After storming heaven in quest of successful putting, the Americans were positively sated yesterday by astonishing mastery on the greens, in a Ryder Cup triumph of record proportions here at The Country Club. A stunning US team regained the trophy by making the greatest singles comeback since the current format was introduced in 1979.

Ironically, the indefatigable and unconquerable Colin Montgomerie delivered the final point in a 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 victory. But only a matter of 30 minutes earlier, it seemed that Padraig Harrington would become a European hero, on his Ryder Cup debut.

Harrington's position revived memories of Oak Hill in 1995 when compatriot Philip Walton got the dreaded news out on the course. "Oh Jaysus," Walton reacted, "I can't believe this; everything is down to me." On this occasion, all indications were that Harrington would be delivering the crucial 14th point which was sufficient to allow Europe retain the trophy.

As it happened, Harrington did indeed deliver the point, in a dramatic, 18th hole win over Mark O'Meara. But 15 minutes later, European hopes were shattered by arguably the most sensational putt in an afternoon of unrivalled putting success.

From easily 40 feet below the hole at the 17th, which is widely acknowledged as the most difficult green on this beautiful course, Justin Leonard sank a ridiculously improbable birdie putt to go dormie one against Jose-Maria Olazabal. Suddenly, all the calculations centering on Harrington's performance, were scuppered.

Indeed the Americans were so overjoyed at Leonard's breakthrough - given that he was four down at one stage to the reigning US Masters champion - that they set about celebrating prematurely. Players hugged their wives and each other in a frenzy of excitement, totally oblivious to the feelings of Olazabal who still had a putt for a half. And the Spaniard afterwards expressed bitter disappointment that a sporting occasion should have been marred in this way.

A man like Crenshaw, who professes such respect for the traditions of a great game, should have seen this as a decidedly unfortunate lapse. And there wasn't much for the Americans to be proud of in the treatment of Andrew Coltart at the ninth where, after hitting his drive no more than a few feet into rough, he was directed by marshals towards adjacent trees. When his mandatory five-minute searchingtime had elapsed, however, the ball was found as Coltart returned to the tee.

But these incidents should not detract from a wonderful performance by the American players. Faced with a deficit of 4-8 after the foursomes and fourballs, Crenshaw took the classic, matchplay decision of packing the top of the order with his more formidable firepower.

The American players urged him to do this during an emotional team meeting on Saturday night. in the belief that they could level matters by winning the top four singles. They won six.

His European counterpart, Mark James, had anticipated something of this nature, so placing Jarmo Sandelin, Jean Van de Velde and Coltart - the three who had taken no part over the previous two days - at three, four and five in the order, as sacrificial lambs. But he could never have expected such a demolition job as that inflicted on the other three.

Davis Love was four under par for the 13 holes played against the Frenchman, when putting America's first point on the board; Tom Lehman was also four under when beating Lee Westwood by 3 and 2 and David Duval was five under when his victory over Jesper Parnevik gave the Americans the lead for the first time, at 11-10.

But their dominance was helped considerably by some decidedly indifferent from from the Europeans. For instance, Van de Velde and Sandelin were two over and Clarke was three over par, when their matches finished. Indeed the best, approximate figures from European players came from two of their three winners, Harrington and Montgomerie, both of whom were four under par for 18 holes.

While the top half of the European order was being systematically swamped, the American players whipped the galleries into a frenzy through the pumping of fists and, in Lehman's case, jumping and running in an extraordinary fashion. So it was, that the progress of a rampant side was greeted with wave after wave of passionate cheering, from tee to fairway to green, especially those wonderfully productive greens.

Lehman was in tears after discharging his designated role as on-course leader. And Duval, normally devoid of emotion, worked the crowd over with rare enthusiasm. Afterwards he said: "The situation was nothing like I expected and I was wrong on some other things, but I'm not going to retract anything I said about charitable donations." From him, that amounted to a cringeing apology.

Meanwhile, with no apparent hope of a surprise win, like that achieved by Costantino Rocca against Tiger Woods at Valderrama, Europeans eyes were drawn inexorably towards the bottom of the order in the hope of salvation. If Montgomerie, Olazabal and Paul Lawrie were to win, Harrington just might deliver the crucial 14th point against O'Meara. And in a best-case senario, there was always the chance that Miguel-Angel Jimenez and Serio Garcia might squeeze a winning half.

It was not to be. Quite apart from the devastating blow by Leonard on the 17th, Olazabal had his usual problems off the tee. Indeed a grim experience here was reflected in the fact that when he left the players' room at the end of play, he handed out no fewer than eight, new drivers to grateful, if highly bemused spectators.

Yet his match seemed secure when he was four up after 11. And Garcia was still in contention against Jim Furyk, at two down after the 10th. But as it turned out, Lawrie, in the anchor position was the only player in the European tail to lead and retain the lead.

Even Montgomerie had his problems with Payne Stewart, before forcing a concession from the reigning US Open champion on the 18th, after being brought level three holes earlier through yet another raking American putt. And one was forced to conclude that Garcia was emotionally drained after the excitement he shared with new-found ally Parnevik over the previous to days.

One under par for the outward journey, Garcia was two down to an admirably solid opponent. And the youngster's lack of enthusiasm for the fight was evident in figures of two over par for the next six holes. Small wonder that he welcomed the comforting arms of his mother Conzuela at the finish.

Europeans bristled last week when Jeff Maggert reworked the old wind-up of the Americans being the 12 best players in the world. But deep down, they feared that the claim might contain more than a hint of truth.

As things turned out, the irrepressible skills of the Americans were in evidence to devastating effect when they started that roll towards victory from the top of the order. And I believe it would be pointless to criticise James for ignoring possible fatigue by using seven of his team in all five matches.

More than anybody, James was aware of the strength of the opposition. And the fact that they waited until yesterday to deliver it, guaranteed a climax that will live long in the memory.