Sunday, September 26, 1999 Published at 22:53 GMT 23:53 UK
Bubble bursts for Garcia
End of the line: Sergio Garcia suffers a moment of misery
Jim Furyk (US) bt Sergio Garcia (Eur) 4&3 to increase the USA's lead to 14-11.
Much had been expected of Sergio Garcia going into the climactic singles.
But when it mattered most, experience told and seasoned American campaigner Jim Furyk romped to a 4&3 victory.
Garcia was unable to repeat the heroics he had managed in his partnership with Jesper Parnevik.
Captain Mark James had put him near the end of the singles in the hope that he could inspire a late point.
But Garcia failed to launch a genuine challenge on the back nine as Furyk turned on the style.
The American said: "Sergio did not make the putts like he had all week. I played a solid round.
"For some reason we were not doing it out there on Friday and Saturday but we got it all together today."
Furyk in front
First blood fell to Furyk, who hit a birdie three at the fourth to move in front.
With Europe struggling all over the course and the team's hopes now on Garcia's shoulders, he responded in fine style to square the match at the sixth.
But Furyk had proved his Ryder Cup credentials by beating Nick Faldo in impressive fashion in his only other singles match two years ago.
And he showed he has the heart for matchplay by claiming two holes in a row to move into a commanding lead at the turn.
First he holed from 15ft at the eighth and then saw Garcia find and bunker and fail to match his own birdie putt at the next as the teenager fell two holes behind.
Garcia was now struggling to keep his game together, and a bogey five at the 453-yard 11th saw him tumble three-down.
While the youngster collapsed, his opponent just got better and better - and a marvellous birdie three at the 12th, the hardest hole on the course, gave him an enormous four-hole lead.
From there, there was no looking back for Furyk - and the point he won took the USA into an unassailable position in the match as a whole.