Golf: Ryder Cup glory comeback as Europe retains trophy

CHICAGO (AFP) - Europe produced the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history to reel in the United States (US) and retain the trophy at Medinah Country Club on Sunday.

Trailing by 10-6 going into the closing 12 singles, Jose Maria Olazabal's men thrillingly won the first five matches out and went on to make sure of victory when Martin Kaymer defeated Steve Stricker 1 up in the penultimate match.

He clinched it with a 6-foot putt at the last, 21 years after his fellow German Bernard Langer missed from a similar distance to hand victory to the US at Kiawah Island.

That gave the Europeans the 14 points they needed to make sure of keeping the small, golden trophy for another two years, and then minutes later Tiger Woods missed a 4-footer at 18 against Francesco Molinari to hand overall victory to Europe 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.