Victorious European Ryder Cup Team Set for Hero’s Welcome at European Tour Finale

All the members of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team are set to receive a hero’s welcome when they play in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai after securing a memorable win against the USA.

Europe dominated the final two days of play at Gleneagles to retain the Ryder Cup through a comfortable score line of 16 ½ - 11 ½. The triumph was their eighth win in the last ten biennial contests.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who currently sits in third place in The Race to Dubai rankings, hit the winning shot in stunning fashion, knocking his approach shot on 15 to within inches of the hole to defeat Keegan Bradley 4 and 3 and secure the 14 points Europe needed to retain the Cup.

“I hit the wedge shot of my life to close the game out,” saidthe 38-year-old Donaldson, who was playing in his first Ryder Cup.

“I can't really put words to it. It is unbelievable. I knew it was getting tight there at the end and everyone was building on my group. I just tried not to spend too much time looking at the scoreboard.”
Despite losing his opening fourball match with Sergio Garcia, World Number One and Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy posted two points in team play before finishing the tournament with a comprehensive 5 and 4 win over Rickie Fowler in Sunday’s singles.
"I was just so up for it - more so than I was in the two majors I won,” McIlroy said.
"There was no option other than to win. I played my best golf, six under through six and that built a comfortable lead that I was able to hang on to."
But it was Race to Dubai number seven Justin Rose who was in imperious form all week long. The Englishman was unstoppable as he put up a total of 4 ½ points in all five matches he played.

All of Europe’s winning squad are now set to compete in The European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 November where the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai will tee-off.

Scotsman Stephen Gallacher made his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles this week and in doing so fulfilled a life-long dream of competing in the tournament. He said it would be a fitting end to the season for the entire European Ryder Cup squad to play in the DP World Tour Championship.

“It’s great to have all of Europe’s Ryder Cup team competing at an event on our Tour and it would be great to see more of this throughout the year,” said Gallacher. 

“The DP World Tour Championship is one of the biggest events on The European Tour and, fittingly for the final event of the year, it attracts the strongest European field assembled.”

Gallacher said he hopes to replicate his form from earlier this season which saw him become the first man to successfully defend the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

“The list of previous winners at the DP World Tour Championship shows just how important the event is to the players and this year will be no different,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to play in November where I hope I can repeat the form and success from earlier this year.”