Tiger Woods deserves enormous praise after graciously conceeding the four feet par putt of Italy’s Francesco Molinari to ensure Europe won the Ryder Cup.

Moments before Germany’s Martin Kaymer ensured the Ryder Cup would be returning to Europe when he defeated American rival Jim Furyk on the final green that gave Europe the 14 points it needed to retain the gleaming gold trophy.

Tiger Woods hands Europe victory by graciously conceeded the par putt of Francesco Molinari. (Photo – www.gettyimages.com_

However in the final match Woods missed the 18th green right with his approach shot from where he chipped to six feet and then missed his par putt.Molinari found the green in two but then sent his first putt four feet past the hole.But when Woods missed his par attempt he graciously conceeded the Italian’s putt to ensure a miraculous Medinah victory to the Europeans.

Woods actions immediately rekindled memories of Jack Nicklaus’ similar final hole gesture at the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale when the ‘Golden Bear’ conceeded Tony Jacklin’s putt to ensure a 16 points all draw.

Bizarrely, Woods later admitted he was fully aware of the points situation in conceeding the Italian’s putt.

“To be honest I didn’t really pay that much attention,” said Woods.

“I was trying to get my point.  I went 1‑up at 17, and I asked Joey  (caddy) what was going on down 18.

“Because my responsibility was to be able to get my point.  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.”

It was the second occasion in his Ryder Cup career Woods has gone out last in the Singles and the second time he’s ended up conceeding 1/2 point.

“It has happened to me on the 17th fairway at The Belfry in 2002, playing Jesper (Parnevik) and our match was inconsequential and same thing here, it’s inconsequential, the Cup is already over,” said Woods.

“So that’s twice where the Cup’s already been over.”

Woods ended his seventh Ryder Cup with just a 1/2 point to show for his efforts and has tasted victory in just one Ryder Cup and that was 21 years ago at Brookline.

Despite being unaware of the points situation, Woods was asked also if he felt the momentum shift.

“I just kept focusing on my point but I was 2‑down through three, so I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to the boards,” he said.

“Just because I had to get my own game, my own match back to where it was all‑square, if not put a red on the board.

“And I didn’t really start paying much attention until, as I said, 17, when everything started coming together and it looked like Europe had a really good chance of retaining the Cup.”