An emotional Jose Maria Olazabal broke down in tears, pulling his cap over his face after looking skywards to declare leading Europe to victory at Medinah was the greatest moment of his golfing career.
Olazabal’s magnificent dozen, sporting ‘Seve Ballasteros, 1957 – 2011’ emblems on the sleeves of their shirts, came from four points behind heading into the Sunday Singles to defeat a totally shell-shocked Davis Love 111 led USA Team by a point with their 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 victory in Chicago.
Europe’s sensational come-from-behind success in the Windy City ends a remarkable summer of sport in Europe capped by the London Olympics and including a PGA Championship victory for Rory McIlroy and a first Grand Slam title win for Scotland’s Andy Murray.
The 39th Ryder Cup has to be best ever in the 85-year history of the event.
The memory of the late, great Seve Ballesteros inspires Europe to a stunning Medinah success. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
All praise for Olazabal who inspired his European troops who stormed from the trenches to win the opening five Singles matches.
Love 111 remarked: “I congratulate Ollie. Seve was obviously here for the one point they needed. Not only did my boys get beat today, they played poorly.
“It was a good Ryder Cup. It was good for golf but not good for us.”
And Olazabal later acknowledged the generous gesture of Love which allowed The European Team to wear navy blue in honour of Ballesteros.
Ballesteros, who captained Europe to victory at Valderrama in his native Spain in 1997, famously wore navy blue on the final day for many of his 91 worldwide wins including three Open Championships after capturing his first European Tour title in the 1976 Dutch Open wearing a shirt of that colour.
Olazábal said: “Davis was extremely understanding because he had it in mind for the United States to wear blue on the last day but when we explained the reason for wanting to wear navy blue he immediately accepted our reasoning. It was a terrific gesture on Davis’s part and one all of Team Europe appreciated.”
Olazábal specifically selected a “Seve Blue” outfit with navy blue cashmere sweater, navy blue trousers and matching designer belt complimented by a pure white cotton polo shirt.
Ballesteros completed his “happiest” victory in similar ensemble when at St Andrews in 1984 he won the second of his Open Championship triumphs after pulling on, when the wind strengthened on the 15th tee, a navy blue sweater chosen to go with his white shirt and navy trousers.
Ballesteros played in eight Ryder Cups, won 22 ½ points from 37 matches including 11 wins and two halves from 15 matches in partnership with Olazábal.
He passed away on May 7, 2011, following a courageous battle against cancer and following an outstanding career which included 50 European Tour wins, three Open Championships and two Masters Tournament victories.
Europe has now won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups and will now defend the trophy at Gleneagles in 2014.
* Extra reporting thanks to European Tour.
