Roller-coaster Ryder Cup ends with a party that’s ‘off the charts’

Moments after Europe secured Ryder Cup glory, Rory McIlroy promised the celebrations would be “off the charts”.

His 11 proud team-mates and their ecstatic partners did not disappoint as they partied into the early hours after mounting one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history.

The champagne flowed late into the night after Europe overcame America’s seemingly insurmountable lead to win golf’s blue riband event at the Medinah country club in Chicago.

By 3am American time, the occasion seemed to have overwhelmed Luke Donald who tweeted: “We climbed Mt Everest with just our underpants on!”

His wife Diane had earlier posted photos of champagne bottles emblazoned with the victorious players’ names from the after-party, adding: “Still going and it’s starting to get a little craaaazy!!!”

But hours earlier, the mood was very different as Europe waited anxiously for the arrival of their star player.

McIlroy was forced to hitch a lift in a Chicago police car after a mix-up over time zones saw the world No 1 arrive at the golf course just 10 minutes before his tee-off time. The 23-year-old was facing disqualification but bounced back to help Europe to the most unlikely upset in Ryder Cup history.

His jubilant captain, José María Olazábal, handed the Northern Irishman a huge, metal alarm clock and warned: “Don’t ever be late to a team event again.”

Inspired by the memory of Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros — who died of brain cancer last year aged 54 — the European team played exceptional golf to overhaul America’s overnight 10-6 lead to win by a point.

As thousands of ecstatic European fans stormed the greens of Medinah country club, a tearful Olazabal — who was like a brother to Ballesteros — said: “All men die, but not all men live. You made me feel alive again this week. I’m pretty sure Seve is very happy where he is today.”

Of his late arrival, McIlroy admitted: “It is the most worried I’ve ever been. I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes.

“Luckily there was a state trooper outside who gave me the escort. If not I would not have made it on time.”