gracious lehman praises best ever europe
Lehman hugs Darren Clarke.
By PA Sport staff
United States captain Tom Lehman accepted Ryder Cup defeat graciously after his team were crushed by rampant Europe on Sunday afternoon. The visitors were hammered 18.5-9.5 by Ian Woosnam's men - exactly the same scoreline as at Oakland Hills two years ago. And afterwards Lehman said: "I take my hat off completely to the European team - they played incredibly well and were inspired and the crowd were phenomenal and gave them momentum. "I don't think there is a European team that has ever played better. "Our team came ready - but I guess we weren't quite ready enough. "I'm not sure what to say but I need to give credit where it's due - and the European team played better." Lehman was also impressed with the spirit in which the match was played, adding: "The players genuinely respected each other - it was a well played match." Asked if he would change anything, he added: "I know everything we did was for a reason and with the best possible intention - but you have to put the ball in the hole and we didn't do that. "But I tip my hat to Ian Woosnam and his players - and their courage and the way they played. "They never failed to make us pay for a mistake - they made us pay every time."
