Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news
For Jamie Donaldson, it was a rollercoaster Ryder Cup that was full of bumps, obstacles and plenty of bubbles. The hero who holed the Cup-winning putt, roared on by the passionate pro-European crowd, looked a little worse for wear come Monday morning, and he even admitted that he was probably still drunk.
The world No 25 has enjoyed a brilliant year that saw him force his way into the Ryder Cup reckoning, with European captain Paul McGinley deciding that he merited inclusion as one of his eight choices for three of the four sessions on Friday and Saturday.
After an emotional and passionate welcome to the first tee on Friday, Donaldson then embarked on a brilliant run alongside Lee Westwood that saw the pair win two points from three matches in the foursomes and fourballs.
But it would be in the singles where he would come to the fore, taking apart Keegan Bradley to win on the 15th green 4&3 and trigger the celebrations that continued long into the night.
Show all 24 1 /24Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Thomas Bjorn, Europe Playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2002, the Dane claimed just half a point from two fourball matches with US Open champion Martin Kaymer, despite opening up an early lead on each occasion. Also lost to Matt Kuchar in the singles. 5
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Jamie Donaldson, Europe Won the Czech Masters to secure his debut and carried that form to Gleneagles, winning two foursomes matches alongside Lee Westwood and securing the winning point with victory over Keegan Bradley on Sunday. 9
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Victor Dubuisson, Europe Given special attention by European captain Paul McGinley and took everything in his stride as he claimed two foursomes wins with Graeme McDowell before being sent out last in the singles, with the outcome decided well before his half with Zach Johnson. 8
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Stephen Gallacher, Europe Deserved his wild card selection after his strong form in qualifying but his partnership with Ian Poulter did not come off and Gallacher was left out after their 5&4 defeat on the opening morning. Lost to Phil Mickelson in the singles to finish without a point. 5
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Sergio Garcia, Europe The Spaniard admitted he was not at his best as he claimed one and a half points from three matches alongside world number one Rory McIlroy, but put everything into his singles win over Jim Furyk with a brilliant finish. 7
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Martin Kaymer, Europe Not in the sort of form which saw him win the US Open and Players Championship this year, but claimed vital half in Saturday afternoon foursomes alongside Justin Rose and then powered to victory over Bubba Watson in the singles. 7
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Graeme McDowell, Europe Disappointed not to play more than two team sessions but accepted that his job to partner Dubuisson was part of European captain Paul McGinley's masterplan, as was going out first in the singles. Came back from three down with nine to play to beat Jordan Spieth. 10
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Rory Mcilory, Europe Struggled to gain two points from four matches before making a blistering start to his singles match with Rickie Fowler, racing five up after six holes and easing to a vital 5&4 win to ease early nerves. 8
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Ian Poulter, Europe Few would have thought 'Mr Ryder Cup' would play just twice before the singles and claim only half a point, but his chip-in late in the Saturday fourballs helped stem a US fightback. Birdied the 18th to halve his match with Webb Simpson. 6
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Justin Rose, Europe
Getty images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Henrik Stenson, Europe Was unduly modest about his part in the three wins with Rose, especially as he had a sore back which meant he sat out the Saturday afternoon session. Will be upset to miss a short putt on the 18th to lose his singles to a fired-up Patrick Reed. 8
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Lee Westwood, Europe Felt he needed to justify being selected as a wild card and did so by leading rookie Donaldson to two foursomes wins. Also chosen to speak to the team on Saturday evening to remind them of what went wrong at Brookline in 1999. 8
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Keegan Bradley, USA Extended his record alongside Phil Mickelson to 4-0 on the opening morning but lost in the afternoon foursomes and the pair were then left out all day Saturday. Was never ahead in what proved to be decisive singles match with Donaldson. 5
Getty
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Rickie Fowler, USA Halved his first three matches alongside Jimmy Walker but looked fatigued in a 5&4 foursomes loss on Saturday afternoon and was thrashed by McIlroy on Sunday. 7
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Jim Furyk, USA Won one point from three games before renewing his singles rivalry with Sergio Garcia, Furyk having won at Brookline in 1999 and Garcia getting his revenge at Medinah in 2012. Garcia again came out on top in a hard-fought contest. 6
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Kuchar Johnson, USA Won twice in foursomes at Medinah but suffered two defeats in the same format at Gleneagles. Battled to the end of his dead rubber singles, making a birdie on the last to claim a half with Dubuisson. 6
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Matt Kuchar, USA One of four American players not to register a point before the singles, crucially duffing a pitch to the 18th in a Friday foursomes defeat to Donaldson and Westwood. At least got on the scoreboard with a 4&3 over Thomas Bjorn. 6
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Hunter Mahan, USA One of US captain Tom Watson's wild card's, Mahan won one point from three matches but played well in defeat to Garcia and McIlroy on Saturday and was five under after seven holes against Rose before an inspired fightback from the Englishman. 7
Getty
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Phil Mickelson, USA Left out for an entire day for the first time ever on Saturday, despite pleading with Watson to play at least once. Had something to prove in the singles against Gallacher and duly won, but a disappointing return. 6
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Patrick Reed, USA Won two fourballs alongside fellow rookie Jordan Spieth but missed a crucial par putt from two feet on the 16th as Kaymer and Rose escaped with a half in the Saturday foursomes. Was fired up for his singles with Henrik Stenson and won on the 18th. 8
GETTY IMAGES
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Webb Simpson, USA Was picked to renew his partnership with Bubba Watson but after losing 5&4 in the first match on Friday, did not play again until the singles, where he at least claimed a half with Poulter. 5
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Jordan Spieth, USA The 21-year-old played superbly with Reed and was then entrusted with the opening singles match against Graeme McDowell, racing three up after just five holes. Made a few crucial mistakes on the back nine as McDowell fought back to win, but tough to criticise the youngest player on either side. 8
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Jimmy Walker, USA Played all four sessions alongside Fowler and claimed three half points before fatigue set in and contributed to a heavy defeat in the second foursomes. Was an approximate eight under par in beating Westwood in the singles. 8
Getty Images
Ryder Cup individual ratings: Who did best? Bubba Watson, USA Lost both fourball matches, although he and Kuchar did very little wrong and were nine under par in losing 3&2 to Stenson and Rose. Was easily beaten by Kaymer in the singles. 5
GETTY IMAGES
At his first attempt, Donaldson was a Ryder Cup winner, and he was sure to celebrate it in the most fitting way possible – by drinking enough champagne to fill the River Taff that runs through his birth-town of Pontpridd.
Donaldson’s reply was short and sweet.
“No. Cause I’m still drunk,” he said as he smiled.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies