Attending PGA administrative staff, PGA Professional Members of Confederation of Professional Golf Member Countries, Media, company representatives, and European golfing body representatives are invited to a European Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, USA, on Thursday 22nd January.

The evening is an opportunity for European attendees of the Trade Show to meet for an informal drinks and networking evening hosted by the Confederation of Professional Golf and PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, and supported by PGA Golf Exhibitions.

“It’s easy to put a plan in place, but it’s hard to execute…but that’s what these players did,” said Captain Paul McGinley. “We relished the chance and did it with a smile.”

“We had pressure on us…we were favourites and it was important that we embraced being viewed that way.”

The final round began with Team Europe as comfortable as perhaps they could be at that point with a four-point lead over the visitors, meaning only four more points were required to retain and an extra half point for the win.

Rory McIlroy showed why he is world number 1 by bulldozing his way through Team USA’s Rickie Fowler carding seven birdies and an eagle for a substantial 5&4 win and getting the first point on the board early on.

Once all 12 groups were underway there was a distinct red glow to the leaderboards but it didn’t take long for the colours to equal out as the comebacks came. Graeme McDowell started the trend having been down for 11 holes but ground out solid play through holes 9 to 15 to end up with a well-fought 2&1 win.

G-Mac’s efforts can’t have gone unnoticed as the rest of the European contingent followed suit upping their games and slowly chipping away at the USA’s early leads.

Kaymer’s match against American giant, Bubba Watson, was with the German for most of the round and an incredible bump-and-run approach third shot on the 16th fell away into the side of the cup to take a 4&2 victory:

“I wanted to take the win before we got to the par-5s because I knew he would be going into them with irons…but to chip in to win was just unbelievable.”

Meanwhile with the Europeans close to victory at 13 points it was Englishman, Justin Rose, who stepped up to make a birdie and win the last hole bringing his match against Hunter Mahan back to all square gaining a half point.

It fell to Jamie Donaldson to push Team Europe across the line and whilst he missed an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin against the USA’s Keegan Bradley at 14, a half at 15 finished the match off 4&3 taking the total to 14.5 points, enough to secure the trophy once again.

Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter took their games to 18 but each took a point for Team Europe, whilst Westwood and Bjorn each lost their matches to Jimmy Walker and Matt Kuchar respectively. Victor Dubuisson was last to finish with a half point, remaining unbeaten for the week.

The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland hosted the meeting at PGA national headquarters at The Belfry on the eve of the Open Championship.

Among the PGAs represented were those of America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the Confederation of Professional Golf who between them cover an area where the economic impact of golf is worth in excess of $120billion and where millions of people are employed at 35,000 plus golf facilities.

Other issues discussed by the 27 representatives included initiatives to grow the game of golf, the social, environmental and economic impacts of golf around the globe and ideas of best practice in junior golf.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “The PGA World Alliance meeting gave a wonderful opportunity for ten of the leading PGAs in the world to discuss the challenges that the game of golf faces in all parts of the world.

“It was amazing to hear from all the delegates the very positive initiatives that are happening everywhere that golf is played to ensure healthy growth at all levels in the game.

“Importantly it was also very evident that all PGAs are acutely aware of their responsibility to the game and their memberships and are constantly striving to improve the already high standard of expertise of the many PGA members around the globe who are vital to the well being and success of the future of golf.

“There was a strong feeling of unified purpose and vision amongst all those present and there was no doubt at the conclusion of the meeting that all PGAs wherever they are in the world will continue to play a leading role in the industry of golf.”

The PGA World Alliance is dedicated to the betterment of the profession, the game and the business of golf worldwide. The three day event was hosted by the PGA and follows on from previous events hosted in America and Australia. This is the second time the PGA has hosted the PGA World Alliance Conference, the previous occasion being in 2006.