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Woosnam hails his Ryder Cup stars

24/09/2006

Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam has saluted his players after their nine-point win over the USA at the K Club in Ireland.

Woosnam's side won eight out of the 12 singles matches to clinch Europe's seventh victory in the 11 meetings, having led 10-6 overnight.

The Welshman admitted that he had found it difficult to watch on the final day despite his team's dominance.

"It's been very emotional and I just can't say enough about my team," he said.

"I was a bit on edge but as the blue started getting more and more on the board I got more confident."

The 48-year-old added that the result vindicated his selections including the controversial omission of Denmark's Tomas Bjorn in favour of Lee Westwood.

"We've heard some bad words but I got them right and that's why I'm captain," he said.

"Not winning with such a strong team was what I was most worried about but these guys played fantastically."

Meanwhile, US captain Tom Lehman claimed Woosnam's team had put in one of the greatest performances in the tournament's history.

"I just don't think there's ever been a European team which has played better," he said.

"I tip my hat to them. They played incredibly well, they putted amazingly well and they drove it on the fairway.

"They were inspired, the crowd gave them momentum. Our team came ready but maybe we weren't quite ready enough."

He also said his side had not played to their potential in the singles matches, which the US team have failed to dominate in the last three Ryder Cups.

"I do know that everything we did for a reason and with the best possible intention," he said.

"You always think about what you could have done better or changed but at the end of the day you still have to put the ball in the hole and we didn't do that enough."

"I tip my hat to Ian Woosnam, and the courage of the way his team played. They made us pay for a mistake every time."

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