Torrance praises team spirit

Torrance (centre) is surrounded by the winning team

By Sean Martin BBC Sport Online at The Belfry

Watch Europe lift the Ryder Cup

European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance lavished praise on his team after they upset the United States to regain the trophy.

Europe won 15½-12½ with all but two players contributing points on the final day.

Europe regain Ryder Cup

"I'm very proud. Apart from my marriage and the birth of my children this is the proudest moment of my life.

"We were great, absolutely great."

We came as a team, we dined as a team, we talked as a team and we won as a team

Darren Clarke

Torrance emphasised the result was down to the team, but singled out rookies Phillip Price and Paul McGinley for special mention.

"Out of the shadows come heroes and that's where Phillip Price and Paul McGinley came."

The victory helped to erase the bitter memory of losing at Brookline in 1999 after taking a four-point advantage into the singles.

US team gracious in defeat

And Colin Montgomerie, who won 4½ points for the victors and was on the losing team three years ago, had an inkling it would be their day.

"I had certain feeling that this was going to work out - and it did."

McGinley: An unlikely European star

He was one of a number of players to pay tribute to Torrance's captaincy and the gamble he took by stacking his singles order with the strongest players first.

"It was a risk, but in life you don't get rewards without risking. Sam risked and it came off."

Montgomerie's suspicion that the team was going to pull off their first win in the singles since 1995 was shared by Jesper Parnevik.

"Everybody on the team just knew we were going to win. And it was not one of those wishful, I hope we're going to win, feelings - it was, we know we're going to win," said the Swede.

I thank Sam for treating me like I was a serious member of the team, not just some guy who was out of form, that just got on the team

Phillip Price

McGinley, who sunk a nine-foot putt on the 18th to secure the 14½ points Europe required for victory, hailed the camaraderie of the European team party.

"This was very much a team event. I think we won it off the golf course as well as on the golf course.

"A lot of lessons were learned from Brookline ... we were more experienced off the field as well as on the field," the Irishman said.

McGinley relishes glory putt

The unity of the side was stressed by Darren Clarke as a huge factor in the success.

"We came here as a team, we dined as a team, we talked as a team and we won as a team," he said.

Welsh rookie Phillip Price whose win over world number two Phil Mickelson was one of the highlights of the singles was emotional when lauding the contribution of Torrance.

"I thank Sam for treating me like I was a serious member of the team, not just some guy who was out of form, who just got on the team. I appreciate that," said 35-year-old Price.