AFP Sport looks at where the 42nd edition of the biennial team golf showdown was won and lost:

Captain’s picks

Thomas Bjorn’s decision to select Ryder Cup stalwart Sergio Garcia despite his dismal form this season proved an inspired one as the Spaniard claimed three wins from four matches to eclipse Nick Faldo and become the leading points scorer in Ryder Cup history with 25.5.

Ian Poulter (above), who missed the 2016 edition at Hazeltine, contributed two points including an impressive 2-up win over world No 1 Dustin Johnson on the final day. Henrik Stenson showed any concerns about a lingering elbow problem were misplaced as he won all three of his matches.

Paul Casey, who last played at the 2008 Ryder Cup, also shone on his return.

In contrast, Jim Furyk’s three wildcards combined for just two points – both of those picked up by rookie Tony Finau. Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau found themselves 7-down to Garcia and Alex Noren in the foursomes, and it didn’t get much better for either of them.

Woods goes pointless

How quickly fortunes can change. Last Sunday, Tiger Woods was celebrating a first win in over five years at the Tour Championship in Atlanta following a long road back from his injury nightmares.

Fast-forward seven days and the 14-time Major champion was fronting up to a seventh Ryder Cup defeat in eight after losing all four of his matches.

In fairness, Woods received little support from partner Patrick Reed in the fourballs, while he and DeChambeau were blown away 5 and 4 in his lone foursomes match.

Course experience pays off

The forgiving layout at Hazeltine two years ago played into the US team’s hands, with greater margin for error off the tee a boon to their power-packed line-up.

That was not the case at Le Golf National, where the thick rough and numerous water hazards punished a lack of accuracy. All 12 Europeans had prior competition experience of the Albatros course, with Noren and Tommy Fleetwood the last two winners at the French Open.

‘Moliwood’ exemplify teamwork

Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari paired up to devastating effect and became the first European pair to go 4-0 in team events.

Their strong bond was further evidenced when Fleetwood was the first to congratulate the Italian on becoming just the fourth player – after Arnold Palmer, Gardner Dickinson (both 1969) and Larry Nelson (1979) – to claim five wins from five matches.