Golf: Europe Wins Ryder Cup

The American team almost overcame a 9½-6½ deficit on the first-ever Monday finish in the 83-year history of the Ryder Cup. But Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland beat Hunter Mahan in the final match to give the Europeans the needed 14 ½ points for them to regain the cup.

The Americans were trying to win the Ryder Cup for the first time on foreign soil since 1993. And they almost did. On the 16th hole, McDowell sank a slick downhill putt to go 2-up in his match with Mahan. At this point, the cup hung in the balance, with the score tied at 13 ½ to 13 ½.

The 35,000 fans on hand for the rain-delayed competition at Celtic Manor in Wales went ballistic. The huge gallery swarmed the fairways and greens and the European players and sprayed them with champagne, tossing out shirts and caps and memorabilia.

For more: Europe Wins Ryder Cup - Cybergolf