Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ryder Cup 2014 reaction: Paul McGinley says each Team Europe player was 'a colossus'

Captain celebrates victory at Gleneagles

Tony Jimenez
Sunday 28 September 2014 17:06 BST
Comments

Captain Paul McGinley described each of his players as "a colossus" after holders Europe won the Ryder Cup for the eighth time in 10 editions.

Welsh rookie Jamie Donaldson secured the trophy for the home team on the 15th green by beating former US. PGA champion Keegan Bradley 4 & 3.

"Proud is the first word," McGinley told Sky Sports as he embraced the smiling Donaldson.

"I want to say it's been a real honour to get these 12 players, they have all been a colossus, all of them, the caddies, the backroom team, five vice-captains, it's been a huge team effort.

"This ugly face," McGinley said of Donaldson. "To see how happy it is, and the pride that we give to everybody and the happiness of the people in the stands...I'm giving it for everybody else, it's not for me.

"Playing is something very, very special and I said to the guys last night, as much as I've enjoyed captain, it's different than playing. Enjoy it, be out there and enjoy it, because the days happen so quick and they go. It's been a real great honour."

McGinley's American counterpart Tom Watson said the key to the outcome was Europe's two 3 1/2-point hauls from the foursomes sessions.

"The real difference was the foursomes," said the U.S. skipper. "The combined scores for our team in foursomes were really, really high compared to theirs.

"We made them think about us early on in the singles and then they turned it on but the foursomes play is what separated the two teams."

Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in