Monday October 04, 2010, 06:32 PM

Colin Montgomerie saluted European anchor-man Graeme McDowell after the US Open champion held his nerve to clinch the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor here Monday.

European captain Montgomerie had placed McDowell last in the order of play on Sunday in order to have a proven match-winner on the course, just in case the match went to the wire.

And Montgomerie's tactics proved decisive as McDowell held off a fierce challenge from Hunter Mahan to clinch a three and one victory on the 17th.

"Graeme McDowell was put there for a good reason, he's full of confidence and that showed," Montgomerie said, praising the Ulsterman for rolling in a birdie on the 16th which took him to the brink of victory.

"That birdie on 16 was just quite unbelievable, quite unbelievable," said a breathless Montgomerie, describing the win as a "proud moment for Europe."

McDowell later said he had never felt so much pressure on a golf course, saying even his first victory at at a major at Pebble Beach earlier this year did not compare.

"I can safely say that I've never felt that nervous on a golf course in my life before," McDowell said, admitting that his nerves had begun jangling when he became aware that his match may be the decisive duel.

"I was hoping that I wasn't going to be needed. But at that point I got extremely nervous. Coming down the stretch I've never felt nerves like it in my life. It was a different stratosphere to Pebble Beach."

He said: "I felt nervous over every shot. I really felt like I'd been struggling with my game all week. I had to grind it out. The 16th was the greatest second shot and the greatest putt I've ever hit in my career.

"Of course there was negativity there. I was imagining losing, I was imagining winning in the same breath. I think that's just the way golf is."

Montgomerie meanwhile praised the American fightback, which included scintillating performances from Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as they attempted to overhaul a three-point overnight deficit.

"They came back extremely well," Montgomerie said. "Tiger showed why he was No. 1 in the world today and Phil Mickelson played brilliantly.

"All credit to the American Team, you played magnificently today."

Despite devoting two years of his life to planning for the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie insisted he took personal glory from the win.

"As I said in the press room many, many times, it means nothing to me. I just did this for European Tour and I'm so, so glad that we won," he said.

"I didn't hit a shot so it wasn't much of an achievement but at the same time it's a proud, proud moment for me personally.

© 2010 AFP/sid