Hal Sutton scored 3½ points during the competition, most among the U.S. players.

His victory Sunday when Europe's Darren Clarke conceded the 16th hole gave the United States an early boost, fueling the momentum that built until the Americans completed their historic comeback for a 14½-13½ victory.

It was a dramatic milestone in Sutton's once promising career that nose-dived after he played in his second Ryder Cup in 1987. In this Ryder Cup, he was the leading scorer for the United States with 3½ points.

"This is a family. This is a team. This is history being made today and we all wanted to be a part of that," said Sutton, the world's 10th-ranked player.

He never lost hope the Americans could regain the Cup despite their 10-6 deficit after two days.

"I think we've all got some fight left in us," he said after Saturday's play. Then he spoke at a team meeting that night.

"My only comments last night were if we go down let's go down with all our oars in the water," he said after his win Sunday. "There was no doubt in my mind leaving that meeting we all felt we could go out and make a real run at this thing."

Sutton did his part by beating Clarke 4 and 2.

On the 16th hole, a par 3, Sutton hit his tee shot 20 feet short of the cup. And Clarke self-destructed. His first shot went into a bunker at the right front of the green.

"Come on, Hal," a fan yelled.

Clarke then blasted his second shot out of the sand and behind the green. Then his chip back rolled off the front edge. And then he conceded the hole. Sutton simply raised his arm, removed his cap, picked up his ball marker and walked off in triumph.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's the greatest feeling I've ever had in golf."

The Americans started the day trailing by four with 12 singles matches left. No team had ever made up more than a two-point deficit entering the final day. But Sutton's win cut the lead to 10-9 and the United States kept rolling.

"We had to set the pace," the 41-year-old Louisianan said. "That was the plan."

Sutton enjoyed plenty of success early in his career, winning the 1980 U.S. Amateur, 1983 PGA Championship and seven events in his first five years on the tour. In 1985 and 1987, he played in the Ryder Cup but totaled just one-half point as the Americans lost both tournaments.

Then, he admitted, he lost his focus. He won one tournament between 1987 and 1997. But last year he won two. This year he won the Bell Canadian Open two weeks ago.

On Sunday, he won the Ryder Cup with 11 other Americans.