The 34th Ryder Cup Matches ended just the way they had started. After three days of fierce competition, during which all 24 players gave their all, the two teams got together for a party that none will ever forget.
The morning after, Europe's Captain, Sam Torrance, confirmed that after the Matches, the official Closing Ceremony and their other official duties, the 24 players, the Captains and their aides all got together to mull over what had gone before. It turned out to be a magical occasion. One that was memorable for them as the actual contest was for the millions who watched it both at The De Vere Belfry and on TV.
"We had a tremendous night last night," confirmed Torrance. "After it was all over, both teams got together in our team room. The spirit was great. David Duval came in. Hal Sutton. Curtis and his two boys. All of them came in and we had a ball.
"I think David Duval was the last person to leave our team room. He left with a European team hat on. I think he might have been singing as well."
Torrance went on to state that he had had no time to sit by himself and reflect on what his team had achieved during the 15.5 -12.5 victory.
"It was very pleasant this morning to wake up and suddenly realise what had happened, pick up the papers, a glass of water in hand, and just savour it all. It hasn't all sunk in yet. But it was a great match, a great week.
"I wish I could bottle it all, take it home and take a sip every day for the rest of my life."
Torrance confirmed that Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, had played an important role in his success as a Captain.
"He tried to explain to me what it's like to manage a team," said Torrance. "He told me there are no superstars, they are all the same, and that was key. Everyone was a major part of the team. That was the main thing he told me."
Armed with that information, Torrance spent a great deal of time talking to his team individually. "I did get hold of each and every one of them many times during the week, just for a wee quiet word" he said. "I also spoke to all of them on the putting green yesterday morning, and walked all 12 of them to the first tee. I told them 'this is going to be the best day of your life You were born to do this job. This is what we practice for. Go and do it'"
Torrance also spoke about the key role his senior players had played.
"Monty was king of the castle. I have never seen him like that in any event. I've played with him in Dunhill Cups and Ryder Cups. He's always been a great team man but this week he was incredible. He was so relaxed. I told him, 'whatever the hell you're on, I want some of it'.
"Bernhard Langer was also incredible. He will make a fantastic Captain. On 18 during the Saturday fourballs, when Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke were playing Scott Hoch and Jim Furyk, he came to me and gave me a great piece of advice. Darren was in the bunker, Furyk was in the first cut of rough. Bernhard said to me 'maybe Paul should hit first, before Darren'. I thought about it, agreed it was a good idea and walked over to Paul and said, 'If you don't mind, we'd like you to hit first'. And he hit a fantastic shot, 18 feet, pin high right. Then Furyk hit his only bad shot of the day and I think that was down to Paul putting the pressure on him first. That was Bernhard's decision. He's got great qualities in many ways, and will be a supreme Captain one day. But I think he's probably got another Match in him as a player. He is very fit."
Curtis Strange remained in a buoyant mood after spending a night reflecting on his team's defeat.
"It was disappointing to lose but that certainly did not spoil the occasion for me," he said.
"It was a wonderful week. I think everybody enjoyed it. I feel sorry for the (American) players but you have to perform. You have to play and we didn't. We didn't get the job done and that was that. The European team played the better golf."
The gracious American Captain also reserved special praise for Colin Montgomerie, who emerged from the Matches as the biggest points earner with four and a half points out of five.
"He's their leader," said Strange. "Seve was their leader for a long, long time but now it is Colin. Every team needs a leader, not only for their play, but also for the way they handle themselves. Colin certainly does that job. He led by example and the others took their cue from him. He certainly did not disappoint this week."
Strange concluded by saying he had no regrets about his decision to play Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in the last two singles matches.
"When you figure the matches are going to be tight, you have to put a couple of your big guns at the end, it's as simple as that. If I had been sitting here as a winner, I don't think we would be going through this, would we. But, just because we lost, it becomes an issue.
"It was a team decision," he added. "I am not putting this on the team because I had the final decision. But we all figured the matches were going to be close, so we felt we needed guys at the end who could handle the pressure."
