Mcilroy wins race to Dubai

Having already won his second Major Championship, ascended to the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking and played his part in Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup comeback, Rory McIlroy has now set the seal on the most glittering season of his career by winning The Race to Dubai for the first time.

After collecting €289,296 for finishing in third place at the Barclays Singapore Open, won by Italian Matteo Manassero, McIlroy took his season’s earnings to €3,696,597 and, with his closest rival Peter Hanson not playing again until the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the Northern Irishman has now established an unassailable lead at the top of The Race to Dubai.

In so doing, McIlroy – who will defend his UBS Hong Kong Open title next week before moving onto Dubai the week after – has emulated the feats of his Ryder Cup team-mate Luke Donald, who won the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic last season.

Aged 23 years and 191 days, McIlroy becomes the youngest player to be crowned European Number One since Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, who was 21 when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy in 1979 and 22 when he repeated the feat the following year. He also becomes only the second player from Northern Irishman to top the Money List, following Ronan Rafferty in 1989.   

McIlroy said: “It really is hugely satisfying to finally become the European Number One, especially after finishing second in two of the last three years. It has been one of my main goals to become Number One in Europe ever since securing my card five years ago, so to end the year as the Number One on both The European and US PGA Tours is absolutely amazing.

“Winning a second Major Championship already made it a fabulous season, but then to follow Luke [Donald] in becoming Number One in both Europe and the States is the icing on the cake after a fabulous season.

“I feel so proud and humbled to have joined so many fabulous names in Europe who have won the Order of Merit. And to be able to accomplish this goal with two events still remaining in The Race to Dubai means that I can defend my UBS Hong Kong Open title and play in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai without that added pressure, and just really enjoy my golf.

“I set myself a number of ambitious goals at the start of the year, and to have ticked so many of the boxes feels great. A lot of hard work went into this, and I am really proud of what I’ve achieved in 2012.I would like to give special thanks to the team around me for all the support they have given me throughout the year.

“I’ve still got two events remaining this year, and the goal is still to try and win at least once more before the end of the season. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to a good break over the winter! I’ve got a healthy lead in the World Rankings, but with so many very good players on both sides of the Atlantic there’s no time to be resting on my laurels, so my goal is to push on in the New Year.

“Monty [Colin Montgomerie] won eight Orders of Merit in his prime, and I have only won one so far, so there is plenty of ground to make up. But to be able to go into 2013 as the Number One on both The European Tour and the US PGA Tour is hugely satisfying.”

Youngest winners of the Harry Vardon Trophy since the start of The European Tour in 1972:

19 - Seve Ballesteros 1976

20 - Seve Ballesteros 1977

21 - Seve Ballesteros 1978

21 - Sandy Lyle 1979

22 - Sandy Lyle 1980

23 - Dale Hayes 1975

23 - Rory McIlroy 2012

Tigers and Rory's Bromance

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods do joint CNN interview

Maybe the biggest story of the 2012 PGA Tour season had nothing to do with a golf ball at all, but with the budding relationship between the game's biggest stars.

That would be Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who have been buddy-buddy since the FedEx Cup started and continued their mutual respect tour with this CNN interview the two did in China.

Following the Duel at Jinsha Lake (Rory won by a shot over Tiger), the two sat down with CNN and talked Jack Nicklaus' record, being a pro golfer and, of course, this newfound friendship.

It's a good look into both players, and definitely worth your time.

Tiger and Rory together on video; it's Christmas come early for golf bloggers!

Ian Poulter wins WGC Champions after Lee Westwood fades

Ian Poulter secured his first win of the year with a closing round of 65 at the WGC Champions in Shenzhen.

WGC CHAMPIONS, SHENZHEN, FINAL LEADERBOARD (PAR 72)

• -21: I Poulter (Eng)
 
• -19: J Dufner (US), S Piercy (US), E Els (SA), P Mickelson (US)
 
• -18: L Oosthuizen (SA), L Westwood (Eng)
 
• Selected others: -17: A Scott (Aus); -16: M Kaymer (Ger); -14 B Snedeker (US); -12 L Donald (Eng); -10: K Bradley (US); -9 P Hanson (Swe), J Rose (Eng)

The Englishman, 36, who won his four games in Europe's Ryder Cup win in September, produced eight birdies in his first 15 holes to take control.

Overnight leaders Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen only managed rounds of level par, and Poulter came from four shots back to win by two.

Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson were in a four-way tie for second.

United States duo Jason Dufner and Scott Piercy also finished two shots behind Poulter.

Poulter, who finished fourth at the BMW Masters last week, said: "It's been an amazing five or six weeks with the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits.

"I played well last week and took a lot from that. I knew that if I stayed patient I'd be right there at the end.

"I feel confident with the putter right now. It's so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner's circle."

Westwood led by three shots in the early stages but a double bogey at the short fifth stopped his momentum, before three bogeys on the back nine ended his hopes and he finished tied sixth with Oosthuizen.

With the overnight leaders out of contention, Mickelson, Els and defending champion Martin Kaymer were Poulter's biggest threats, only for the German to triple-bogey the short 17th.

Els, failed with a 45-foot birdie attempt at the last, with a bogey on the penultimate hole meaning Mickelson had to hole his second shot on the 18th to force a play-off.

The three-time Masters champion could only manage a par and now goes on to play at next week's Singapore Open.

"I'll see if I can improve one spot there," he said. "It was good for me to come back after having not played since the Ryder Cup and pick up where I left off."

Another man who will be in Singapore is Rory McIlroy, who along with Tiger Woods,skipped Mission Hills but holds a 800,000 euro lead at the top of the European Tour money list after nearest challengers Justin Rose and Peter Hanson finished in a tie for 24th.

McIlroy tweeted his congratulations to Poulter,  saying: "Ballsy up and down at the last, wouldn't expect anything less!"

Poulter, only the second European after Darren Clarke to win two WGC events, has climbed to fourth in the Race to Dubai and 15 in the world rankings.

"Two world championships are great, of course, but a major is the biggest dream," he concluded. "People keep asking all the time 'when, when, when'. I don't know when and I'm trying really hard - I'll do my best next year."

European Tour 2012 money list

1. Rory McIlroy (NI) - 3,407,300 euros

2. Peter Hanson (Swe) - 2,642,524 euros

3. Justin Rose (Eng) - 2,566,323 euros

4. Ian Poulter (Eng) - 2,270,851 euros

5. Branden Grace (SA) - 2,081,961 euros

Updated world rankings

1. Rory McIlroy (NI), 2. Tiger Woods (US), 3. Luke Donald (Eng), 4. Lee Westwood (Eng), 5. Justin Rose (Eng), 6. Adam Scott (Aus), 7. Jason Dufner (US), 8. Webb Simpson (US), 9. Brandt Snedeker (US), 10. Louis Oosthuizen (SA), 11. Bubba Watson (US), 12. Steve Stricker (US), 13. Phil Mickelson (US), 14. Keegan Bradley (US), 15. Ian Poulter (Eng), 16. Nick Watney (US), 17. Matt Kuchar (US), 18. Dustin Johnson (US), 19. Peter Hanson (Swe), 20. Ernie Els (SA)

Oosthuizen's 36-hole score a WGC low

SHENZHEN, China -- Louis Oosthuizen shot a 9-under 63 to take a commanding 5-shot lead after 36 holes of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions on Friday. Here are some notes from Round 2:

Louis Oosthuizen (SAF), 65-63--128 (-16)

• Louis Oosthuizen made his first bogey of the week on the par-3 second hole, but rebounded quickly and posted seven birdies and one eagle en route to a 63 (-9), tying the tournament's 18-hole record since becoming a World Golf Championships event in 2009. An hour or so later, fellow countryman Ernie Els matched him with a 63 (-9) of his own.

• Oosthuizen also shot during the second round of the 2011 HSBC Champions and Els did so during the final round of the 2009 event. Three others have carded a 63 at the HSBC Champions since 2009, all during the final rounds: Martin Kaymer, 2011; Rory McIlroy, 2009; Daisuke Maruyama, 2009.

• Oosthuizen has posted the lowest 36-hole score in World Golf Championships history, bettering the 15-under-par total recorded by Tiger Woods at the 2000 Bridgestone Invitational and 2006 Cadillac Championship.

• He also sets the 36-hole record for the HSBC Champions, bettering the previous low mark of 132 (-12), recorded in the event's inaugural year by Nick Dougherty. All seven previous HSBC Champions were held at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.

• Oosthuizen made birdie on all five of Mission Hills Golf Club's par 5s in Round 1, and added four birdies and an eagle on Friday, bringing him to 11-under-par on the par 5s through two rounds. His eagle 3 on No. 7 started a five-hole, 6-under-par run through the par-5, 11th hole.

• While Oosthuizen was at 9-under-par in round two alone, there are only six players at that score or better for their 36-hole total: Adam Scott (-11); Els (-11); Shane Lowry (-10); Jason Dufner (-10); Phil Mickelson (-9); and Dustin Johnson (-9).

• Oosthuizen opened up a five-stroke lead over Scott and Els. No player has ever led by more than one stroke after 36 holes in the history of this event.

• Oosthuizen's five-stroke lead ties for the second-largest 36-hole lead in World Golf Championships history, behind Woods' seven-shot lead after two rounds of the 2000 Bridgestone Invitational. Woods led by five after 36 holes at the 2003 and 2006 Cadillac Championship. Throwing out those three leads, plus Oosthuizen's from today, the average lead after 36 holes in WGC history has been 1.034 strokes.

• The lowest 72-hole total in HSBC Champions history was posted in 2005 (David Howell) and 2011 (Kaymer) at 20-under-par, just four shots better than where Oosthuizen stands now. The 72-hole World Golf Championships record is held by Woods at 25-under par, 2002 Cadillac Championship.

• Oosthuizen made the field based on his final FedExCup standing (No. 7). He's won twice on the European Tour this season, but neither event's field was strong enough to qualify him for the HSBC Champions (African Open, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour; and Maybank Malaysian Open, co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour).

• His most recent World Golf Championships start resulted in his best performance, a fourth-place finish at the Bridgestone Invitational. Oosthuizen finished T7 at this event last year, buoyed by a 63 in the second round.

• A win at the HSBC Champions would make Oosthuizen the 11th different player to capture both a World Golf Championships event and a major championship, joining Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, Els, Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Vijay Singh, David Toms, Mike Weir, Woods and last year's HSBC Champions winner Kaymer.

Adam Scott (AUS), 65-68--133 (-11)

• Playing in the group directly behind fellow 18-hole leader Oosthuizen, Scott tried to keep pace with the South African and posted a respectable 68 (-4), but found himself five shots back by day's end. He was 6-under-par on the five par-5s in Round 1, compared to 4-under-par on those same holes in round two.

• Through 36 holes, Scott is 9-under-par on the front nine at Mission Hills Golf Club-Olazabal Course, compared to 2-under-par on the back (he shot even par on the back nine Friday).

• Like Oosthuizen, Scott made the field based on his final FedExCup standing (No. 25) and was the last player in the field via that category.

• Winner of the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational, his lone World Golf Championships victory and most recent win, a win this week would put Scott in a group with six other players who have multiple World Golf Championships victories: Woods (16), Ogilvy (3), Clarke (2), Els (2), Mickelson (2), Hunter Mahan (2).

Ernie Els (SAF), 70-63--133 (-11)

• Els carded the low nine-hole score of the week thus far, a 29 (-7) on the front nine of the Olazabal Course. His career-low round in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event is a 29 on the front nine at Muirfield Village during the 2002 British Open, also during the second round. Els won that week, his third of four career major championships.

• Els kept his card bogey-free, posting two more birdies on the back nine for a tournament-record-tying 63 (-9). He is the only player who remains bogey-free through 36 holes. Els also posted a 63 during the final round of the 2009 event. In addition to Oosthuizen's 63 today and during the second round of the 2011 HSBC Champions, three others have carded a 63 at the HSBC Champions since 2009, all during the final rounds: Kaymer, 2011; McIlroy, 2009; Maruyama, 2009.

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Els owns two WGC-Cadillac Championship titles. A win this week would give Els three World Golf Championships titles and put him tied with Ogilvy (3) behind Woods (16) for most WGC wins.

• Winner of the 2012 British Open, a win this week would make Els only the third player to capture both a World Golf Championships event and a major championship in the same season, joining Ogilvy (2006 Accenture Match Play Championship and U.S. Open) and Woods (eight different seasons).

• Els will be 43 years, 18 days old on Sunday. A win here would make him the second-oldest player to win a World Golf Championships event and the first player in his 40s to win two WGC titles.

Oldest World Golf Championships event winners:

• Singh, 2008 Bridgestone Invitational, 45 years, 5 months, 12 days old

• Els, 2010 Cadillac Championship, 40 years, 4 months, 25 days

• Mickelson, 2009 HSBC Champions, 39 years, 4 months, 23 days old

• Mickelson, 2009 Cadillac Championship, 38 years, 8 months, 27 days

• Toms, 2005 Accenture Match Play Championship, 38 years, 1 month, 23 days

• Kevin Sutherland, 2002 Accenture Match Play Championship, 37 years, 7 months, 20 days

Miscellaneous notes

• There are 16 Ryder Cup players from the 2012 Ryder Cup playing in this year's event and four are in the top 10 after round two:

• Team Europe (10 in the field this week): Luke Donald (T8); Nicolas Colsaerts (T56); Peter Hanson (T12); Kaymer (T12); Paul Lawrie (T24); Graeme McDowell (T56); Francesco Molinari (T38); Justin Rose (T31); Ian Poulter (T12); Lee Westwood (T12)

• Team USA (6 in the field this week): Keegan Bradley (T22); Jason Dufner (T4); Dustin Johnson (T6); Mickelson (T6); Brandt Snedeker (T38); Bubba Watson (T17)

• Defending champion Kaymer carded rounds of 68-69 and stands at T12 through 36 holes, nine shots off Oosthuizen's pace. He is attempting to become the only player other than Woods to successfully defend a World Golf Championships title.

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Mickelson was bogey-free in Round 1, but carded two bogeys (No. 6 and No. 14) and a double-bogey (No. 18) to lose ground on Oosthuizen, finishing 36 holes at 135 (-9). Mickelson has recorded three eagles this week, one on No. 9 during Round 1 and then on No. 4 and 7 during Round 2. Mickelson is a two-time winner of the HSBC (2007, 2009).

• Poulter, winner of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2010, is the only player in the field who has competed in all seven previous HSBC Champions. Poulter's best finish is a T13 in 2010 and 2011. He has carded rounds of 69-68 this week and stands at T12, nine shots off the pace.

Bogey-free rounds:

Thursday: Oosthuizen (65); Mickelson (66); Prom Meesawat (67); Els (70)

Friday: Els (63); Bill Haas (67); Marc Leishman (68)

HSBC Champions and PGA TOUR eligibility for 2012

• For 2012, the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions will count as an official PGA TOUR victory and offer a three-year exemption on the PGA TOUR -- provided it is won by a PGA TOUR member.

• If a non-PGA TOUR member wins the HSBC Champions, he would not receive a PGA TOUR exemption, but he would qualify for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

• Prize money from the $7 million purse does NOT, however, count toward the official PGA TOUR money list, even if a PGA TOUR member wins.

• Beginning in 2013, the HSBC Champions will be a part of the FedExCup schedule.

Keegan Bradley would consider legal action to block belly putter ban

If Keegan Bradley is forced to give up his long putter, he plans to go down swinging it.

Bradley told Golfweek's Alex Miceli, who is reporting from China, that he'd consider taking golf's governing bodies to court to defend the anchored putting stroke:

“I'm going to do whatever I have to do to protect myself and the other players on Tour,” Bradley said. “I look at it as a whole, as us all together. I don't look at it as much about myself. I think that for them to ban this after we've done what we've done is unbelievable.”

Bradley, the first player to win a major with a long putter, has spoken out most aggressively, but other pros are upset that they have been largely bypassed in the decision-making process, and some expect player resistance as the process moves along.

Among those players is Ernie Els, who, after a period of opposition to the belly putter, seems to be softening his stance since he began using one. Funny what a major title will do:

“They’re going to have a couple of legal matters coming their way,” Els said here, indicating the USGA and R&A. “It's going to be a bit of an issue now. I’ve been against it, but since I’ve been using it, it still takes a lot of practice, and you have to perfect your own way of putting with this belly.”

Despite player resistance, the USGA and R&A appear to be moving toward a rule change, which some expect by the end of the year.

Great players never complain about there equipment.....

King Juan Carlos I of Spain today welcomed

King Juan Carlos I of Spain today welcomed José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jiménez to the Palace de la Zarzuela in Madrid to offer his congratulations to Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup Team.

Captain Olazábal, who led Europe to glory a fortnight ago, was accompanied by Garcia, one of the heroic 12 players, and Vice-Captain Jiménez as they presented the Ryder Cup trophy and a signed shirt worn on that historic Sunday at Medinah Country Club, Chicago, to His Majesty The King during a special audience at the Palace.

After greeting the three golfers, His Majesty took them aside for a private meeting, after which they shared their experience with the assembled media gathered at neighbouring Somontes Golf facility.

Olazábal said: “This was my second visit to the Palace to see His Majesty and it was a great honour. I came here in 1994 when I won my first US Masters but I came with my family that time. It was a very different experience then as I came as an individual. Now we have come here representing another 11 players, another three vice-captains and the whole of the European Ryder Cup team.

“The fact that His Majesty has invited us to his Palace makes the whole thing very special. There are iconic places and this is one of them but the beauty of this is that he has received us because of what we as a team have all achieved not just the three of us here today.”

Europe equalled the greatest comeback in the history of The Ryder Cup when they came from four points behind on the final day to win The Ryder Cup by 14 ½ - 13/ 1/2 , and keep Samuel Ryder’s golden chalice in European hands.

“He made us feel very comfortable and at ease and it’s been a very nice conversation,” added Olazábal. “He said he was very pleased with the polo shirt from that famous Sunday which is history now and said he wanted it in his trophy cabinet!

“He said he watched a lot on TV but could not watch it entirely but he has asked us to send him the DVD which we will do.”

King Juan Carlos also spared a thought for the late Severiano Ballesteros, who died in May 2011.  “He touched my heart when he mentioned Severiano and he said how sad it was to lose him so early,” said Olazábal. “He also talked about the performance of the Spanish players in The Ryder Cup, especially the passion we have put into the event. He was very knowledgeable.”

Olazábal admitted he still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking he is playing one of the matches and highlighted some of the key moments which turned the match in Europe’s favour.

“What Poulter did, especially on the Saturday, changed the heart of the rest of team,” he explained. “When we got together on Saturday evening I could see on their faces there was a different look. There was a totally different atmosphere which was the key to the victory the following day.

“Then on Sunday there were so many emotions. Sergio recovering his match and winning that point was essential and then when Martin Kaymer holed that putt he closed the door to the American team.

“Thanks to the 12 fantastic guys The Ryder Cup trophy will stay in Europe for another two years.”

Jiménez was impressed with how well informed His Majesty the King was.

“He knew how important those two points on Saturday afternoon were,” he recount. “We had never suffered so much as we did those first two days. The Americans were holing everything and our putts did not go in but in the end justice was done.

“One of the most impressive things since we have been back is the number of people who do not play golf and they keep telling us they did not move from their sofa on Sunday. They were suck there with glue. Hopefully this will create more golfing fans and people will talk more about this wonderful sport. This Ryder Cup has been like no other.”

And Garcia was likewise honoured by the experience.

“It was my second visit to His Majesty the King and it is always a very special experience,” said Garcia. “This does not happen many times in your sporting career.

“His Majesty mentioned the putt I holed to win my match and he was very well informed how it all happened.  He said if it had been the other way round and we were 10-6 up, maybe the whole world would not have paid so much attention.”

Looking back at his own highlights from Medinah, Garcia focused on the performances of Poulter and Kaymer in particular.

“Ian Poulter was amazing,” he said. “He knows the meaning of The Ryder Cup and he lives for the Ryder Cup. It’s fantastic to have someone like him in the team, someone who can make the spirit turn at the right moment. If I had to choose one moment of the Ryder Cup it is quite difficult as there were so many highlight . But the last two points on Saturday were essential. Poulter’s putt on the 18th that evening and also Luke Donald’s tee shot on the 17th. But I still cannot shake from my mind Justin Rose’s putt on the 17th on Sunday, and finally Martin Kaymer’s putt was incredible.

“The night before, Olazábal and myself, we had a very good conversation with Martin Then on Sunday I was having breakfast with him and I said to him if I had a wish, it would be for him to hole the putt which meant Europe won the Ryder Cup, and, of course, Martin did exactly that.”

Justin Rose beats Lee Westwood to World Golf Final jackpot in Turkey

Justin Rose led from the first hole against Lee Westwood, before securing a one-stroke win at the World Golf Final.

Plenty of players claim to be in the form of their life without having the bare statistics, and prize money, to endorse their point. The same cannot be said for Justin Rose, whose victory at the World Golf Final continued a memorable spell and earned the Englishman $1.5m. His second place at last month's Tour Championship earned him a combined $1.6m for that event and a finish of six in the FedEx Cup. For Rose, actions are speaking far louder than words.

His previous two individual events have bestowed the kinds of rewards on the 32-year-old that some professionals can take years to collect. More extravagant fixtures and fittings might just have been ordered for the holiday home Rose is currently building in the Bahamas.

In between times Rose, of course, played a crucial role – by virtue of his singles win over Phil Mickelson – in Europe's Ryder Cup victory over theUSA. Arguably, the Englishman was not quite afforded the credit he deserved for his performance at Medinah.

"I don't have any skeletons in the closet out there," Rose explained. "I don't have a loose shot that's plaguing me all the time. I feel like my game is well rounded at the moment – all aspects can pull through for me at different times.

"It's the same feeling today as leading a 72-hole tournament in strokeplay, being in front of a field and trying to close it out. Exactly the same scenarios run through your head, the same strategy does as well. That's great practice for me in trying to get better and better in winning golf tournaments."

Some others, such as Rory McIlroy, are anxious for an arduous season to end. Rose must wish it was still only March. "I think the Tour Championship sparked the good play, for sure," he added. "I hadn't had a great FedEx Cup play-off until then – it was nice to get in contention.

"I played in the last group every single day at the Tour Championship and that's what I really enjoyed. I kept pace with the field the whole week playing in and around the lead. That was good, prepared me well for the Ryder Cup and obviously I've come off the back of that with just great feelings."

Rose defeated Lee Westwood by just a stroke in the medal matchplay final over Antalya's Sultan Course. Neither player dropped a single shot over 18 holes. He birdied from 20ft on the 17th to hand himself a two-stroke lead over Westwood, which was reduced by the runner-up making birdie at the last. Due to that, Rose had to hole a tetchy 4ft putt before he could properly celebrate.

For Westwood there was the not inconsiderable consolation of a $1m cheque and added confidence from clear improvements in his short game since hiring Tony Johnstone as a coach for that previously troublesome element of his game.

"It's been a great week," Westwood said. "Other than the financial rewards, it has been good to get back on the golf course after the Ryder Cup and to edge my way back into scoring. The defeat is not that difficult to swallow. Justin has beat me by a shot over 18 holes. I've played really well. I would be daft to criticise myself for the way I played today and all week. There is no negative.

"I think I am something like 21-under after five rounds so it is a good way to refocus for the rest of the year. I have five massive tournaments left. If I play well and keep this form up for a couple of weeks in China and in Dubai then I might have a sniff of the order of merit.

"I have only won twice this year so I'd like to win more tournaments before the year is out. I'm pleased with my game and the way things are going. I'm rolling the ball well. I hit some good putts today that didn't go in."

Ryder Cup: Seve Ballesteros's fighting spirit on show - nephew

The fighting spirit of Seve Ballesteros was evident as Europe produced a stunning comeback to win the Ryder Cup on Sunday, says the nephew of the legendary golfer, who died in 2011.

Europe came back from 10-4 down to claim a 14½-13½ victory over the United States at Medinah.

"What we saw was the attitude Seve had not only on the golf course but also in his life, especially with his illness," said Ivan Ballesteros.

"He was a fighter and always positive."

Ivan added: "He used to say 'thinking does not cost much so if you have the chance to think, think positive.' That was what we saw."

The Europeans wore navy blue jumpers and white shirts, the colours most associated with Ballesteros, on Sunday in tribute to the five-time major winner, who died in May last year after a long battle with a brain tumour.

"It was very nice to see them remembering Seve, he was present all weekend, he was somehow there, his spirit was there," added Ivan, who is vice president of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

"It was a great gesture from captain Jose Maria Olazabal and all the European team to remember Seve so much especially on Sunday and the way they played, their attitude, was a great example for the world of golf."

Europe won a record eight-and-a-half points out of the 12 available in Sunday's singles matches.

Ian Poulter beat Webb Simpson 2up to complete four wins out of four at Medinah, while Justin Rose came from one down on the 16th to birdie the last two holes and beat Phil Mickelson on the 18th.

Martin Kaymer then kept his nerve to hole from six feet and secure the decisive 14th point that guaranteed Europe would not lose the Ryder Cup.

"The way they played, they performed fantastically well. Lots of people would say it was impossible to win, it was a fantastic performance from the European side," said Ivan.

"Not many people would believe it was achievable to come back and they did very, very well. I very much doubt a Hollywood script would do better than what we saw on Sunday and over the weekend."

Mixed feelings from Ko after individual title win

Mixed feelings from Lydia Ko after winning the individual title at the World Amateur Golf Champs in Turkey.

The 15-year-old has stormed to victory by six shots, but New Zealand has had to settle for a tie for fifth in the team's standings, slipping from second at the start of the day.

Ko says they've still done very well as a team.

"We tried our very best and we can't do anything more than that and our luck wasn't with us this week but I reckon we all did really well and we really enjoyed this week."

Ko says she played solid golf all week.

"The first couple of rounds I was hitting the ball really well but I just couldn't execute putting-wise but today I didn't hit the ball as good but my putting helped in some way."

"Again one of the biggest amateur events and yeah I mean I tried my best - in round one and two I knew I was hitting the ball really well so I was really confident. Today I got my putts rolling."

Lydia Ko heads home tomorrow for the first time in three months to prepare for her school exams.

Emily Perry blew out to nine over par on the final day, with the team five shots behind the winner, Korea.

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