Publications
Partners
Paris - Europe have won the Seve Trophy on Sunday for the first time since 2000 when they edged a suspense-filled match 15-13 against Great Britain and Ireland at the Saint-Nom-La-Breteche golf club.
Francesco Molinari sealed a dramatic win when he hit a beautiful tee shot within 12 feet of the pin at the par 3, 16th and then cooly sunk his putt to defeat Englishman Chris Wood 3 and 2.
Europe were leading 14-13 and needing just a half point for victory, and Molinari, who also sunk the winnning putt to give Europe the Ryder Cup last year at Medinah, again showed nerves of steel under pressure.
The Milan right-hander's birdie lifted Europe to a 15-13 victory.
Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, who was playing his first Seve Trophy, was one of heroes for Jose Maria Olazabal's team when he set a new tournament record by becoming the first player to win all five of his matches.
Europe ended a losing streak of six tournaments dating back to the maiden competition when late founder Seve Ballesteros captained the side to victory over Colin Montgomerie's Great Britain and Ireland team.
Bourdy, the 31-year-old Bordeaux native racked up four wins out of four along with Dutchman Joost Luiten in the pairs' before winning his singles match in style on Sunday by defeating Jamieson 5 and 3.
Bourdy is attempting to become only the third Frenchman to play at the Ryder Cup next year under captain Paul McGinley, as he tries to follow in the footsteps of Thomas Levet and Jean Van de Velde
His victory earlier this year at the Wales Open and his historic showing at the Seve Trophy makes him a strong contender to appear at Gleneagles against the USA.
"I'm so happy to achieve that and it was an amazing week for me," said Bourdy.
"It was great to play here in front of my French crowd and in Saint-Nom-la-Breteche, it's a great course and I love to play in team events. So yeah, very good, I'm very happy about that."
Luiten who also had a chance to make it a perfect five from five came up against an in-form Tommy Fleetwood of England and was beaten 3 and 2.
However convincing wins by Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Italian Matteo Manassero as well as a crucial point picked up by Ryder Cup winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium did the damage.
Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano's halved match against Welshman Jamie Donaldson and another halved match between injured Englishman Simon Khan and Dane Thomas Bjorn who didn't play, also played a role but it was Molinari again who had the glory of sinking the winning putt.
Tommy Fleetwood of England, Scotland's Marc Warren and Paul Lawrie were winners in vain for Sam Torrance's side.
Final results from the fourth and final day of the eighth edition of the Seve Trophy at Saint-Nom-La-Breteche golf club, outside Paris:
Europe defeat Great Britain and Ireland 15-13:
Jamie Donaldson (WAL) v Gonzalo Fernandez-Castro (ESP) match halved
Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) bt Joost Luiten (NED) 3 and 2
Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) bt Paul Casey (ENG) one hole
Gregory Bourdy (FRA) bt Scott Jamieson (SCO) 4 and 3
Marc Warren (SCO) bt Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 4 and 3
Matteo Manassero (ITA) bt Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 3 and 2
Paul Lawrie (SCO) bt Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 2 and 1
Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) bt David Lynn (ENG) 6 and 4
Francesco Molinari (ITA) bt Chris Wood (ENG) 3 and 2
Simon Khan (ENG) v Thomas Bjorn (DEN) match halved after Khan pulled out injured
