FROM derided clothes-horse to determined fighter, by way of the captain's controversial pick, Ian Poulter has come of age as a Ryder Cup stalwart, one of the main men for Europe to rely upon.

In the afternoon fourballs, Poulter and Graeme McDowell led the European challenge, taking a vital lead against Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry. Poulter was superb from the first hole, rolling in a 10-foot putt for a birdie to go one up, shaking his fist at the hole as the ball disappeared. He could not be more motivated and engaged and Nick Faldo, the captain of the European team who gave his vote of confidence by nominating him for the match, could not have been more justified. Poulter has been Europe’s star turn, flamboyant and brilliant, but rock-solid, too. For much of the day, Europe’s hopes rested on his shoulders.

McDowell has also done his reputation no harm in his first Ryder Cup match. In the morning he played a sterling part with Miguel Angel Jimenez as they secured a valuable half-point against Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan. It was McDowell’s four-foot putt to win the final hole that sealed that half, but he played with unusual assurance throughout and was solid in every department.

It was vindication for McDowell, who was so upset not to make the team at the K Club that he dedicated himself to making it this time, changing his management company, his swing coach, his residence and his clubs. He was prepared to play the last 11 qualifying events to make the team, but he didn’t need to. A win in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in July secured his place. For McDowell, as for Poulter, testing his ability in the sometimes terrifying tensions of the Cup has been a personal ambition. There can be no doubt he is up to it and little doubt that his future in the Cup will be significant.

How the 2008 Ryder Cup was won

Follow the final day's play from Valhalla as the 37th Ryder Cup draws to a dramatic conclusion with today's singles matches

• Mission accomplished for United States

• Justin Rose's Ryder Cup diary: I'm heartbroken

• Analysis: misfiring big three cost Europe dear in Ryder Cup

Europe surrender under brilliant assault

The US reclaimed the Ryder Cup for first time since 1999 with a sustained performance in the singles matches at Valhalla

• Elementary approach pays off for J.B. Holmes

• Nick Faldo's bold approach backfires in failure to reclaim initiative from US

• Ryder Cup warning signs to watch out for

Multimedia

• The key moments, match by match

• Is Faldo to blame for Europe's defeat?

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• Uphill battle for Europeans

• Faldo names bold singles line-up

• Nick Faldo must be fearless

In the afternoon, dovetailing with Poulter just as Justin Rose had done in the first three sessions of play, McDowell made an improbable 25-footer for a half on the sixth hole to remain level with Furyk and Perry after Poulter had picked up his ball.

The value of that save was soon evident as Poulter won the seventh with a four-foot putt. At that juncture, Poulter and McDowell were the only European pair in the lead. Again, Poulter was leading from the front. When he made another birdie on the ninth and Perry missed from hardly more than three feet, Poulter and McDowell were two up and in control. Once again, the adage that “first in wins” had been reaffirmed.

Furyk and Perry, who had accounted for Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson in the morning foursomes, were hanging on with their customary resolution. Furyk birdied the par-five 10th but his effort was matched by Poulter, who hit another superb approach shot to secure his fourth birdie of the round. After two halves it was McDowell’s turn to protect the Europeans’ two-shot advantage as he followed Furyk’s wedge to two feet at the 13th with a shot of equal quality and distance from the hole. It was the scintillating kind of pairs play that used to be associated with Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.

In the morning foursomes, Poulter continued his double act with Rose, his friend and comrade-in-arms. On the first day, they provided Europe’s only full point.

Yesterday the pair had to prove immediately that European spirits remained high despite the disappointments of Friday. To provide extra spice, there was what Poulter called “unfinished business”. In the first-day foursomes, Poulter and Rose had led Cink and Campbell by three up, only to lose the match on the 18th. There were similar alarms yesterday as a five-hole lead was steadily eroded until they led by only two holes with five to play. This time, they steadied themselves and completed the job by four and three.

“We played flawless golf,” Poulter said with some exaggeration. “It was awesome. We said at the start that we had to finish the job from yesterday and we did.”

Rose, the less flamboyant of the pair, was equally satisfied. “Today was great,” he said. “We had exactly the same situation as yesterday. We had a good lead and we allowed it to be frittered away. Today we finished it off.”

If the European team is to fight back into contention and have a chance of victory in today’s singles, Poulter, Rose and McDowell will surely have a major part to play.