Colin Montgomerie received the perfect tonic ahead of this year's Ryder Cup as his European team edged a thrilling final day's singles against Asia to reclaim the Royal Trophy. After falling behind on the opening day of the tournament, Europe battled back in yesterday's four-balls to lead 4.5 - 3.5 heading into today.
A determined Asia battled hard at the Amata Spring Country Club and threatened to force a first-ever play-off at the tournament as they trailed by just one point with one match remaining.
But, after Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee bogeyed the last, Swede Henrik Stenson kept his cool to make par from six feet to halve the match and secure a 8.5 - 7.5 win for Europe.
"I said at the start of the week the competition would be close," said captain Montgomerie, who for the first time in the tournament's history included himself as a player.
"It was fitting that in the fourth edition of the tournament it came down to the last match, last green and last putt."
It was certainly no easy victory for Montgomerie's men as Asia showed plenty of grit and by the halfway stage they were ahead in four of the eight matches to set up a tense finish.
Koumei Oda claimed an unexpected point for the hosts with a dominant 5&3 win over Alexander Noren.
The Swede excelled alongside Robert Karlsson in the first two days but struggled to impose himself in the singles event and did not win a hole until the 11th.
England's Simon Dyson was then left to rue a number of missed birdie opportunities as a bogey on the last handed victory to Charlie Wi in the first match as the South Korean finished one up.
But Montgomerie claimed a crucial half-point for Europe as he drew upon his vast experience of matchplay golf to keep his cool against Liang Wen-chong, matching the Chinese number one's birdie on the last to ensure the game finished all square.
Jeev Milkha Singh defeated Karlsson 2&1 but wins for Peter Hanson, Pablo Martin and Soren Kjeldsen meant it was down to the final match between Stenson and Thongchai to determine the outcome.
Stenson was three down after nine holes but the world number seven battled back to level matters with three holes remaining.
However, a play-off seemed certain when Asian number one Thongchai coolly sank a birdie putt from eight feet on the 17th to go one up.
But Stenson, who beat Thongchai in 2006 to secure the first Royal Trophy for Europe, holed the winning putt from seven feet to ensure the game finished all square and complete a thrilling finale.
"I was three down after 10 and I had to dig deep and really find something to make it even," said Stenson.
"I told the boys I wasn't playing great (this week), but said maybe I could find something if I had to - and I did."
Montgomerie will now switch his attention to preparing for the Ryder Cup in October and Stenson has complete faith in the eight-time Order of Merit winner to restore some pride for Europe at Celtic Manor in October.
"Colin will make a great Ryder Cup captain," he said. "He pays attention to every little detail and will get everything right for Celtic Manor later this year."
Defeated captain Joe Ozaki, who guided Asia to a first Royal Trophy win last year, had no qualms with the loss and instead paid tribute to the fighting spirit his players displayed.
"Overall I was very happy and satisfied with the way my players played," he said. "I was very pleased with the way we tried to come back from a point behind.
"We shared the singles against a very strong European team, and that should not be forgotten."