Ken Jones: Class of solid Toms drives daring Garcia to distraction and defeat

Torrance's gamble pays off magnificently as 39-year-old Scot sets the tone for a remarkable day despite defeat for European No 1

When Sergio Garcia reached the tenth he was cruising, two up on David Toms, looking every inch Europe's leading player. The 10th is The Belfry's signature hole but Sam Torrance's preference for the back tee had persuaded most players to reject the adventurous option of going for a green tucked away beneath tall trees and behind water.

Garcia squinted through the sunlight, saw it glinting on the water, and wondered. Lay up or go for it? The outcome of the match, a great match by any golfing standards, was probably decided right there. Causing a buzz of excitement, Garcia boldly reached for his driver.

Catching sight of the ball as it soared towards the pin, spectators packed around the tenth fell silent in anticipation of a result that would strengthen Garcia's grip on proceedings. Instead a groan went up as the ball skipped out of a greenside bunker to end up on a steep bank. "It was my worst break of the week," Garcia would say. "If the ball stays in the bunker, it's probably the easiest up-and-down on the whole golf course. It goes over and it's difficult."

It was the break Toms had been looking for. After laying up from the tee, he was on and then down for a birdie. Garcia chipped short and missed the putt; back to one up.

Although destined to become one of only three Europeans to lose on a remarkable day of rising excitement, Garcia was now involved in a game that would have no bearing on the outcome but was bettered by no other for nerve and technical accomplishment.

Identifying Toms as a fine player – terrific swing, lovely rhythm, cool as they come – and a decent fellow, the gallery were appreciative of the American's admirable effort even when it dawned that Garcia was struggling, losing the 11th to a birdie that squared the match.

Toms's solid play had put doubts in Garcia's mind. On the twelfth tee the Spaniard began to fiddle. He was looking at a 208 yards par 3; elevated green, water in front, pin top right. Four or five iron? Garcia wasn't sure, even less so when a slight breeze got up to rustle the trees to his left. Garcia has recently managed to conquer the nervous habit of regripping the club so many times that people wondered whether he would ever get around to hitting the ball, but there was a hint of its return in the fluttering of his hands around the club shaft.

Garcia's shot was a beauty, arrow straight; "Go ball, go," he shouted, intently watching the ball in flight until it landed within fifteen of the pin. Left with a tricky pitch, Toms made par; Garcia made birdie. One up again.

Walking from the thirteenth green after a half in par, Garcia briefly fell into conversation with Mark James, the captain at Brookline three years ago, and a member of Torrance's support team. Up ahead, Colin Montgomerie had just beaten Scott Hoch by four and three. "Monty's won," James told Garcia. "Stay with it."

Everything about Toms spoke of class. He was playing the back nine as well as he'd ever played. At the par-three fourteenth, Toms struck another blow, bringing the match back to all square with a birdie. At the next, a par of 545 yards, Toms broke clear for the first time in the match. Stealthily, playing with great composure, Toms was now in charge of this terrific encounter, one that deserved to be better than incidental.

Again, daring was the Garcia's downfall. With Toms forced to lay up after finding light rough from the tee, he went for the green with his second only to find the ball perched just above a greenside bunker. As at the tenth, Garcia removed for better feel, but again flipped the ball up short. Toms made his putt for birdie. Garcia could only make par.

One down with three to play, Garcia was unable to wrest back the initiative, missing a birdie putt from fifteen feet at the seventeenth. By then his momentum had gone.

Petulant when he and Lee Westwood lost a fourball to Tiger Woods and Davis Love III on Saturday, the Spaniard was finding it difficult to control his emotions, perhaps realising that fifth place in the world rankings does not carry exemption from the learning process.

At the last, the best Garcia could hope for was a halved match. Even that was beyond him. Toms drove immaculately to the centre of the fairway. Trying to cut the corner of the lake, Garcia went into the water and was forced to play his second from a drop zone. When Toms sent his second to the heart of the green, Garcia conceded.

Withered by disappointment, Garcia embraced his mother, and was consoled by Padraig Harrington, who had arrived by buggy after defeating Mark Calcavecchia five and four. Toms had gone up ahead to retrieve his ball. Seeing Toms wave, Garcia acknowledged the gesture. In victory and defeat, they were saluting each other.