By Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport

We've all been walking a bit taller since we got back from the Ryder Cup

Think of David Howell and you think of a Ryder Cup rookie who stemmed a rising American tide in Detroit.

Howell and fellow debutant Paul Casey fought back from one down with two to play to beat Jim Furyk and Chad Campbell in the final fourball on Saturday morning to curb the building American momentum.

Europe led 6�-1� after a stunning first day but at one point were down in three of Saturday's fourball matches and all-square in the other one.

Europe clinch Ryder Cup win

But a half from Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia and a battling victory for Howell and Casey gave the visitors an 8-4 lead going into the afternoon foursomes.

Westwood said at the time: "That was the biggest point of the week. We all owe Paul and David a beer for that."

Howell (left) and Casey clinched a vital point in Detroit

But the 29-year-old Howell, an unassuming son of Swindon, doesn't quite see it like that.

"We've had a lot of nice comments, but we were just desperate to win for ourselves. We weren't exactly sure how the others in front were getting on," said Howell.

"It became apparent afterwards that it did change the complexion of the match.

"But only because the lads in the afternoon were able to hammer home our advantage.

"If they had gone out and lost 3-1 our match wouldn't have been so crucial."

Europe edged to 11-5 after Saturday's foursomes and went on to land a record 18�-9� victory, though Howell lost his singles match 6&4 to Furyk.

HOWELL'S HISTORY Born: 23/06/73, Swindon Amateur honours: British Boys Champion 1993; Walker Cup 1995 (winners) Pro honours: Australian PGA Championship 1998; Dubai Desert Classic 1999; Seve Trophy 2000, 2003 (winners); Ryder Cup 2004 (winners) Tops 10s in 2004: 10

"It wasn't the pinnacle of my year in terms of my own performance but in terms of being a small part of a team I'm very proud of that," he said.

"It was a lifelong dream to be on a winning Ryder Cup side, and we had a great night out afterwards.

"We were with all the fans in the Irish bar and it was amazing. They were just going mental. It was wonderful to be around that.

"We have all been walking a bit taller since we got back and over here the fans have been fantastic. I have never signed so many autographs.

"And the Americans are certainly more aware of me now than they were."

Winning's a strange one - I'm a far better player now than I was when I last won in 1999 David Howell

But the former Walker Cup star and two-time Seve Trophy player - he missed a third after breaking his arm while out jogging - concedes that the Ryder Cup was just one week in a 10-month golf season.

"Golf's an individual sport at the end of the day, and the Ryder Cup seems ages ago for me now. I had a great result just after [3rd at the WGC in Ireland] and that was a big week for me," he said.

Howell's has been a gradual rise through the ranks of professional golf, arriving at a career-high 10th on the Order of Merit at the end of the 2004 season, and 40th in the world.

"I'm delighted all in all. I had two goals this year; to make the Ryder Cup side if I started the season well, and to reach the top 50 in the world to qualify for all the majors and World Golf Championship events next year," he said.

"The only thing that was missing was winning."

Howell last won in Dubai in 1999

Howell's only victory so far on the European Tour came in the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999.

"Winning's a bit of a strange one. It just comes as a consequence of good play but I'm a far better player now than I was when I won," he mused.

"For a start, I'm ranked 40th in the world not 150th.

"It's a very difficult thing to do. I've had my chances but everything's got to go right and you've got to hit the right shots under pressure."

If I move up again from this year I would be happy with that

But despite repelling the rampaging Americans, Howell does not see himself as Europe's next big hope - the man to break the five-year major duck or topple Ernie Els from his post as number one.

"The Order of Merit has changed a lot since Colin Montgomerie won it seven times in a row," he said.

"Ernie Els is a world player and can easily knock off the Order of Merit by doing well in the majors and WGC events and playing a lot in Europe.

"There's a few people up there who could do it but I'm not one of them.

"I've come a long way in a few years but my career has been a gradual progression and if I move up again from this year I would be happy with that."