchar
Bjorn is unbeaten in his two previous singles while Kuchar lost his two previous ones
11:26 GMT – Gallacher v Mickelson – Match 5 tees off with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher looking for his first Ryder Cup point after losing his opening fourballs.
Phil Mickelson is in his 10th Ryder Cup singles – he has won four and lost five of previous – its his 41st Ryder Cup match.
10:45 GMT – Raucous atmosphere – “Just back from packed horseshoe-shaped grandstand surrounding first tee,” writes AFP sports editor Allan Kelly at Gleaneagles.
“Raucous but good-humoured atmosphere greets players and officials alike as they step out of the tunnel and onto first tee.
“Captain Paul McGinley does a jig, his vice-captain Miguel Angel Jimenez smokes a cigar and remakes his odd warm-up routine for the crowd, there’s an Abba song for Henrik Stenson, a ’12 Days of Christmas song’ for Rory McIlroy to the words of ’12 Days of McIlroy’.
“There are shouts of ‘Fore!’ every time a American player takes a practice swing. They don’t seem to mind for the most part.
“Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is with the Europeans, Jack Nicklaus mingles and everyone seems to be having a good time.
“A few small American flags being fluttered but not many. European fans upbeat as it gets underway. Saltires, Ulster flags and Union Jacks dominate.”
10:20 GMT – McIlroy arrives – More from AFP sports editor Allan Kelly at Gleneagles:
‘Rory arrives in good time – even early – two years ago he slept in and nearly missed his match against Keegan Bradley – he won.’
10:12 GMT – McDowell surprise? – Graeme McDowell says he wasn’t expecting to have been asked by captain Paul McGinley to lead out Europe’s charge for victory in the first singles pairing:
‘Europe leadoff man – surprised when he (McGinley) asked me – always saw myself as guy that plays further down the order,” tweets AFP Sports Editor Allan Kelly at Gleneagles.
The Northern Irishman is no shrinking violet though:
‘Leading out the team today. Huge honour and a huge job to do. Can’t wait. #forme #fortheteam #foreurope http://moby.to/5ge1cp‘ he tweets via his official account.
10:00 GMT – Singles draw – A quick looks at the day’s first four singles matches from AFP Sports Editor Allan Kelly at Gleneagles:
Match One – Graeme McDowell v Jordan Spieth
– McDowell looking to make it three wins out three for Europe – would be his first 100 percent record in his fourth Ryder Cup
– Spieth – youngest player at Gleneagles at 21 – has chance to go unbeaten in first Ryder Cup
Match Two – Henrik Stenson v Patrick Reed
– Stenson has chance to make it four wins out of four – only other European golfer to achieve that was Ian Poulter at Medinah two years ago
– Reed – has the chance to go unbeaten as a rookie. Last time a rookie went unbeaten in Ryder Cup was Hunter Mahan in 2008
Match Three – Rory McIlroy v Rickie Fowler
– have played each other twice before this week and both went all the way to end in halves. Third Ryder Cup singles for McIlroy – he halved his first and won his second
– Fowler still looking for his first Ryder Cup win in what is his eighth match
Match Four – Justin Rose v Hunter Mahan
– Rose is leading points scorer so far at Gleneagles with three and a half points from four games over first two days. Has won both his previous singles matches at Ryder Cups.
– Mahan is a wildcard pick who lost the last final game to McDowell in 2010 at Celtic Manor
09:31 GMT – WELCOME TO AFP’S LIVE REPORT ON FINAL DAY of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland where Europe’s golfers are poised to retain the trophy heading into the closing 12 singles matches.
The Europeans carry a 10-6 lead into Sunday’s match-ups built largely on a 7-1 edge in foursomes results over the past two days, and need to reach 14 points to keep their hands on the Cup following their miraculous comeback victory at Medinah in 2012.
Victory for Europe would be their sixth in the past seven Ryder Cups and their eighth in the past 10.
The Americans, who lead the overall rivalry 25-12 with two halved, need 14 1/2 points to retake the trophy, meaning eight victories in today’s singles alone would still not be enough.
Stay with us for all the action as it unfolds at the PGA Centenary Course with live updates from AFP reporters.