Watch Europe lift the Ryder Cup

Colin Montgomerie produced the matchplay performance of a lifetime to crush Scott Hoch in one of the finest singles victories ever seen in the Ryder Cup.

The Scot was sent out first to get Europe up and running and he delivered big time with a bravura performance at The Belfry.

Montgomerie enjoyed an incredible start in the thick of a highly-charged atmosphere.

With the roars of the crowd ringing in his ears and adrenaline coursing through his body, Monty crashed his first drive miles down the fairway and took an immediate lead with a birdie putt from 18 feet.

The noise that greeted it was deafening.

Hoch hit back at the long third when Montgomerie was forced to lay up in front of the water after a wayward tee shot and the American drew level with a birdie.

By the time they reached the turn though, Montgomerie was three holes to the good after finding form that left Hoch floundering by the wayside.

At the famous 10th, Montgomerie took a conservative route to the green but still managed to hole from the fringe to increase his lead to four.

Hoch pulled one back with a birdie two at 12 but when Montgomerie went inches from holing his approach shot to the 13th, Europe's talisman was four up again.

Another birdie at the 14th put the finishing touch to his outstanding triumph.

He said: "That's the best I can play. Scott is a great champion and a tough competitor, but I think I was eight-under and there's not much you can do about that."

Watch a round-up of the final day's action