THE PLUCK OF THE IRISH

Ryder Cup would not be what it is without the heroics at the biggest moments of stars from this island

- BY GARRY DOYLE DARCY. O'Connor Jr. Walton. McGinley. Clarke. McDowell.

All unlikely heroes. Three sunk winning putts; one sunk pints of Guinness; another sunk without trace.

Glory, despair, pride, regret. No other words explain Ireland's relationship with the Ryder Cup more succinctly, this 38-year tale of unexpected success then heartbreaking lows.

There were the Irish journeymen who carried European dreams and outlasted world class opposition when they had no right to; and then there are the stories which didn't make the headlines, the sudden loss of form and in one case, loss of a touring card.

Each of them knows they cannot change the past but given the choice those that are still with us would board the plane to New York and put their reputations on the line.

Because when it came to the crunch, no country has caused as many shockwaves in Ryder Cup history than Ireland.

First there was Eamon Darcy at Muirfield, Ohio.

The year was 1987.

Darcy had the lowest world ranking in the tournament and prior to his singles game against Ben Crenshaw, his Ryder Cup stats were terrible: nine matches, seven losses, two ties.

Crenshaw, in contrast, was ranked 11th in the world, 101 places higher than Darcy.

A Masters winner in 1984, by the time the '87 Ryder Cup came around, he was a man in form, finishing fourth in three of that year's Masters, seventh in the other.

Surely there could be only one winner?

But in a fit of bad temper, Crenshaw broke his putter before Darcy broke the mould.

His victory got Europe onto 13 points.

They won by two.