Elation as Europe regains Ryder Cup

Europe regained golf's Ryder Cup amid scenes of great emotion last night after a series of spectacular individual performances which upset most forecasts.

The victory, by 15 and a half points to 12 and a half, was a stunning triumph for the strategy of Europe's captain, Sam Torrance, and the performance of its leading player, Colin Montgomerie.

But perhaps the most striking achievement came from the fiercely partisan but scrupulously fair crowd of 35,000 at The Belfry course in the West Midlands.

Three years ago, at the Brookline Country Club in Boston, some thought the future of the match – which was started by the St Albans corn-merchant Sam Ryder in the Twenties to foster transatlantic relations – was in jeopardy after the appalling treatment of the European team by American fans – and the over-celebration of American players, which Torrance described at the time as the worst thing he had seen in golf.

Ironically, the hero of the 34th Ryder Cup was Montgomerie, who bore the brunt of the vicious barracking by the American crowd.

Montgomerie provided the fulcrum of the European triumph yesterdaywith a superb five and four victory over Scott Hoch.