12 days of sporting Christmas: 'Moliwood' inspire Europe to dominant Ryder Cup win

On the surface, Europe beating the USA at home in the Ryder Cup is no great surprise.

The Americans have not won away from home since 1993 and have only managed it twice since it they began taking on a European team, rather than one only made up of British and Irish players.

But Europe’s success at Le Golf National, Paris, in September was no mean feat.

READ MORE: Champions League last 16 draw: The verdict on each tie

READ MORE: Irwin urges Mourinho turnaround ahead of PSG test

READ MORE: Shaqiri not surprised Liverpool dominated ‘defensive’ Manchester United

The US made the trip across the pond armed with a team full of stars, ready to come together and retain the cup they won two years earlier.

Ryder Cup veteran Phil Mickelson was the only member of America’s 12-man team not in the world’s top 20 and between them they had won six of the past eight majors.

Despite their underdogs label and going down 3-1 on the first morning, Europe played brilliantly to secure a comprehensive 17.5-10.5 victory.

Skipper Thomas Bjorn’s strategies worked perfectly, as he got his pairings spot on and made sure his players took advantage of a course that suited their precise games, over the American’s long-hitters.

The story of the week was ‘Moliwood’ – the partnership between English rookie Tommy Fleetwood and Open champion Eduardo Molinari.

They won all four of the matches they played together and ended up the poster boys for Europe’s win.

A long-haired man from Southport and softly-spoken Italian proved an unlikely combination.

The Americans, meanwhile, imploded and for all their talk of a group that got along better than previous teams, failed to live up to the billing.

They could not make the most of a strong first session and comments after the tournament from Patrick Reed, where he openly criticised team-mates and captain Jim Furyk only made their defeat worse.

The scenes at the end were joyous on the European side, after their victory was confirmed in underwhelming fashion as Phil Mickelson found the water to hand Molinari a 4 & 2 victory.

He was mobbed by adoring fans, Fleetwood was carried on the shoulder of fans who sung his name as if at a football game and ‘the postman’ Ian Poulter paraded around the 18th green dressed as a postbox.

An impressive triumph for Bjorn’s Europeans and a humbling week for the confident Americans.