Sky Sports - Ryder Cup

America reclaimed the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, securing an ultimately convincing 16½-11½ victory over Europe after the singles matches on Sunday.

Needing a total of five and a half points from the individual battles, Paul Azinger's US team achieved their target of 14½ points when Jim Furyk closed out a 2 and 1 win over Miguel Angel Jimenez on the 17th green.

The victory ends a wait of nine years for the Americans who had lost three consecutive matches since their victory at Brookline in 1999 - the last two by record 18½-9½ scores.

However, cheered on by the partisan home galleries, the US made a fast start and always held the edge on a tense final day in Kentucky that threw up yet more enthralling and competitive action.

Paul Azinger's decision to send Anthony Kim out first paid handsome dividends as the youngster produced a magnificent display to thrash Sergio Garcia 5 and 4.

Kim set the tone for the Americans with a host of birdies as he finished eight-under through the 14 holes of his at times ill-tempered contest with the Spaniard.

Robert Karlsson and Justin Rose produced flawless performances to record convincing wins over Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson respectively to give Nick Faldo's Europeans some early hope, while Paul Casey showed commendable spirit to snatch a half from a memorable encounter with Hunter Mahan.

Host of red

However, it was in the middle of the draw that the Americans did the damage as they put a host of red on the board that Europe ultimately could not reverse.

Local boy Kenny Perry completed a fantastic few days as he beat Henrik Stenson 3 and 2, while fellow Kentuckian JB Holmes put the US on the brink as he eventually got the better of Dane Soren Hansen following another nip and tuck encounter to win 2 and 1.

Boo Weekley cemented his hero status with a comprehensive 4 and 2 triumph over fellow rookie Oliver Wilson, but it came down to veteran Furyk to close out the American success.

He did so at the second time of asking, having missed a putt to win at the 16th - overall victory confirmed when Jimenez sportingly conceded his short par putt having failed with a birdie attempt of his own.

With victory in the bag for the hosts, further successes for Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter - who ended the week as top-scorer on either side - did little to raise European spirits.

Indeed, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington signed off with matching 2 and 1 losses to Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell respectively as the American party got in full swing - Harrington ending his second successive Ryder Cup without a win.

Delight for Azinger

Delighted American skipper Azinger was quick to praise Europe for their efforts over the course of an epic three days, but hailed his team for finally snapping their losing streak.

"We had a plan, we stuck to it," Azinger told Sky Sports after his team had clinched victory. "We created a 13th man, the crowd was really fantastic and beautifully behaved.

"The golf was spectacular on both sides and our guys just came out on top. I couldn't be happier, they really ground it out.

"It could have gone either way the first day or the second day but it just tilted our way.

"The European team is an incredible team and I feel fortunate to pull this off."

Click links below for match reports:

Anthony Kim bt Sergio Garcia 5 and 4
Hunter Mahan halved with Paul Casey
Justin Leonard lost to Robert Karlsson 5 and 3
Phil Mickelson lost to Justin Rose 3 and 2
Kenny Perry bt Henrik Stenson 3 and 2
Boo Weekley by Oliver Wilson 4 and 2
JB Holmes bt Soren Hansen 2 and 1
Jim Furyk bt Miguel Angel Jimenez 2 and 1
Stewart Cink lost to Graeme McDowell 2 up
Steve Stricker lost to Ian Poulter 3 and 2
Ben Curtis bt Lee Westwood 2 and 1
Chad Campbell bt Padraig Harrington 2 and 1