This would still have been the greatest year of Graeme McDowell's career if he had lost all his five games at Celtic Manor and Europe had been beaten 28-0.
But now he is a Ryder Cup hero as well as the US Open champion - and favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December.
Yet the 31-year-old Ulsterman, whose victory in the very last match gave Europe a thrilling 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory, has told Press Association Sport how he battled not only American Hunter Mahan, but also negative thoughts down the stretch.
''I have never been that nervous before,'' he said. ''It was the most difficult nine holes of golf of my life - it made the US Open back nine feel like playing with my dad at Royal Portrush.
''I hoped I wasn't going to be needed. I was hoping my caddie would give me the nod (that the side had won).
''It was very flat for 12 or 13 holes, then all of a sudden it was obvious our match was going to count.
''I had a massive lot of emotions going through my head. I was really nervous on every shot.
''The second shot at 16 was the greatest second shot of my career and the putt on 16 (a downhill 20-footer that put him two up) was the greatest putt of my career.
''I imagined winning and losing in the same breath. That's just the way golf is - there are good times and bad times, great shots and bad shots.
''That is what makes this game so great.''
Europe's captain Colin Montgomerie paid tribute to McDowell, saying: ''Graeme was put there for a very good reason. He's full of confidence and that showed.
''That birdie on 16 was quite unbelievable.''
Winner of the Wales Open on the same course in June, McDowell joins a long list of Irish cup legends.
Eamonn Darcy played a crucial part at Muirfield Village in 1987 when Europe won on American soil for the first time. Christy O'Connor's victory over Fred Couples at The Belfry two years later will never be forgotten.
Then came Philip Walton at Oak Hill in 1995 - his win over Jay Haas on the final green of the penultimate game seized the trophy back.
And Paul McGinley, of course, sank the winning putt back at the Belfry eight years ago.
But none of them faced the situation McDowell did. He was where Bernhard Langer was in 1991 - win the final game and Europe win, halve it and America win.
Langer suffered the agony of missing the putt that decided it all, but McDowell triumphed when Mahan - unable to talk afterwards because of the emotion of it all - bogeyed the short 17th.
''I didn't need my putt, thank God,'' added McDowell after being engulfed my fans in wild scenes on the green.
''I was trying to do it for 11 team-mates, the caddies, all these fans, for Europe, for Monty and for Seve (Ballesteros).
''This is crazy. It's a special feeling and there's nothing quite like it.''
Unbeaten at home since 1993, but beaten in Louisville two years ago under Nick Faldo, Europe led by three points going into the 12 concluding singles - played on a Monday for the first time because of all the earlier rain.
When they were up early in eight of them McDowell had every reason to think he was in for a relaxed afternoon.
But Corey Pavin's side fought back like demons. Dustin Johnson, Steve Stricker, Jeff Overton, Tiger Woods - brilliantly - Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson all won.
In addition Stewart Cink halved with Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, McIlroy's fellow 21-year-old, rounded off four closing birdies with putts of 20 and 18 feet to share the spoils with Edoardo Molinari.
Against that Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Miguel Angel Jimenez edged Europe closer - and then all eyes turned to McDowell.
''At that moment in time Graeme had the team's whole success or failure in his hands - and that's a lot of pressure,'' said Lee Westwood.
''I don't know how wives and parents do it. It's awful watching - horrible.
''You can't do anything about it. It is much easier playing because you are in control.''
McDowell came through the test with flying colours, though, and you just wonder now what he could do to make the year any better.
