"It was tremendous and it was always going to be close," said the tearful Scot. "And we've won it.

"Colin (Montgomerie) has been fantastic all week. All I did was lead to them to the water and they drank copiously.

"Heroes have come out of this -- Paul McGinley, Phillip Price. Fantastic!

Irishman McGinley secured the victory with a nine-foot par putt at the last, earning the half point against American Jim Furyk that lifted the Europeans to the winning total of 14-1/2.

Earlier, Welshman Price, 119th in the world rankings, had played the game of his life to beat world number two Phil Mickelson 3 & 2 in the second last match out.

Price holed out from 25 feet at the par-four 16th for his fifth birdie of the round, handing the left-handed Mickelson his first Ryder Cup singles defeat in four matches.

"I'm not feeling great," said the American. "I didn't play well enough to win and every time I knocked it close, he seemed to have an answer."

U.S. captain Curtis Strange was close to tears after watching his team lose the trophy they had regained from Europe by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2 at Brookline in 1999.

"They really played well," he said. "They beat us and we got a European butt-whipping today.

"They played excellent and Sam, I think he gambled at the start, but it paid off. They did what they had to do.

"I think we played pretty good golf, honest to goodness, but it was like playing against a 13th man out there today.

"I think the crowd carried the second half of their field.

"Look at Phillip Price, the way he beat Phil Mickelson (3 & 2) into the ground."

Montgomerie, who inspired the European team with four and half points over the three days, said: "This is probably the best day ever for European golf -- it means a huge amount.

"It means more for us to win it than I think it does for the might of the U.S. Tour.

"It's been the best Ryder Cup I have ever played in. The crowd has been fantastic and it has been great to have their support."

American misery was complete with the last putt of the match, when world number one Tiger Woods missed from four feet and had to settle for a half against Jesper Parnevik long after the European celebrations had started.