Europeans romp to Ryder Cup victory
STRAFFAN, Ireland — Darren Clarke stood at the edge of the balcony and gulped down a pint of stout. The stuff never tasted so sweet.
He and the rest of the Europeans romped to another Ryder Cup victory Sunday. It was an 18Z\x-9½ blowout over the Americans that re-emphasized the gap between these two teams and proved that Tiger Woods isn't the only man who can win his sport's biggest events.
Every European player chipped in at least half a point over their commanding three days at The K Club. And peering down these two teams' lineups, there were inklings that things might not change soon.
The European squad is filled with 20- and 30-somethings who play on a European PGA Tour that is growing and getting better. Woods, meanwhile, dominates the PGA Tour, where there is only one American player younger than 30 — former British Open champion Ben Curtis — with even a single victory.
"We could have sent two teams out here," European captain Ian Woosnam said. "I'm not saying that we would have got this result, but it just shows the potential of European golf."
The future looks bright. The present, meanwhile, is a sure thing.
Europe dominated the week from beginning to end. This marked the first time either side had won all five sessions of the competition.
Clarke was the ringleader, both emotional and on paper. He went 3-0, and his celebration was poignant. He was playing six weeks after his wife, Heather, succumbed to cancer. Everywhere he turned, he was embraced — by teammates, opponents, the roar of the crowd.
"This means everything to me," Clarke said.
Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia lost his match Sunday, but he barely cared. He won his first four to set the table for this dominating weekend.
Colin Montgomerie beat David Toms 1-up to improve to 6-0-2 lifetime in singles. At 43, he's the oldest player on the team.
Luke Donald, 28, wrapped up the match that secured a tie and guaranteed the Europeans would keep the cup. Moments later, 30-year-old Henrik Stenson sealed it. The real celebration started a few minutes after that, when Clarke ended his match and the hugs and tears started flowing on the 16th green.
"There's one reason and one reason only," Paul McGinley said when asked for the secret of Europe's success. "It's talent. Nobody understands how good our tour is. The tour is good, the standards are good. We're heading in the right direction. We still don't play for the same amount of money as they do in America, but we'll get there."
The U.S. team came into Sunday trailing 10-6, the same score by which they trailed in 1999, when they pulled off the miracle at Brookline. They won 8Z\x points to pull off the victory that day and they were hoping for a repeat.
Instead, they got a repeat of 2004 — another thrashing.
It could have been worse.
After the cup had been secured, McGinley did the gentlemanly thing by conceding a 25-foot putt to J.J. Henry to end their match in a draw. Had McGinley gone for the extra half, it would have been the biggest blowout in Ryder Cup history.
