GOLF: The script could not have been more apposite. Colin Montgomerie, Europe's Ryder Cup totem, was entrusted with the responsibility of guaranteeing victory at Oakland Hills. The moment was distilled into a four-foot putt on the home green.

For a man who had endured the excesses of Brookline in 1999, the subject of some appalling verbal baiting, the moment would have been cathartic. Never before defeated in six singles at the Ryder Cup he was now handed an opportunity to join a select list of players whose putts have confirmed the destination of the silverware. Paul McGinley's successor had been found.

The American crowd rose in acclamation, the grandstand and those lucky enough to have a vantage point around the 18th green producing a deafening din when the Scot holed out for a one-hole victory over David Toms.

Tears in his eyes, Montgomerie threw his arms skyward, quickly surrounded by team-mates, falling over each other to grab a hug from the man who traditionally has set the tone for the biennial battle with the Americans.

It's been a difficult 18 months for the Scot, his marriage crumbling, exacerbated by the media spotlight, and his game no longer capable of cementing an automatic place in the 12-man team. Instead, he had to turn to his former foursomes and fourballs partner and this year's European captain Bernhard Langer to choose him as a wild card.

Their embrace on the apron of the 18th green will remain a lingering memory of this Ryder Cup: captain and lieutenant, potentially captain and his successor. Few would begrudge Monty that honour given his significant contribution to European Ryder Cup lore.

Tear-stained eyes greeted the media as they swarmed around him, the Scot taking a couple of deep breadths before articulating his feelings. The soundtrack to the interview, provided by a raucous Celtic brotherhood, clamouring for his attention on the other side of the ropes, was a simple, 'we love you Monty, we do.' The Scot admitted: "It's a fantastic week for all. The difference with this team and past teams is that we have had strength, top, middle and bottom. It's the first time we have ever had that. It's emotional for me more so than most. I think we've had half of Scotland and Ireland here today and it's fantastic.

"We do play for each other. This is a real team. It is as good a team as he have had and augurs well for the future. Personally this means nothing to me. I've said it before; this is about the team. That putt was not for me; it was to win the Ryder Cup."

The last few words were barely audible, the emotion of the occasion dictating that it was time to cut short the media process. Instead, Montgomerie headed for the back of the 18th green and his backing group, climbing though the ropes to be engulfed by his admirers.

At a time when Europe were looking vulnerable under a cloudless, sweltering Detroit afternoon, Montgomerie, as he has so often in the past was the rallying point. The leaderboard was a mass of red, Europe in serious trouble, down in four of the top five matches when the Scot strode onto the first green.

Toms could only watch helplessly as Montgomerie rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt; the rally had started.

Even when the American halved at the third with a birdie, Montgomerie's body language, the determined gait underlined his commitment. He was two ahead by the sixth, Toms the first to buckle despite the groundswell of support but when the American won the 11th and 12th with birdies, the Scot once again found the appropriate response, re-establishing a one-hole led with an exquisite birdie putt at the next.

This was all about who would blink first, Montgomerie's bogey on the 15th quickly followed by a birdie at the next. At this stage the leaderboard had a healthier hue of blue and 'all' it required was the Scot to take it home. Toms showed his mettle by making four at the last, holing a sliding eight foot putt but Montgomerie would not be denied.

No European had earned that right more.