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America defeats Europe in golf

Associated Press

BROOKLINE, Mass. - All Ben Crenshaw asked his Ryder Cup team to do was believe, and the Americans responded with a charge that was simply unbelievable.

With a birdie putt that was as long as America's chances, Justin Leonard took dead aim and finished off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history, assuring the 17-inch gold chalice a home on U.S. soil for the first time since 1993.

Victory came on the 17th green, across the street from where Francis Ouimet lived when he won the 1913 U.S. Open and made golf popular in the United States. This triumph made heroes out of a U.S. team that pushed aside the dispute over money and won something that proved to be far more valuable.

"I never stopped believing," a choked-up Crenshaw said after a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory. "I'm stunned. This is so indescribable."

Leonard's 45-foot birdie putt unleashed a torrent of emotion that had been building throughout an electric day at The Country Club, where fans cheered every American victory and every missed putt by the Europeans.

Although one match was still on the course, the putt followed by Jose Maria Olazabal's miss guaranteed the Americans 14 1/2 points, the amount they needed to win, but an amount few believed they would get.

The Americans overwhelmed Europe in the first six matches, closing all of them out before the 17th hole. Even David Duval, who referred to the Ryder Cup as an exhibition, showed how much it meant by repeatedly shaking his fists and cupping his hand to his ear, asking the gallery for even more noise, maybe too much noise.

The Europeans found it excessive, and took exception to the player celebration after Leonard's putt, because Olazabal still had a 25-foot birdie putt to tie the match and keep alive Europe's fading hopes.

"It's about the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," assistant captain Sam Torrance said. "This is not sour grapes. The whole American team and spectators ran right across the green over Olly's line. He still has a putt to tie the hole. We could still take the Ryder Cup home. It was disgusting."

No comeback, however, was as symbolic as Leonard's. He had never won a Ryder Cup match and looked as if he had no chance against Olazabal when he trailed by four holes with seven to play.

Leonard won the next four holes to square the match, the last one a 35-footer on the 15th that gave the Americans another chance when Mark O'Meara faltered.

The cup was clinched on No. 17 when Leonard's 45-foot birdie putt banged into the back of the cup and dropped.