The Europeans may be celebrating their win in the Ryder Cup, but the reality is that they got away with a lucky escape.

A three-point lead at the start of the final-day singles is a pretty healthy lead in anyone’s language.You really shouldn’t lose from there.

But the Europeans nearly managed to throw it all away late on Monday afternoon amid a strong rally from the Americans.

Had Graeme McDowell not managed to hold on and defeat, there would have been some pretty tough questions for Monty and the European team to field.

Like how on earth did Paddy Harrington make the team over Paul Casey?

And how did Edoardo Molinari managed to halve the match with Rickie Fowler after being so far ahead?

And how about Ross Fisher’s collapse? Or Rory McIlroy’s (almost) choke?

The 2010 version of the Ryder Cup will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of the competition and Monty and McDowell will rightly be hailed as heroes. But it was a lot closer than it should have been.

Bravo to Corey Pavin and the Americans, The Mole has already installed them as firm favourites for the 2012 edition in Medinah.