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Macca's win in vain

Last updated: 21st September 2008

McDowell: Ground out the win

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Graeme McDowell made it two-and-a-half points for the week with a 2 and 1 victory over Stewart Cink.

But the Ulsterman's success came too late to aid the European cause as Nick Faldo opted to stack his strongest players down the order - McDowell heading the bottom four starters.

It was always likely to be a tough match, though, against the experienced man from Scottsdale and he overturned an early deficit to take a narrow lead at the turn after the American missed a par putt from close range.

A brilliant second to the par five 11th set up an eagle chance for McDowell but he missed from just five feet and with Cink already in for birdie the European remained one up.

But it didn't last long, with McDowell bogeying the short 11th, and although he got back in front with successive birdies it was clear by now that America would regain the Cup.

The next four holes were halved as McDowell closed out the win, but it proved to be Europe's last point in this year's tournament as the visitors went home with nothing to show for their efforts.