(CNN)- Europe withstood an early fightback from the United States to retain the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Sunday and secure an eighth win in the last 10 stagings of the biennial team competition.
Ryder Cup rookie Jamie Donaldson secured the winning point for Europe as he closed out Keegan Bradley 5&3 to take his team to a winning 14 1/2 points.
Welshman Donaldson did it in style with in his words “the wedge shot of my life” to within about a foot of the flag at the 15th for a clinching birdie.
The United States, trailing 10-6 overnight and no doubt with thoughts of emulating Europe, who had won from an identical position at Medinah two years ago, made a strong start to the 12 singles matches with the early scoreboards showing a sea of red.
But slowly the Europeans turned it around, with crucial wins for world number one Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer before Donaldson took the final glory.
Winning European captain Paul McGinley was congratulated by his U.S. counterpart Tom Watson in the hectic scenes around the green, while the remaining singles matches continued after a dramatic day of matchplay golf in Scotland.
