Shane Lowry reminded USA captain Keegan Bradley of his confident, somewhat aggressive pre-Ryder Cup statement, as the Irishman celebrated a European victory in New York.
Europe got the better of the Americans at Bethpage Black, although it was a lot closer on the final day than it looked likely to be after Saturday’s action.
USA had a shocker in the foursomes and four-balls, trailing 11½-4½ by the end of Saturday and with Viktor Hovland pulling out of the singles due to injury, they started 12-5 behind.
However, they rallied impressively and it was only late on Sunday when Lowry holed a putt to halve with Russell Henley and secure the Ryder Cup for Europe, with the score ending 15-13.
The Irishman was understandably jubilant, jumping around the green in delight before getting stuck into the champagne with his teammates.
The 38-year-old later posted a picture of himself with the Ryder Cup, relaxing under a quote from Bradley.
The American’s X-rated message to his players before the tournament was: ‘We are going to go to Bethpage to kick their fucking ass.’
Speaking after holing the all-important putt, Lowry held back tears, saying: ‘I have been so lucky to experience things in this game. That was the hardest couple of hours in my life. Honestly!
‘I can’t believe it. The Ryder Cup means everything to me. I can’t believe that ball went in. I stood over it going ‘this is it’.
‘I said to Darren [Reynolds, his caddie] I have the chance to do the coolest thing in my life here.
‘The Ryder Cup means everything to me. I won The Open in Ireland it is a dream come true but for me The Ryder Cup is everything.’
On his celebrations after the crucial putt against Henley, he said: ‘Pure relief. Relief, joy, all of the above.
‘It was unbelievable because, fair play to the Americans, they fought very hard, they were always going to come back at us.
‘I didn’t think it was going to be to such an extent. I thought our team are playing amazingly. I liked the line-up today, but yeah, like Jesus, honestly, it’s the most incredible feeling in the whole world.’
He added: ‘It’s hard. Like, if I messed up and we don’t end up retaining or winning, it would probably have taken me a long time to get over something like that.
‘So it was a huge moment in my career and I stood up to the plate and knocked it in.’
His close pal Rory McIlroy said of Lowry: ‘What he did yesterday and today was just absolutely amazing.
‘This is his third Ryder Cup, and it’s his best performance. He’s been absolutely immense this week.
‘What Shane did today, that’ll stand him for the rest of his career. I mean, he could enjoy the last few holes of Portrush [when winning The Open in 2019], but what he had to go through today to get that done, that’ll stand to him for the rest of his career.
‘Hopefully [in more majors]. I’d love that. I’d love to see that.’