FORMER Sports Editor John Whitbread has covered all of the last eight Ryder Cup matches for the Surrey Herald – but was never as personally involved as he was at a joyous Celtic Manor on Monday.

"They have all been very special," said Whitbread, "even seeing Europe get hammered by the best-ever American team at Walton Heath in 1981. I  was especially pleased to be standing by the tee when Weybridge's Paul Casey won a match with a hole-in-one at the K Club in Ireland four years ago.

"But none of the others have left me as battered and a bit blue, but very, very happy, as this one has."

Whitbread was standing on the bank beside the 17th green when Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell won the very last of the 12 singles against Hunter Mahan and in doing so sealed a thrilling victory for Europe over the United States by the narrowest possible 14.5-13.5 margin.

"One moment I could see our local man, Ross Fisher, of Wentworth, standing by the green with his wife Joanne," said Whitbread. "The next I was engulfed in a tide of cheering, singing and screaming humanity.

'I somehow managed to extricate myself from the crush and got next to Ross for a few words, when I was almost flattened by three burly Birmingham lads who got him in a huge triple bear hug.

"I think I'll have a few bruises tomorrow, but it was certainly worth it.

"I have followed Ross's progress since he was a 15-year-old on the newly introduced Wentworth Scholarship scheme.

"I remember in 2000 when he finished second to fellow scholar Sam Osborne  in the men's club championship. most people agreed Sam would be the star of the future, while Ros would be a good player but maybe not get so far.

Today, while Sam is still battling to win through from the Asian and Challenge Tours,  Ross is a multi millionaire, with four European Tour titles to his credit ,plus a starring role in his first and unforgettable Ryder Cup victory.