Scott Hoch held his nerve in the final singles match to halve his match with Argentine Eduardo Romero, ensuring the USA retained the UBS Cup. The Americans had to dig deep in the closing stages as the Rest of the World surged ahead and Hoch's half levelled the competition at 12-12.
"It was good to be in the heat of play," said Hoch.
"You can rely on the team to get you back in the game and my putts were to not lose - I didn't have any to win."
Hale Irwin had led the American charge in the earlier matches as he swept aside Bernhard Langer 7 & 5.
The 58-year-old set some new tournament records on the way, carding nine birdies - two more than the previous total - and setting a record for the biggest margin of victory.
"That's some of the best golf I've seen in the last 30 years," said Langer.
 |  If anyone had guessed the results of those 12 matches they'd have made a lot of money |
Irwin's spectacular victory drew the home side level with the Rest of the World on six-and-a-half points each until Bruce Lietzke's 6 & 5 win over Barry Lane edged them into the lead. Mark O'Meara earned another point for the USA at Ian Woosnam's expense but Tony Jacklin hauled the Rest of the World back into contention.
The team captain beat his opposite number Arnold Palmer by a single hole thanks to a 25-foot putt at the 18th.
Three-time US Masters champion Nick Faldo had little troubling defeating last year's Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange by two holes to follow up Jacklin's success.
Colin Montgomerie continued the fightback when he hit a brilliant five-iron second shot to within three feet on the 18th to earn a half against Tom Watson.
The Scotsman's half drew the scores level at 9-9 before Ireland's Des Smyth beat Craig Stadler and Bill Longmuir relied on his solid putting to see off Rocco Mediate to stretch the lead to 11-9. It was down to Brad Faxon to get the defending champions back into contention at Sea Island and he dutifully dispatched England's Carl Mason.
Raymond Floyd and Australian Rodger Davis could not be separated in the following match and their half saw the score poised at 10� - 11� with two matches to go.
Hal Sutton was never going to be caught by Argentine Vicente Fernandez and he added a vital point for America with a 2 & 1 win.
Hoch had all the luck on the greens and did enough to earn the half to see the trophy remain on American shores.
MMIX
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