Lowry sinks putt that retains Ryder Cup for Europe as they hold off US comeback

• Irishman's birdie takes Europe to crucial 14 points

• USA stage amazing fightback but lose 15-13 overall

Two points. Two miserly points, from 11 matches. So easy to say, much harder to actually accomplish. Anybody in any doubt about that can only ask Luke Donald.

A Ryder Cup belatedly broke out under the blaring sun at Bethpage Black on Sunday . The competitive spirit summoned by the United States of America ultimately was not enough to rip the 17 inch trophy back from Europe's grasp but wow did they give Donald and his players a fright. A singles session that started with the visitors eyeing a procession and record breaking was dominated by Keegan Bradley's US team. Donald surely feared one of the worst sporting capitulations of our time. How would they recover? How would Europe's golfers ever recover?