Ryder Cup 2014: How Europe clinched victory at Gleneagles

Europe secured their third consecutive Ryder Cup win with a clinical performance in Sunday's singles at Gleneagles.

Leading 10-6 overnight, Paul McGinley's team needed just four points to retain the trophy, but they won five matches and halved three more to seal a comfortable victory.

Here, BBC Sport looks at how a dramatic day unfolded.

14:51 BST: Rory McIlroy beat Rickie Fowler 5&4 - Europe lead 11-6

McIlroy becomes the first player to win two Majors and a Ryder Cup in the same season since Tom Watson in 1977

The talismanic world number one gave Europe the perfect start with a crushing victory over his good friend Fowler. The Northern Irishman began at a blistering pace, recording four birdies and an eagle to go five up after just six holes, and he never relinquished the early momentum.

The American challenged McIlroy strongly in this year's Open but, perhaps jaded after playing four hard-fought matches over the opening two days, he could not summon a similar fight with the Ryder Cup on the line.

2012 Ryder Cup golfer Nicolas Colsaerts on Radio 5 live: "Rory was in control of this game from the start. There was no way Rickie Fowler could find what it took to challenge him. It was McIlroy all day in this match - he played brilliantly."

15:14 BST: Graeme McDowell beat Jordan Spieth 2&1 - Europe lead 12-6

McDowell sunk the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2008

Europe captain Paul McGinley described lead-off man McDowell as "a real fighter who loves the big occasion", and how the Northern Irishman lived up to that billing. US rookie Spieth had been unbeatable over the first two days and, when he surged into a three-up lead after five holes, it seemed his winning streak would continue.

But McDowell turned the tide with a superb run of four holes in a row from the 10th to the 13th and sealed victory with a nerveless putt on the 17th.

John Inverdale on BBC Radio 5 live: "It was an extraordinary sea change from three down to one up. The young man's whole world fell apart on the world stage."

15:37 BST: Henrik Stenson lost to Patrick Reed 1 up - Europe lead 12-7

Rookie Reed won three of his four matches at the Ryder Cup

Rookie Reed was one of the stars of the opening two days for the USA and it was he who delivered a much-needed first point of the day for Tom Watson's side.

The American was booed by the Gleneagles crowd during a tight match with Stenson, but he had the last laugh on the 18th green when the Swede missed a short birdie putt to halve the match.

Commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball on BBC Radio 5 live: "Patrick Reed has stolen a point at the very last hole. That was most uncharacteristic from the Iceman Henrik Stenson, and America are finally on the board."

15:47 BST: Martin Kaymer beat Bubba Watson 4&2 - Europe lead 13-7

Kaymer had not won a match at Gleneagles before Sunday's singles

The German was in control from the off against Watson, going four up after just six holes. The Masters champion was the top qualifier on the American team but he looked out of sorts all week at Gleneagles.

Kaymer, who won the US Open in June, completed a comprehensive victory with a dramatic chip-in for eagle at the 16th.

BBC chief sports writer Tom Fordyce: "The thousands round the 16th go ripe bananas as Kaymer's eagle drops to take Europe a point away and complete Bubba's miserable week."

15:49 BST: Thomas Bjorn lost to Matt Kuchar 4&3 - Europe lead 13-8

Kuchar's win over Bjorn was just his first in three Ryder Cup singles matches

The American kept the Cup out of European hands for the time being with a comfortable victory over an out-of-sorts Bjorn. The Dane was three down after eight holes and never recovered. Kuchar clinched a second point of the afternoon for the USA with an birdie at the 15th.

15:50 BST: Stephen Gallacher lost to Phil Mickelson 3&1 - Europe lead 13-9

Gallacher was the only player on the European team not score any points at Gleneagles

Mickelson kept alive hopes of an improbable American fightback with victory over rookie Gallacher.

The Scot, roared on by the Gleneagles crowd, showed great character to recover from two down after nine against the 10-time Ryder Cup veteran, but the American delivered another point for Tom Watson's team with a run of three straight holes from the 15th onwards.

15:53 BST: Justin Rose halved with Hunter Mahan A/S - Europe lead 13½-9½

Rose's tally of four points at Gleneagles was the best on either side

Rose had been Europe's best player over the first two days, winning three of his four matches, but he had no answer to the brilliance of Mahan as the American went four up after six holes.

However, an inspired Rose drew level with four straight birdies from the eighth and, although Mahan regained the lead, the Englishman secured a vital half with another birdie on the 18th to move Europe within half a point of victory.

US PGA Tour player Andrew Magee on BBC Radio 5 live: "The big advantages of Jordan Spieth and Hunter Mahan just melted down towards the end. The ones we counted on we didn't get, and America's best chance has probably gone right there."

16:30 BST: Jamie Donaldson beat Keegan Bradley 4&3 - Europe lead 14½-9½

Jamie Donaldson became the first rookie to make the winning shot since Henrik Stenson in 2006

The win that secured victory for Europe arrived when Donaldson clinched a resounding victory over Bradley.

The Welshman stiffed a magnificent approach to within two feet at the 15th and, when Bradley conceded the putt, Europe had won the Ryder Cup for the eighth time in the last 10 editions. It was a third win in four matches at Gleneagles for the hugely impressive rookie Donaldson.

Three-time European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher on BBC Radio 5 live: "That's one of the greatest shots you could ever see under this pressure. He ignored where Keegan Bradley's ball was and made a beeline for the flag."

16:52 BST: Sergio Garcia beat Jim Furyk 1 up - Europe lead 15½-9½

Garcia matched his margin of victory over Furyk from the 2012 Ryder Cup singles

Garcia trailed after 13 holes of this contest between two Ryder Cup veterans. But a birdie at the 15th and an eagle at the 16th turned the match in favour of the Spaniard, who added further gloss to the overall scoreline in favour of Europe.

16:59 BST: Ian Poulter halved with Webb Simpson A/S - Europe lead 16-10

Poulter failed to win a Ryder Cup singles match for the first time in five attempts

Poulter maintained his unbeaten record in Ryder Cup singles with a battling half against Simpson. In a fluctuating match, the Englishman was two up after nine but one down with a hole to play. However, he held his nerve to birdie the last and secure another half-point for Europe.

17:00 BST: Lee Westwood lost to Jimmy Walker 3&2 - Europe lead 16-11

The USA's rookies, including Walker, contributed six of the team's 11½ points

Walker continued an excellent week in his debut Ryder Cup appearance, securing a superb victory over nine-time Cup veteran Westwood. In a high-quality match, the American hit eight birdies and clinched the win at the 16th, adding another point - and an element of respectability - to the US scoreline.

17:40 BST: Victor Dubuisson halved with Zach Johnson A/S - Europe win 16½-11½

Dubuisson went unbeaten on his debut Ryder Cup appearance

The 2014 Ryder Cup ended on the 18th with a halved match. Frenchman Dubuisson looked set to record three wins from three matches on his debut Ryder Cup appearance, but a fine birdie putt at the last from Johnson secured a final half-point for the USA and limited Europe's margin of victory to five points.