It was one Irishman called Shane who co-wrote Fairytale of New York, and another who scripted its golfing equivalent

"Shane Lowry would be few people's idea of a modern-day athlete, with his well-upholstered physique and occasional penchant for a Guinness or 10. But he was everybody's version of a Ryder Cup hero, facing a putt of 6ft 3in at the last to retain the trophy for Europe and draining it with such nervelessness that his team-mates had to restrain themselves from invading the green. The stage was left to the Irishman, who beat his chest and pumped his arms like pistons,"

"In the hysteria, Lowry did not know what to do with himself. His eyes welling up, he eventually fell into the arms of his wife Wendy, his emotions spent. All players at his level rehearse in their minds the sensation of standing over a putt for the Ryder Cup, but never do they expect the experience to arrive quite like this. Lowry, positioned deep in the second half of the singles order, had dared hope for a serene day, confident that Rory McIlroy"

Shane Lowry sank a 6ft 3in putt at the final hole to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. He hit the putt with remarkable nervelessness, forcing teammates to restrain themselves from invading the green. The Irishman beat his chest and pumped his arms like pistons in ecstatic celebration. Overcome with emotion, he wept and fell into the arms of his wife, Wendy. Lowry occupies a stocky, unorthodox athlete's build and is known for an occasional Guinness. He had hoped for a quiet day, expecting earlier stars like Rory McIlroy to transform a seven-point lead into a decisive victory.

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