Karlsson and Casey have been a so-so partnership here, promising much but ultimately guilty of squandered potential. Karlsson's chip-in from off the righthand side of the second green was offset by a couple of howlers of missed putts here and there, notably on the 1st and 10th. Casey drove long and straight all match but coughed up a couple of chances from inside 10 feet as well.

In the final reckoning, it was those misses that cost them the win. The misses and Cink's doggedness.

Henry took a long time to get involved in the match and only near the end reached the heights of his Friday performance but when Europe were simmering, it was Cink who kept them from bubbling over. His birdie on the 10th was what got them back on track . . .

although Karlsson's miss from just under four feet on the same green was unforgivable.

In truth, it was a humdrum enough encounter until the last three holes.

Henry came alive with a majestic threewood on the 16th to set up and eagle to square the match and his approach to set up a birdie on the next was almost its equal.

Casey saved the day on the last with a towering five-wood approach to 20 feet and although both Americans had putts from inside 15 feet to halve the hole and take the match, neither made good.

Casey's birdie halved the match.

KEY MOMENTS Best shot JJ Henry's second to the par-"ve 16th. Henry had been quiet enough up to this but here, he "ashed a glorious three-wood to 12 feet. Stunning.

Worst shot Robert Karlsson's missed putt on the 10th green.

Europe had pretty much strolled through the front nine but the turn brought the turn. Karlsson had less than four feet for a half here but tweaked it. They didn't win another hole until the last.

Turning pointWhich one? The "nal twist of a tortuous closing stretch came on the last green, Stewart Cink and Henry both missing par putts that would have won the point.

Man of the match Stewart Cink (right). Although Henry was mercurial in the closing holes, Cink kept the States in it hroughout.