Monitor: Reaction in American newspapers to the US golf team's dramatic victory over Europe in the Ryder Cup

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THE US comeback provided as much drama as one can find in sport, adding a very bright episode to the already-thick history book that is kept at The Country Club. In the months of anticipation prior to Friday's 7.30am tee time, most of the attention had focused on personal idiosyncrasies, sharp exchanges over whether players were getting enough money, and the extravagant preparations of the spectators, mostly big-spending corporations. But the climax, Justin Leonard's long cup-winning putt on the 17th, will not likely find a challenge soon. While exuberance was built among players and fans through the three days, the level of sportsmanship on both sides of the rope lines remained high. It has been quite a year for sports. Perhaps the baseball gods will favour Boston with one more chapter.

The Boston Globe

THE UNITED States Ryder Cup team members rose together as one, lifting each other, lifting their games and accomplishing the biggest comeback in the history of golf's most compelling team competition. The chosen 12 rallied to win an event that seems to grow in magnitude with the passing years. When the Ryder Cup began way back in 1927, who could have pictured a scene like today's, with more then 30,000 people in the gallery, from all over the world, their emotions swaying with each shot? It is surely now the most pressure-packed atmosphere to be found anywhere in golf, but the US players in Ben Crenshaw's team rose to meet the challenge.

The New York Times

IN THE end, it wasn't money that motivated the US Ryder Cup team to pull off the greatest comeback in the 72-year history of the event yesterday at The Country Club. It wasn't personal glory, endorsement contracts or revenue sharing. It wasn't even the obvious US edge in sheer ability over the underdog European team, which entered yesterday's singles matches on the verge of a monumental upset. US captain Ben Crenshaw simply had to muster the cosmic forces of two special golfing forebears - and one governor running for president - to harness the inspirational energy of 12 incredibly talented players, who arrived here a week ago as a dozen individuals and left last night as a unified team.

Boston Herald

THE RYDER Cup wasn't the most important thing at stake for the United States on Sunday. You get a chance to win that trophy every couple of years. But the type of image the Americans were at risk of forging for themselves, well, those labels and reputations can last a lifetime. Their heart, intensity, cohesion and even their mental faculties had come into question after they fell behind Europe, 10-6, over the first two days of play. All of those accusations disappeared on Sunday. They were drowned out by the sounds of the excited fans chanting "U-S-A" and singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" while the victorious US players sprayed champagne on each other from the balcony of the clubhouse at The Country Club in Brookline. The Americans might very well lose the Ryder Cup - which they captured with this historic comeback on Sunday afternoon - when the two sides tee it up at The Belfry in England in two years' time. But no one can take away their performances on this picture-perfect autumn afternoon in Massachusetts. It was a redemptive effort, as great a display of sporting courage as you are ever likely to see.

Los Angeles Times