CHICAGO—Jose Maria Olazabal paid tribute to Seve Ballesteros after guiding Europe to a 14½-13½ victory over the United States in the Ryder Cup golf duel at Medinah.

Report by BBC Sport

The European team captain formed the most successful Ryder Cup partnership in history with his fellow Spaniard Ballesteros, who died in May 2011.

“Our team played in the spirit of Seve without ever giving up,” said Olazabal.

“You believed and you delivered and I’m proud that you have kept Europe’s hand on this Ryder Cup.”

Olazabal and Ballesteros won 12 points from 15 matches as a pair and the victorious captain added: “Seve will always be present with this team and he was a big factor for this event.

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“The boys understood that believing was the most important thing and they did. To the 12 men of Europe, what you did out there was outstanding.”