Thrilling win

Great Britain and Ireland had to survive a scare on the final day before lifting the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St-Nom-La-Breteche in Paris.

Continental Europe, trailing 11½-6½ heading into the final day singles, staged a dramatic comeback and managed to tie the contest by mid-day.

Europe captain Jean Van De Velde’s decision to play his in-form players in the opening matches appeared to have paid dividends as they managed to win the first five matches to put some serious pressure on the visitors.

However, GB & I, led by Paul McGinley, recovered well and dominated the final five matches to lift the trophy for the sixth consecutive time.

Englishman David Horsey managed to halt GB & I’s run of defeats when he won two of the last four holes to secure a half point against big hitting Nicolas Colsaerts.

Scotsman Scott Jamieson was next to trouble the scoreboard when he held on for an impressive victory against Spain’s Pablo Larrazábal.

Ian Poulter again showed his match play grit by holing a vital birdie putt on the 18th to seal a one-hole win over Italian teenager Matteo Manassero.

Victory was finally assured when Mark Foster birdied two of the last five holes to triumph by the narrowest of margins over Raphaël Jacquelin.

Victorious captain McGinley was philosophical in victory and noted that it was ‘lucky’ he had the team well balanced out ... ‘and had not just experience, but guys in form balanced throughout the team so they came through in the end’.

On a completely different note, last year’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has slammed the players who avoided the Vivendi Seve Trophy.

The Scot expressed his anger and frustration at the absence of the likes of Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer.

Monty said: “The Seve Trophy gives the players the sort of experience needed in the Ryder Cup. Why aren’t Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer playing? Scheduling? You don’t get players pulling out of the Presidents Cup, do you?”

The Presidents Cup is a match played in non-Ryder Cup years between the US and the rest of the world which consistently attracts the strongest possible field. This year’s event takes place in Melbourne next month.

Englishman Justin Rose rounded off a great weekend for British golf when he lifted the BMW Championship at Cog Hill in Illinois.

Rose, who has now won three times on the PGA Tour, survived a final round scare before eventually claiming a two shot victory over John Senden.

The victory lifted Rose to third place in the FedEx Cup standings and has given him a real chance at grabbing the $10 million jackpot a next week’s Tour Championship.