Europe stun USA to retain Ryder Cup

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Europe sensationally retained the Ryder Cup after matching the largest-ever comeback on the final day to beat the United States at Medinah.

Dressed in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe pulled off one of his trademark great escapes in what will go down as the "Miracle of Medinah".

What looked mission impossible when Europe trailed 10-4 at one point late on Saturday night suddenly became possible after Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie dramatically won the first five singles games before Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia picked up further points.

That put Jose Maria Olazabal's side, almost unbelievably, 13-12 up and as the holders they needed only a tie to retain the cup. Yet they ended up winning it 14.5-13.5.

Three games were still on the course. Peter Hanson lost the first of them on the final green, but Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari had it in their power to retain the famous gold trophy.

And Kaymer, left out all day on Saturday, was the one to deliver the point they required to match the biggest comeback in the event's history.

He was up against Steve Stricker. Level with two to go, the American bogeyed the short 17th after hitting his chip far too strongly.

Kaymer, bunkered off the final tee, found the green and had two putts for it once Stricker missed his long birdie attempt.

He gave himself and his team-mates palpitations when he sent his first one six feet past, but 21 years on from compatriot Bernhard Langer missing from the same distance to lose at Kiawah Island, Kaymer made the one back and sparked jubilant scenes.

Molinari halved his final match against Tiger Woods, but Kaymer's putt ensured the contest was over by the time the pair made it to the 18th green.

The cup was going back across the Atlantic.

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Final score: Europe 14.5 USA 13.5

Singles:

Result: Luke Donald bts Bubba Watson 2&1
Result: Ian Poulter bts Webb Simpson 2up
Result: Rory McIlroy bts Keegan Bradley 2&1
Result: Justin Rose bts Phil Mickelson 1up
Result: Paul Lawrie bts Brandt Snedeker 5&3
Result: Dustin Johnson bts Nicolas Colsaerts 3&2
Result: Zach Johnson bts Graeme McDowell 2&1
Result: Sergio Garcia bts Jim Furyk 1up
Result: Jason Dufner bt Peter Hanson 2up
Result: Lee Westwood bts Matt Kuchar 3&2
Result: Martin Kaymer bts Steve Stricker 1up
Result: Tiger Woods v Francesco Molinari halved

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2230: So Europe have retained the Ryder Cup after winning eight of the 12 singles matches. It was a spectacular comeback which will live long in the memory. Somewhere up there, Seve is looking down with a huge smile on his face. Thanks for following our coverage over the last three days. Scroll down to see how Europe pulled off a stunning upset at Medinah.

2320: Woods misses a tiddler at the end. I don't think he cares. Molinari steals half a point so Europe run out 14.5-13.5 winners. An emotional Olazabal breaks down in tears as he tells the interviewer, "This is for Seve".

2313: EUROPE RETAIN THE RYDER CUP! Cool as a cucumber, Kaymer rolls his putt in the centre of the hole to win his match and retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. Incredible scenes as the German is mobbed by his team-mates on the 18th green. Well all his team-mates except Molinari, who is still waiting to finish his match against Woods. Europe have overturned a 10-6 deficit to record a remarkable victory in USA's own backyard. Quite incredible.

2312: Stricker holes it! Huge pressure now on Kaymer, especially as Molinari is losing to Woods. He's about four feet from the hole. Deep breaths...

2310: Steady, steady! Kaymer's first putt runs to the right and about four feet past the hole. Not ideal. Stricker, though, must putt now from about seven feet. If he misses, then USA's hopes of winning the Ryder Cup are over. Molinari has lost the 17th hole to Woods, but hopefully that won't matter.

2308: Stricker is up first. He needs to hole this. But it's an awful attempt. The ball didn't break right and he's still about seven feet from the flag. Kaymer has two putts from 20 feet to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe.

2305: Molinari overcooks his chip and the ball rockets past the flag. Tiger's putt is short but that will be a three. Molinari has a 10-footer to halve the hole. But it might not matter as Kaymer and Stricker line up their putts on the 18th...

2303: Kaymer has a good line from the bunker and gets it on the green! It's still a difficult putt, about 20 feet from the flag, but he will settle for that. Especially as Stricker overhits his approach and is a similar distance away from the hole. Realistically he's going to have to putt that to stop Europe from retaining the Ryder Cup.

2300: Kaymer's tee-shot on the 18th flies right and lands in the bunker. Not an awful position to be in but he would rather have Stricker's ball which is straight down the middle. Molinari and Woods both clear the lake at the par-three 17th. Molinari is just off the back of the green, three or four feet behind Tiger's ball which is on the edge. This is sporting drama at its best.

2254: Kaymer is in front! Kaymer is in front! He was considered the weak link of the European team but he putts in from five feet on the 17th to go 1up after Stricker misses from about seven. If Stricker doesn't win the final hole then Europe will retain the Ryder Cup. In the final match, Molinari has the chance to go 1up against Woods but his putt drifts a fraction wide on 16. The hole is halved.

2244: USA MAKE IT 13-13! It couldn't be any closer. Dufner edges out Hanson 2up on the 18th to seal a crucial point for the Americans. Hanson was four down earlier but left himself with too much to do. It's down to the final two matches which are both all-square. Europe will retain the Ryder Cup if they win one of them, or halve both. USA still need 1.5 points soc can't afford any slip-ups.

2239: Hanson has two putts for the 17th hole and takes it to take his match with Dufner to the last hole. He could pinch half a point here! Kaymer and Stricker both show nerves of steel to putt from eight feet on the 16th. Still level with two to play.

2231: TWO POINTS IN A MINUTE FOR EUROPE! Europe are one point away from retaining the Ryder Cup! Westwood wraps up a 3&2 victory over Kuchar, before Furyk misses his four-foot putt on the 18th to hand Garcia a thrilling win. Just like Rose against Mickelson earlier, the Spaniard won the final two holes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Furyk has his head in his hands. He can't believe he didn't drain that. Europe lead 13-12 with three matches remaining.

2229: Stricker gets a gift as Kaymer two-putts from the edge of the 15th green. His second circles the hole before jumping out so it's all-square again. Furyk's long putt from the back of the 18th green runs left and about four feet past the flag. Garcia's lags his up. Furyk must putt now to halve the match.

2224: Molinari ties against Tiger! Great putt by the Italian from about seven feet on 14. It's going down to the wire. Hanson is a whisker away from sinking a 12-footer on 16 but has to settle for par which means he remains two behind Dufner with only two to play. Garcia and Furyk are at the 18th. Garcia's ball is at the front of the green, while Furyk's ran away to the back.

2216: Garcia is back level against Furyk! The American is short with his putt on the 17th and so it's all-square with just one hole left. This is unbelievably tight. It could either way. It's been a fantastic fightback by Europe.

2212: Tiger has turned it around in the anchor match as he goes 1up against Molinari through 13. But it's better news for Europe further up the course as Westwood fires a birdie-three at the 15th which is enough to go 3up over Kuchar with three to play. Kaymer then rattles in an eight-foot putt on 14 to take the lead against Stricker.

2204: USA SNEAK BACK AHEAD! McDowell is beaten 2&1 by Zach Johnson after trying to play catch-up all afternoon. Johnson takes off his hat and is whipping up the crowd for the final stretch. USA now lead 12-11 and need another 2.5 points to win the Ryder Cup.

2202: Dufner isn't one who usually shows emotion but he swings his arms in the air after increasing his lead to 2up over Hanson with three to play. Furyk does exactly the same after his putt looks all but in on the 16th to go 2up, but it somehow lips out and Garcia breathes a huge sigh of relief.

2158: Kaymer is pegged back to all-square by Stricker after plonking his tee-shot into the lake. Westwood holes a five-footer to stay two clear of Kuchar through 14.

2152: Woods thinks he's drained a 10-foot putt on the 11th but the ball lips out. Molinari has a chance to halve the hole but fails to sink his six-footer and so it's all-square in the final match. McDowell remains two down to Zach Johnson with two to play but Hanson pulls another shot back against Dufner. Kaymer's tee-shot is in the water on 13. These boys must be bricking themselves!

2145: The putts keep going in for Europe! Westwood is now 2up against Kuchar through 12 and behind them Kaymer has taken the lead over Stricker. If things finish as they are now, the final score will be 14-14 and Europe would retain the Ryder Cup. Still a long way to go. It could yet come down to the final match - Woods v Molinari.

2142: ROSE MAKES THE PUTT! Unbelievable scenes on the 18th as Rose nails his putt and clinches a dramatic victory over Mickelson after winning the last two holes. That could end up being a massive shot. It means Europe have won the first five matches, with Dustin Johnson's win over Colsaerts in match six the only red point so far.

2138: Rush of adrenaline for Mickelson as he blazes his approach long on 18. Rose will have a putt from about 12 feet to win the match. Furyk regains the lead against Garcia after stroking home a putt on 14 and Dufner is now 2up against Hanson.

2133: USA CLINCH THEIR FIRST POINT! Dustin Johnson edges the hosts back ahead after beating rookie Colsaerts 3&2. The Americans desperately needed that to stop the blue rush.

2130: It gets better and better for Europe as Rose holes a monster putt at 17 to draw level with Mickelson heading to the final hole. Stunning shot. Molinari creeps back in front against Woods in the anchor match, while Westwood takes the lead against Kuchar.

2126: POULTER LEVELS IT UP! You beauty! What a weekend he's had. Poulter holds off Simpson on the 18th and wins 2up - his fourth victory from four matches at this Ryder Cup. I think he's just about justified his wildcard selection. USA's four-point lead has been wiped out. Europe can do this!

2125: 'Come on!' screams Rose as he putts from seven feet to halve 16 against Mickelson, who very sportingly applauds his opponent's shot. Garcia gets himself back level with Furyk, while Hanson is now only one behind Dufner after winning his third consecutive hole. Colsaerts, though, slips two behind Dustin Johnson through 15.

2121: EUROPE ONE POINT BEHIND! McIlroy wraps up a 2&1 victory over Bradley to reduce USA's lead to only one point. Three down - another five points needed for Europe to pull off a remarkable comeback.

2112: And they'll be even quieter now as Poulter leads with one to play! He's on track for his fourth win of the weekend after a birdie on 17 puts him 1up against Simpson. Huge. McIlroy halves the 16th to stay two ahead of Bradley. The last three matches are now all-square as Stricker levels against Kaymer.

2110: EUROPE CLOSE THE GAP! Lawrie has been superb today and cruises to a 5&3 victory over Snedeker. Europe are now two points behind USA. The Chicago crowd have gone quiet.

2108: Rose gets out of jail on 15. He manages to halve the hole despite landing in the greenside bunker after Mickelson misses a six-foot putt. Dustin Johnson sneaks back in front of Colsaerts after making a birdie on 14, while Furyk is 1up against Garcia through 12. Hanson is coming back at Dufner and now trails by two.

2059: Poulter and Simpson both putt from inside six feet and remain level heading to the 17th. Such a crucial match. Snedeker wins the 14th but Lawrie is still 4up and in command. Kuchar is back level with Westwood. Hanson claws a shot back from Dufner but the Swede is still three down through 10.

2054: Having Olazabal by his side seems to be doing the trick for McIlroy as the Northern Irishman putts from a few feet out to go 2up against Bradley on 15. Olazabal might want to stay on that hole and support Rose as he's just fallen behind to Mickelson. Europe's forgotten man Kaymer is 1up against Stricker through the turn.

2043: Colsaerts wins his second straight hole and is now all-square against Dustin Johnson through 11. This has been a strong 20 minutes for Europe. Olazabal is joking around with McIlroy on the 15th tee. Both are smiling and why not - Europe have one point in the bag and are leading in three other matches. USA are only leading in two and six are in the balance. Europe are still in this Ryder Cup.

2039: Big putt from McIlroy on 14. It was only from about four feet but it moves him 1up against Bradley. Not for the first time this weekend, Garcia holes a putt from off the green and is now all-square with Furyk through 10. Westwood is back in front after Kuchar rolls a short putt wide in nine.

2034: Lawrie has been magnificent and is closing in on Europe's second point of the afternoon as he races five clear of Snedeker with five holes left. Tiger is roaring back. He was two down earlier to Molinari but is now level with the Italian through six. Colsaerts gets one back against Dustin Johnson after a superb approach on 12.

2028: The second European point could arrive soon as Lawrie fires another birdie on 12. He's spanking Snedeker as the 1999 Open champion goes 4up with only six to play. Colsaerts, though, is now two down against Dustin Johnson through 11. Matches two, three and four are level. Europe really need to win all three of those.

2023: FIRST POINT IS A BLUE ONE! It took a little longer than we thought but Donald gets Europe off to the ideal start as he beats Watson 2&1 following a brilliant bunker shot on 17. Olazabal's side need another seven now but they're only leading in two.

2021: Lawrie is giving Snedeker a bit of a beating as the Scot races into a three-shot lead through 11. And another whipping is taking place in match nine with Dufner now 4up against Hanson. The American has hit two eagles and is five-under through eight.

2015: There's still life in the top match! Bubba wins his second successive hole after dinking in from off the green. Incredible shot. Donald just needs to halve one of the remaining two holes. Furyk is now 1up against Garcia and Kaymer is level with Stricker. McDowell wins nine to trail Zach Johnson by two. Dufner is 3up against Hanson after an eagle on seven.

2010: Chants of 'USA, USA, USA' on 12 as Bradley pulls another shot back to tie his match with McIlroy. For the first time in today's singles, the hosts lead in more matches than Europe. A lot of them are tight, though.

2005: Donald has another putt to win the match but again misses from about five or six feet. Watson wins the hole and is now three down with three to play. Donald will be kicking himself. He should have his pom-poms on by now. Mickelson and Rose are level once again through 11. They can't shake each other off. Westwood misreads a putt and is now all-square with Kuchar, while Colsaerts three-putts  10 and is now behind to Dustin Johnson.

2001: Poulter just doesn't know when to give up as he birdies 12 to level his contest with Simpson. Molinari is punished for a poor tee-shot at the fourth as Woods pulls one back in the anchor match. Lawrie's lead is down to two after Snedeker putts in from four feet on 10.

1954: Donald has a four-foot putt to win his match against Watson but his attempt drifts right. He's still 4up with four to play so only a matter of time before Europe win their seventh Ryder Cup point. McIlroy holes a tricky seven-footer to remain 1up against Bradley.

1947: Zach Johnson has two putts to win the hole on the par-five seventh and plays it safe to extend his lead over McDowell to three shots. Rookie Colsaerts is back level with Dustin Johnson.

1942: That is a fine recovery from Donald as he halves 14 after Watson ran into a bunker. Donald is on the verge of winning the first point of the afternoon. Woods and Molinari are both close to the flag after excellent tee shots on the third, but Tiger misses a tiddler and is now two down. Bradley holes from seven feet to reduce McIlroy's lead to one at 10.

1935: Donald is on fire as he races 4up against Watson, but he then finds the water with his tee-shot on 13. Poulter's short putt on 10 slides wide so Simpson is back in front in that one. Lawrie is in the groove as he finds another birdie to move three clear of Snedeker. Dufner is now 2up against Hanson through five.

1930: Westwood, who owes Europe a point after a below-par weekend, takes the lead against Kuchar after the American misses a short putt at the fourth. Woods, who has lost three out of three, is behind to Molinari. Rose regains the lead in his topsy-turvy battle with Mickelson.

1922: McIlroy is showing just why's he's the world number one as he goes into the turn 2up against Bradley. The Northern Irishman has four birdies at the halfway point. Match four between Mickelson and Rose is a rollercoaster and it's all-square again through eight.

1917: Donald is delivering for Europe in the lead match as he marches into a three-shot lead through 11. McDowell also reduces the deficit in his battle with Zach Johnson. After winning the first hole, Hanson loses the next two and trails Dufner. Stricker sinks a six-footer to go 1up against Kaymer, while Poulter is level at the turn with Simpson. The leaderboard is now evenly spread with red and blue.

1910: Bradley wins his first hole of the afternoon as he cuts McIlroy's lead to one on the eighth. Dustin Johnson holes a monster putt on seven to edge in front against Colsaerts.

1907: More blue on the leaderboard as Rose goes 1up against Mickelson. Europe are now leading in four matches. McDowell is the only player currently behind. The fightback is on! Woods and Molinari are the last pair to tee off.

1901: Poulter celebrates with a fist pump for the first time today as he ties his match with Simpson on the eighth. Garcia and Hanson both drop shots so their matches are now all-square. McDowell is having a torrid time out there as he falls three down to Zach Johnson through four.

1850: Superb eagle from Lawrie at five as he continues his fine start to go 2up against Snedeker. McDowell, though, goes two down after Zach Johnson almost holes his approach at the third. Poulter pulls one back after a birdie on six against Simpson.

1845: More putts drop in for the Europeans as Hanson wins his first hole against Dufner. Apparently the big Swede was unhappy at being left out yesterday and had a heated discussion with captain Olazabal. Garcia taps in to go 1up against Furyk on the second after a terrific tee-shot on the par-three. Dustin Johnson has a stinker on the fourth which gets Colsaerts back to all-square. Cracking few minutes for Europe.

1841: Get in there, Rory! The Northern Irishman chips in from 20 feet on six to go 2up against Bradley. Excellent comeback from Mickelson as he birdies the fifth to level his match with Rose, who was 2up earlier.

1834: Take that, Brad! Lawrie chips in from off the fourth green to go 1up against Snedeker. Shot of the day so far. After dropping one at the fifth to Poulter, Simpson hits back on the next hole to restore his two-shot lead. Poulter's not quite with it today.

1828: McIlroy and Bradley are both in the same greenside bunker on the par-five fifth. Rory chips his ball to within a couple of feet of the flag but Bradley overhits his effort. The American has a 15-foot putt to halve the hole and judges the pace perfectly. He's done well to rescue that. Both Johnsons are now leading as Zach wins the first hole against McDowell.

1820: After a sluggish start, Mickelson gets one back on the fourth against Rose but remains one down in match four. Furyk and Garcia join the party as they tee off.

1816: Poulter pulls one back on the fifth against Simpson. Only one down now. Bubba is struggling and misses a short one at six to win the hole so Donald remains 2up. The Europeans have started well.

1811: McIlroy may have turned up late, but it's not affected his start as he goes 1up against Bradley on the fourth. That breakfast bar he was chewing on at the first tee must have helped. Not much noise coming from USA's young buck now. Bad start by Colsaerts as he drops a shot to Dustin Johnson on the first. Namesake Zach tees off against McDowell in match seven.

1803: Poulter, who is Europe's leading points scorer this weekend, is in trouble as he falls two down to Simpson on the fourth. Long way to go so no need to worry just yet. Poulter birdied the last five holes in last night's fourballs so he should be strong on the back nine.

1758: Donald has a great chance go 3up against Watson but misses a tiddler at the fifth. Rose is off to a flier as he wins the second hole against Mickelson to go 2up. Colsaerts will be hoping to repeat his 10-under round from Friday's fourballs as he tees off at the first against Dustin Johnson.

1748: McIlroy and Bradley are level through two holes. Don't be surprised if it takes Rory a while to wake up. He arrived at the course just 10 minutes before he was due to tee off as he apparently got confused over the time zones. To be fair, I wouldn't want to hop out of bed if I was lying next to Caroline Wozniacki. Rose putts from eight feet on the first to go 1up against Mickelson, and Donald charges into a two-shot lead over Watson through four. Lawrie v Snedeker is underway.

1736: Poulter makes his first putting mistake of the weekend as he misses a four-foot putt at the par-three second. Simpson makes par to go 1up. Donald is a whisker away from a birdie-three at the third as his putt stops dead at the left of the hole. Watson's birdie attempt also misses so Donald remains 1up. McIlroy and Bradley both par the opening hole. Mickelson and Rose are introduced to the crowd at the first tee.

1725: Poulter is on it again! His second shot at the first falls short of the green but he then dinks in from about 20 feet. Normally it would be good enough to win the hole but Simpson hits back with a lengthy putt of his own. Watson leaves a long putt well short on the second green and is forced to settle for a bogey. Donald has an early chance to put some blue on the leaderboard and holes his six-footer to go 1up. Match three between McIlroy and Bradley should be a cracker. That's starting now.

1714: Watson angles his second shot past the trees and on to the green before putting from 10 feet for a solid three. Donald, though, responds by dropping his six-footer to halve the first hole. Europe's star man Poulter and Simpson are about get going.

1703: D-Day at Medinah. Watson and Donald are at the tee as they get the first of 12 singles showdowns underway. Donald, who gets heavily jeered by the crowd despite being a Chicago resident, creams his tee shot down the fairway. Watson encourages noise. Plenty of it. But he slices his tee-shot into the galleries.

1652: Keegan Bradley, who has a 100% winning record this weekend after three victories with partner with Phil Mickelson, is whipping up the Chicago crowd on the first tee. It's vital Europe silence the boisterous home fans early on.

1645: Hello and welcome to Orange's live coverage as the Ryder Cup reaches its climax. A stunning performance from an inspired Ian Poulter and steely determination from Sergio Garica in last night's fourballs has given Europe a glimmer of hope but they will have to to overhaul a four-point deficit to retain the coveted trophy, something that has only happened once before (USA 1999).