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Roundup:
Ryder Cup Glory Comeback for Europe
Pride and Awe from Europe's Ryder Cup Heroes
Olazabal Never Gave Up on Ryder Cup
Woods, Stricker Failed to Close The Deal
Scores:
United States 13 1/2 Europe 14 1/2
Ryder Cup Glory Comeback for Europe
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 30, 2012 (AFP) - Europe produced the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history to reel in the United States and retain the trophy at Medinah Country Club on Sunday.
Trailing by 10-6 going into the closing 12 singles, Jose Maria Olazabal's men thrillingly won the first five matches out and went on to make sure of victory when Martin Kaymer defeated Steve Stricker 1 up in the penultimate match.
He clinched it with a six-foot putt at the last, 21 years after his fellow German Bernard Langer missed from a similar distance to hand victory to the United States at Kiawah Island.
That gave the Europeans the 14 points they needed to make sure of keeping the small, golden trophy for another two years, and then minutes later Tiger Woods missed a four-footer at 18 against Francesco Molinari to hand overall victory to Europe 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.
"This is indescribable," Kaymer said.
"I was so nervous in the last two or three holes. Olazabal came up to me on the 16th and told me we needed my point to win the Ryder Cup. I loved that feeling. Loved it. 
"You cannot compare the pressure of winning this to winning my major. I won that for myself. But today I could hear my team and hear all the people. My season hasn't been good but today I made a huge step for my confidence."
The Americans had started the 12 closing singles 10-6 ahead and needing just 4 1/2 points to win the cup for just the second time in the last decade, the other time being at Valhalla, Kentucky four years ago.
They got to that position by dominating the foursomes and fourballs play on Friday and Saturday, taking two sessions 3-1 and splitting the two others 2-2.
Jose Maria Olazabal's team were left with the mammoth task of winning eight out of the 12 singles to put the overall match score at 14-14, thus ensuring Europe retained the cup as holders.
No European side had ever managed to comeback from 6-10 down in the Ryder Cup and no US team had ever lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since the competition began in 1927.
Olazabal loaded his top guns at the start of the singles slate and there was some early momentum as Luke Donald quickly went 2 up on Bubba Watson in the lead match and Europe were ahead in three of the first five matchups with one all-square.
But gradually the US team settled in with some strong middle-order players and it became increasingly clear how huge the task on hand was for the Europeans.
First point home was a blue one as Donald led from start to finish to see off crowd-pleaser Bubba Watson 2 and 1.
The Englishman was four up with five to play, but missed a four-footer to win on the 14th. Watson took the 15th and then chipped in to nick the 16th before Donald clinched it with a superb bunker shot at 17.
Then Paul Lawrie, Europe's oldest player, pulled off an upset by trouncing Tour Championship winner Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3.
And when world No.1 Rory McIlroy, who nearly missed his tee-time due to a mixup over time zones, completed a 2 and 1 win over the previously unbeaten Keegan Bradley, and Ian Poulter finished a perfect 4-0 by defeating Webb Simpson 2 up, the overall match was tied at 10-10.
Dustin Johnson beat Nicolas Colsaerts 3 and 2 to put the Americans back ahead only for Justin Rose to win the last two holes with monster putts to defeat Phil Mickelson 1 up.
Zach Johnson edged Graeme McDowell 2 and 1, but Sergio Garcia won the last two holes to stun Jim Furyk and Lee Westwood completed a 3 and 2 win over Matt Kuchar to make it Europe 13 United States 12.
Jason Dufner defeated Peter Hanson 2 up and it was level at 13-13.
It all came down to the last two matches and they were both all square.
Woods moved one up on Molinari, but Kaymer took the 17th against Steve Stricker and he sunk the nerve-jangling six footer at the last to ensure Europe had the 14 points they needed.
By the time Woods flopped at the last, Europe had taken the singles by an unthinkable 8 1/2 to 3 1/2.
An emotional Olazabal paid tribute to the late Severiano Ballesteros, his great friend and Ryder Cup playing partner, who died from a brain tumour last year.
"Seve will always be present with this team," he said.
"He was a big factor for this event, for the European side, and last night when we were having that meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing, and I think they did."
US skipper Davis Love said that he would not have done anything different in his tactics or selections.
"They played great," he said. "We had a couple of matches that got flipped there at the end that made it a little bit easier on them. This is a great team and we had a great week."
Pride and Awe from Europe's Ryder Cup Heroes
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 30, 2012 (AFP) - Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup players reacted with pride and a sense of disbelief on Sunday after they had overhauled a 10-6 overnight deficit to defeat the United States 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.
The rampant Europeans made history by winning the closing 12 singles singles 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 as a star-studded US team, that included Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, collapsed to the dismay of 40,000 Chicago fans.
"I can't believe it, I really can't," said Graeme McDowell, who lost to Zach Johnson.
"We got beaten up by the Americans for the first few days. Then on this very green (18) yesterday we saw Ian Poulter drop a putt for the win. He turned things round.
"On Friday we were down and got the hairdryer treatment from Jose (Maria Olazabal). We had a sense of belief on Saturday. I don't know what it was. Great effort from the boys today.
"Jose wanted to win it for Seve (Ballesteros) and we wanted to win it for Jose and Seve. Jose has just been an emotional leader. He inspired and he got things right today.
"It will be beers and tears tonight. The Ryder Cup is coming back to Europe."
European hero Poulter, who birdied the last five holes in the final fourballs match on Saturday evening to keep Europe within four points of the Americans, also paid tribute to Olazabal, who had been under fire for some of his decisions.
"This was a team performance and you know, what the team has done today is unbelievable," said Poulter who won all four matches he played.
"There was a buzz in the team room last night that didn't feel like we had a four point deficit.
"For some reason, everyone was calm. Everyone was cracking jokes. We just felt we had that tiny little chance, and do you know what, the boys have proved today, and made history."
Spain's Sergio Garcia, who won the last two holes to overhaul Jim Furyk, said the memory of Ballesteros had been a crucial factor in inspiring the European win.
"I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day, because there's no chance I would have won my match if he wasn't there," Garcia said.
"It was amazing, and it feels so good to be able to win it for him and for our captain, Jose, it's been amazing."
Justin Rose, who also won the last two holes of his match to stun US veteran Phil Mickelson, said: "We are in shock.
"We wanted to believe, we really did want to believe, but we had no illusions of how hard that day was going to be, four points against a team that's played so well all week."
England's Luke Donald, who spearheaded the European charge with a morale-boosting 2 and 1 win over Bubba Watson said that all the European players knew they had an uphill battle in front of them.
"But we believed in our hearts we could do this. It was my job to lead us off, fortunately I played great today and the other guys just followed. What a summer for British sport," he said.
"It's one of the highlights of my career. It's been down to a lot of people, but Jose has been a calming influence. He wanted us to do this for himself and Seve and we got it done."
Olazabal Never Gave Up on Ryder Cup
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 30, 2012 (AFP) - Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal said he never gave up hope for his side even when they were 10-4 down with just two of Saturday's fourballs remaining. 
His side won both of those to pull within four points of the United States at 6-10 down and that, he felt, was within range for Sunday's closing 12 singles.
"Unbelievable day, one that will go down in history," he said after his men had retained the trophy by defeating the United States 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.
"It's hard to express it in words. I knew it was going to be difficult but, at the same time, I truly believed we could do it.
"When I looked at those matches, the matches were pretty much even, well-balanced. I said to them I believed we could change things around."
Olazabal, a European Ryder Cup hero, especially for his partnership with the late Seve Ballesteros, had been under fire for some of his decisions at Medinah Country Club this week,
He notably was slammed for leaving Ian Poulter out of the Friday afternoon fourballs after the Ryder Cup favourite had teamed up with Justin Rose to win in the morning foursomes.
And then he took some stick for a flat showing from most of his team during the first two days in contrast to the high emotion shown by the American players under US counterpart Davis Love.
It had been, he admitted hard-going at times.
"Well, it's been a tough week. The first two days nothing went our way. We struggled on the greens, and this morning I felt a little change in that regard, and we started to make a few putts," he said.
"The Americans just started to miss them. And winning those few matches, that was key. I've been under pressure hitting shots, but today tops that.
"I cannot explain today, the guys did a wonderful job. Maybe they knew how much it meant to me.
"Last night in the meeting I told them that I really believed they could do it. The pairings were well balanced and they just believed in themselves. That's why we are here as winners.
"Those first five matches today were close and key. We managed to win those.
Olazabal also said that the Ballesteros factor had been important with the European team going out clad in the dark blue and white colours that the late Ryder Cup legend had favoured.
"Seve will always be present with this team," he said.
"He was a big factor for this event, for the European side, and last night when we were having that meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing, and I think they did."
Woods, Stricker Failed to Close The Deal
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 30, 2012 (AFP) - Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker's struggles continued in Sunday's singles as they failed to take care of business down the stretch, allowing Europe to retain the Ryder Cup in shocking fashion.
"We'll be disappointed for sure," said Stricker who lost the penultimate match to Martin Kaymer 1-up on Sunday. "But we'll be all right.
"I am disappointed that I let 11 other players down and the captains. Tiger and I at the end there tried to get some points. And I didn't. So that's disappointing."
Team USA appeared to be heading to another Ryder Cup victory on US soil as they took a commanding four point lead, 10-6, into Sunday's final singles round.
But Europe had other plans as they steamrolled the Americans on the final day outscoring them 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 at the Medinah Country Club to win 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 in the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
It all came down to the last two singles matches between Kaymer and Stricker followed by the anchor match between Woods and Francesco Molinari.
Kaymer made a clutch six-footer to save par on the 18th hole. Woods ended up halving his match with Molinari but it didn't matter as the final outcome was determined on the green at 18 in the group just ahead of him.
"We'll pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and we're resilient," Stricker said. "As golfers you have got to be. It's the nature of the game. I've been down in some depths before that you've just got to pick yourself up and play golf again."
Woods and Stricker failed to earn a single point as playing partners in the team sessions on Friday and Saturday, going 0-3.
This marked the first time a US team has lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since Ryder Cup competition began in 1927.
The Europeans shock win brings back memories of 1999 at Brookline, Massachusetts when the Americans overturned a 6-10 deficit to win by a solitary point.
Woods' missed putt on 18 summed up the Americans' struggles on Sunday. He flubbed a four-footer to save par and then conceded Molinari’s par putt to halve the hole to round out the scoring.
"I went 1-up at 17, and I asked Joey (caddie LaCava) what was going on down at 18. My responsibility was to be able to get my point," Woods said. "And then they said that Europe has a chance to win on this hole, or retain the cup.
"Then after that all went down, my putt was useless. It was inconsequential. So I hit it too quick, and gave him his putt, and it was already over."
Match Score - United States 13 1/2 Europe 14 1/2
(Overnight Score - United States 10 Europe 6)
Sunday
Singles
Bubba Watson (USA) lost to Luke Donald (Europe) 2 and 1
Brandt Snedeker (USA) lost to Paul Lawrie (Europe) 5 and 3
Keegan Bradley (USA) lost to Rory McIlroy (Europe) 2 and 1
Webb Simpson (USA) lost to Ian Poulter (Europe) 2-up
Dustin Johnson (USA) bt Nicolas Colsaerts (Europe) 3 and 2
Phil Mickelson (USA) lost to Justin Rose (Europe) 1-up
Zach Johnson (USA) bt Graeme McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1
Matt Kuchar (USA) lost to Lee Westwood (Europe) 3 and 2
Jim Furyk (USA) lost to Sergio Garcia (Europe) 1-up
Jason Dufner (USA) bt Peter Hanson (Europe) 2-up
Steve Stricker (USA) lost to Martin Kaymer (Europe) 1-up
Tiger Woods (USA) v Francesco Molinari (Europe) halved
Score: United State 3 1/2 Europe 8 1/2
Saturday
Fourballs
Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Justin Rose/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 5 and 4
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Nicolas Colsaerts/Paul Lawrie (Europe) 1-up
Sergio Garcia/Luke Donald (Europe) bt Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) 1-up
Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter (Europe) bt Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) 1-up
Score: United States 2 Europe 2
Foursomes
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe) 7 and 6
Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe) bt Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) 1-up
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 2 and 1
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 1-up
Score: United States 3 Europe 1
Friday
Fourballs
Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Paul Lawrie/Peter Hanson (Europe) 5 and 4
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Justin Rose/Martin Kaymer (Europe) 3 and 2
Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) lost to Nicolas Colsaerts/Lee Westwood (Europe) by one hole
Score: United States 3 Europe 1
Foursomes
Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) bt Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 4 and 3
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) lost to Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) by 1 hole.
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 3 and 2
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) lost to Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe) 2 and 1
Score: United States 2 Europe 2