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Europe steamroll to Ryder Cup victory

24/09/2006

Europe have clinched an unprecedented hat-trick of Ryder Cup titles after a 18½ - 9½ win over the US at the K Club in Ireland.

Needing four points to clinch victory, Ian Woosnam's team dominated the singles, claiming eight victories from the 12 singles matches to equal the record winning margin set in 2004.

Luke Donald sealed Europe's seventh crown in 11 meetings on the 17th hole after beating Chad Campbell two and one while Henrik Stenson confirmed victory after seeing off Vaughn Taylor four and three.

But the abiding memory will be Darren Clarke breaking down in tears in front of his home crowd after beating Zach Johnson three and two to finish unbeaten over the three days.

Colin Montgomerie beat David Toms by one shot to claim six singles wins in Ryder Cups while Lee Westwood capped off an impressive display as Europe's wildcard pick after seeing off Chris Di Marco by two holes.

Paul Casey defeated Jim Furyk two and one while Jose Marie Olazabal pulled off a major shock by beating Phil Mickelson two and one.

David Howell saw off Brett Wetterich five and four while Paul McGinley's match with JJ Henry was halved.

Cheered on by former US president Bill Clinton, Tom Lehman's side failed to repeat their comeback in the singles at Brookline at 1999 with only Stewart Cink, Scott Verplank and Tiger Woods registering wins.

Woods ousted Sweden's Robert Karlsson three and two despite a bizarre incident on the seventh green when his caddie stumbled on a rock and dropped his nine-iron into a lake.

The world number one asked for the club to be cleaned but kept his focus to bag three points from five in this year's event.

Verplank provided the highlight for America with a hole-in-one on the 14th hole in his win over Padraid Harrington three and two.

The victory extends Europe's unbeaten record since 1981 when leading going into the final day.

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