Image source, Getty Images

A Ryder Cup on the continent ain't bad, is it.

That precious golden trophy is back in European hands for at least the next two years.

• Check out Peter Scrivener's report from Marco Simone
• Row 'fuels' emotional McIlroy in Ryder Cup redemption
• All the scores and stats

Roll on September 2025.

BBC Two

If you want to, you can relive the action with highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:30 BST.

And let's face it, why wouldn't you?

Viktor Hovland was the second match out and first to finish.

That was at 14:07.

At that point, Team Europe only needed three more to win.

But boy did it get nervy out there.

It was another two hours before Birkdale's finest Tommy Fleetwood did the necessary on the 16th green to guarantee the final half point.

And everyone in blue could breathe again.

Image source, Getty Images

As happened with Rickie Fowler a few years ago, Viktor Hovland was kind of left out during the celebrations with the European Ryder Cup players and their other halves - instead enjoying a nice moment with Jose Maria Olazabal!

He then poses with the trophy and all the wives and girlfriends with that cheeky winning smile that has become the trademark of one of the most popular players in the world right now.

This week has only enhanced that...

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Rory McIlroy is the focus of the questions in Europe's team presser and provides another good soundbite.

"One of the biggest accomplishments in sport right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. That's what we're going to do at Bethpage."

One of his team-mates shouts "Yes Rory!" followed by lots of German-style banging of the table.

They concur. Marker laid down already.

Image source, Reuters

Rory McIlroy sounds like he's had a few. He'll be swinging the mic and singing Wonderwall if we're not careful.

Then he's asked if he's a "car-park scrapper".

Shane Lowry interjects and jokes he thought he was going to have to do "all the work".

A storm in a teacup, everyone sounds cool.

It seems like a long, long time ago now but watch some of the key moments as Viktor Hovland beats Collin Morikawa 4&3 to secure the first point for Europe on their way to winning the Ryder Cup.

One of the questions to Rory McIlroy is about whether American caddie Joe LaCava has been in touch after last night's disagreement.

"We've text and everyone will be fine. It's still a bone of contention, but we'll all move on."

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OK, so Viktor Hovland did actually lose a match - but surely it's only a matter of time before he wins a major.

Back him for 2024.

He's ice cold.

Image source, Getty Images

Three players managed to go unbeaten in Rome. You'd have expected Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton performed probably a bit better than expected and rookie Robert MacIntyre is a touch of a surprise.

Rahm won three points from four matches, Hatton won half a point more from his four outings while MacIntyre, with a little help from Justin Rose it has to be said, won two and halved one of his three matches.

Unbeaten records:

• Rahm: 2-0-2
• Hatton: 3-0-1
• MacIntyre: 2-0-1

Next up in the press room is Team Europe.

Each victorious player is armed with a green bottle containing a crisp Italian lager which will be available in your local boozer.

You know the one. Rhymes with jabroni.

"Are you old enough to drink?" is one of the quips which heads the way of Ludvig Aberg.

Image source, Getty Images

After a relative sombre start, the American players lighten up in their losing team news conference.

A few plastic pots of beer are being handed around the two-tier platform, loosening the tongues somewhat.

Brooks Koepka is the middle man, passing them from the defacto bar to the thirsty players.

When Patrick Cantlay says he is getting married tomorrow there is a huge cheer, before LIV golfer Koepka gets ripped by someone for "not seeing us anymore".

"It's been nice to see Brooks. It's because he's had a baby. He's living with the baby."

Think that was LIV-ving with the baby...

After all that has been said this week, there does seem to be genuine conviviality and camaraderie between the American players.

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Cantlay has been the centre of a lot of attention over the past few weeks.

The American was majestic in the fourballs yesterday, despite being derided by the European fans after reports he was unhappy with the players not getting cash for the event.

That led to some amusing chants directed his way and also lots of cap waving after it was claimed the row was why he wouldn't the team's custom-made hats.

"He has great hair, that's why he doesn't wear a hat," quips Cantlay's buddy Xander Schauffele.

Then there was that flashpoint between his caddie Joe LaCava and Rory McIlroy last night.

"Yesterday on the golf course in the afternoon I didn't realise the genesis of why what was happening was happening. I didn't know until after the match had finished and quite a scene was happening," he says.

"I didn't see the incident between Rory and Joe. I was wrapped up in a totally different head space. It was a crazy 24 hours. Last night I was trying to give the guys a little bit of momentum."

The last place the US team wants to be right now is facing the media in the losing team's news conference.

The mood is slightly different to the one in Whistling Straits two years ago.

Xander Schauffele has left cigars in the locker room for one.

Justin Thomas is asked whether there were fractures in the US camp which affected their performance.

"It was nothing to do with team camaraderie, it is one of the closest and best team spirits I've been a part of," says Thomas.

"It didn't feel like the preparation was an issue."

Rory McIlroy has just spoken about a changing of the guard for Team Europe.

How many of these guys are going to be in the team for the next one in 2025?

Thumbs up if you think seven or more.

Thumbs down for six or fewer.

Rory McIlroy speaking to Sky Sports: "An incredible day at the end of an incredible week. I am so proud to be a part of this team.

"We were all hurting after Whistling Straits and the few of us that were on that team that came to play here wanted to redeem ourselves. We wanted to prove to the world that's not who we truly are. We went out this week and delivered a great performance."

On the make-up of the team: "There was a bit of fresh blood that came in. We know the future of this team is Ludvig, Nicolai, Bob, and Rasmus [Hojgaard] is here with his brother. Viktor Rahmbo will also be leaders for a long time.

"There has been a bit of a changing of the guard this year and the new guys were definitely embraced. We have one eye on the future. That is them and I hope I can play alongside them."

Image source, Getty Images

If you want to talk about Ryder Cup legends, Luke Donald has to be right up there now when you see his record as both a player and now captain.

As a player he won four out of four Ryder Cups he appeared in, and has a stellar 10-4-1 record in his matches - including a 3-1-0 singles return.

He's now added a superb Ryder Cup victory as a captain to a resume that few can match in the history of the event.

It had to be him.

Well done, Tommy lad.