The Americans were considered strong favourites before the tournament.

The very fact their visitors managed to score four points was in itself considered something of a victory.

It was the Britain and Ireland's best ever score in the US and at the closing ceremony Lord Brabazon of Tara, president of the PGA of Great Britainpromised improvement.

"We've learned a lot, although we have lost, and we are going back to practice in the streets and on the beaches," he said.

Britain had, for the first time, travelled with a team chosen through rankings in the Order of Merit, but in truth they had little impact against a team that included five debutants.

The US took their customary 3-1 lead from the foursomes and new boy Tommy Bolt won his second point of the event with a singles win over Christy O'Connor to keep the momentum going.

The victory ensured that America's hold on the Ryder Cup had stretched to 21 years.

Foursomes:
C Harper & J Barber lost to J Fallon & J R M Jacobs (1 hole)
D Ford & T Kroll beat E C Brown & S S Scott (5&4)
J Burke & T Bolt beat A Lees & H Weetman (1 hole)
S Snead & C Middlecoff beat H Bradshaw & D J Rees (3&2)

Singles:
T Bolt beat C O'Connor (4&2)
C Harbert beat S S Scott (3&2)
C Middlecoff lost to J R M Jacobs (1 hole)
S Snead beat D J Rees (3&1)
M Furgol lost to A Lees (3&2)
J Barber lost to E C Brown (3&2)
J Burke beat H Bradshaw (3&2)
D Ford beat H Weetman (3&2)