“To be honest, it’s been one of the hardest days I’ve probably ever experienced on a golf course,” he said.

“Going out number 10 of 11 matches today, obviously hoping that everything was wrapped up, but you still want to take pride in your individual record and stuff.

“I mean, the US lads put up an incredible fight. It was to be expected. They are amazing players.

“Selfishly, I was really hoping that it wouldn’t have to come down to me. And yeah, the last five, six, seven holes were just horrible to be honest.

“But at the end of the day I’m just so happy that we’ve managed to win.”

“I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes,” said McIlroy in a press conference after Europe held off a remarkable United States fightback to win the trophy 15-13 on Sunday. “The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.

“Look, nothing was going to happen – there wasn’t going to be physical altercation or anything like that – but there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

“It’s a minority of the crowd, it’s not the majority. The majority of people here are true golf fans and are respectful, but I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf.”

He continued: “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.

“Golf teaches you very good life lessons, it teaches you etiquette, it teaches you how to play by the rules, it teaches you how to respect people.

“Sometimes this week we didn’t see that. So no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.”

“I was nervous but I felt like this is where I belong. I’ve experienced some amazing things but this is like…. I can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s something that I’ll remember forever. My brother had a baby boy today, as well. They will be sitting at home watching this, it’s unbelievable.

“My dad, he’ll drink a few beers tonight. He’ll be really happy.

“This is the best team in the world. I don’t care what anyone says. This is the best tournament in the world.

“This is the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Luke Donald has rubbished Keegan Bradley’s push to change the envelope rule that saw Europe gain half a point after Viktor Hovland withdrew from his singles match against Harris English due to injury.

A neck problem forced Hovland to sit out the Saturday afternoon fourballs match with Matt Fitzpatrick against Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, which Europe won one up.

“Yeah, it has to change,” Bradley says. “I have a few ideas but I'm not going to tell you right now. I mean, the rule has to change.

And a video surfaced online of McIlroy consoling his wife and wiping the top of her hat with Luke Donald hitting out at American fans for “crossing a line”.

Luke Donald becomes the second European captain after Tony Jacklin to win a Ryder Cup at home and away.

The 8.5 points won by the USA is the joint-most won in singles since Europe joined in 1979. That has now happened five times but it's the first time the team dominating the singles hasn't won the Ryder Cup.

"Luke [Donald] has set the bar for captaincy so extremely high. What he's done these four years of being a part of, is absolutely astonishing.

"He has been so professional, so dedicated, so incredibly meticulous, and well organised and doing everything that he needs to do and that's why you've seen the two performances you've seen from us.

"He's the leader of the ship and he's definitely led us the right way. The only thing left to say from I think from all of us is two more years."