Dramatic European victory after McDowell’s knife-edge finish

GRAEME McDOWELL added his name to an already illustrious list of Irish Ryder Cup heroes as the Portrush man held his nerve to ensure a dramatic victory for Europe at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Following in the famous footsteps of Eamonn Darcy, Christy O’Connor, Philip Walton and Paul McGinley, the hopes of a continent rested on the shoulders of the 31-year-old following a hugely dramatic final day.

McDowell sunk a 20ft putt on the 16th and parred the following to ensure European glory by just one point (14.5 to 13.5).

The win followed an American fightback, handing it to the final two men on the course – McDowell and US rival Hunter Mahan – to decide the trophy’s fate.

In front of 35,000 fans, McDowell, who won the US Open earlier this year, held his nerve after Mahan fluffed his chip at the 17th. The American missed with his subsequent putt and graciously conceded the game and the match to McDowell and Europe.

A clearly emotional McDowell described the final few holes as the most nervous he had endured in his career.

“This is crazy. I was trying to do it for 11 team-mates, for all the fans, for the caddies, for Europe and for Monty – and we were all trying to win it for Seve (Ballesteros) too,” he said.

“The back nine at Pebble Beach felt like a back nine playing with my dad at Royal Portrush. It’s so much pressure and this is a special feeling there’s nothing quite like it. Monty was amazing. For the last two years he has been up for this,” he said.

Pádraig Harrington said: “Every Ryder Cup’s the same. It’s phenomenal. There’s nothing like it in golf. That’s incredible.”