Nobody counted on a Monday finish at the 2010 Ryder Cup but if it had not been for the extra day’s play it might have been remembered for a whole set of reasons – not a lot of them good. No matter whom you were cheering for.

With the heavy investment of both time and money by the owner of the Welsh host facility, Sir Terry Matthews, all indications pointed to an epic sporting event at Celtic Manor. Ultimately that is what it turned out to be, and for the best reason of all, exemplary play by the balance of both the American and European squads with Team Europe taking the victory by the slimmest of margins – 14.5 to 13.5. Until the final matches it seemed all Wales would ever be remembered for was faulty weather, rain gear and a modified Ryder Cup format.

And much thanks for that win can go to a man that might just have to build a home in the Usk Valley (given that he also won the Celtic Manor Wales Open earlier this year), Irishman Graeme McDowell. Under pressure that the 31 year-old called the most he had ever felt in his life, the 2010 United States Open Champion rolled in a clutch 20 footer on the 16^th hole of the final match with Hunter Mahan and closed it out with the necessary point on the 17^th with a conceded four-foot par.

After Europe took a three point lead heading into the singles matches, few imagined the Ryder Cup would come down to the very last match but some very fine play by the American squad made this a true nail-biter – one that is already stirring up anticipatory thoughts of the matches in 2012 at Medinah in Chicago.

As much criticism as U.S. Captain Corey Pavin took early in the week he looked almost brilliant on Monday as his team stormed back. Rickie Fowler, with the weight of a lost hole earlier in the tournament where he never actually took a swing, summoned up the charge of the week in his match with Edoardo Molinari. His wins on the final three holes produced a half point that made the chance of an American comeback even possible. Timely American wins by Mickelson and Harrington in matches #10 and #11 had set the table for the McDowell/Mahan as the point that would decide the victory. “I was very proud of how hard they fought all week,” said Pavin.  “We would win as a team and lose as a team. That’s the way it was and the way it is. I’m proud of every single one of them and their caddies and everybody that’s part of Team USA.”

Although his team ultimately got the win and revenge for the drubbing at Valhalla in 2008, Euro Captain Colin Montgomerie was very respectful in his closing press conference when asked about what I meant to lead the team to victory. “I’m so proud, very proud moment for us all here in Europe. We all played to a man magnificently, we all gave a 110 per cent, and that’s all I could ask. Obviously one game came down to a lot of, and they will want to talk about it, but every player, playing how well they did they played magnificent, all 12. I knew I had a great 12, I knew I did.
I just had to rely on certain people at certain times, and all credit to Eddie Molinari, to be up 3-up in the first place was fantastic, and the way Rickie Fowler finished, and Graeme McDowell was put there for a good reason, he’s full of confidence and that showed. That birdie on 16 was just quite unbelievable, quite unbelievable.”

Smiles were easy for Montgomerie after it was over, but like his counterpart, Pavin, Monday was a grueling one. “Well, 9 1/2 – 6 1/2 we got off to a flyer, at one stage it was eight blue names on the board but we weren’t 2-up, 3-up, they were 1-up and that was dangerous position to be in. They came back extremely well. Tiger showed why he was No. 1 in the world today and Phil Mickelson played brilliantly. All credit to the American Team…The three-point deficit was the reason why we won.”

Even on the losing end Captain Pavin was without regrets saying there was nothing he would do differently. “I liked the preparation and everything that we did. I’m quite content with everything accept maybe the result.”

That said, few could argue that the 2010 Ryder Cup was not memorable. Golf fans were left smiling and talking no matter their allegiance.

In the end it was fine play that truly defined the tournament, as it should. It added yet another distinguishing volume in an event that just seems to swell in importance as each set of matches goes by. Just as Samuel Ryder had intended when it all got started in 1927.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)