USA wins PGA Cup

The 2011 PGA Cup has been won by the USA team after GB&I failed in their bid to retain the trophy on US soil at CordeValle in California.

Going into the singles matches five points down, GB&I needed to win eight out of 10 matches. The margin proved to be too big for Russell Weir's team of PGA professionals and the US team won 17 1/2 - 8 1/2.

The US, requiring only three points from the singles for their 17th PGA Cup, won seven of their matches to win back the trophy after defeat at The Carrick in the last meeting between the two sides.

Marty Jertson, a senior design engineer for Ping, got the US off to a good start by winning his match 5&4 with a round that included two eagles.

Danny Balin beat GB&I's Chris Gill on the last hole in the second match, while Sonny Skinner got the decisive half-point for the US against Stuart Little.

GB&I's David Shacklady recorded an impressive 3&2 victory over David Hutsell, while Rob Giles overturned a three hole deficit to beat American Mike Small by 1 hole.

GB&I captain Russell Weir said: "This has been the most exciting week I have experienced in golf. It is the pinnacle of my career and I will never forget it.

"It was nerve-wracking as a captain, feeling for every player, but the American team were awesome today.

"The players gave their all this week and have got to be very proud of themselves, and are very special people."

After victory, US captain Jim Remy said: "We had three veterans and seven first-timers but it didn't seem to matter. Everybody worked together. It was a clear situation where the team worked together and the just shone.

"I asked them on Monday night to really focus on foursomes, they did that. They got a lot of points in foursomes. And these guys in singles are tenacious and I knew would be a pretty hard team to beat."

The US now has 17 wins compared to GB&I's five with a victory on US soil still proving elusive.