Team Europe got hammered after Ryder Cup win

After watching the victorious European Ryder Cup press conference Sunday night, we assumed they were just getting started on a long night of partying. It started with Jamie Donaldson riding Thomas Bjorn into the press conference like a horse, slapping him on the ass all the way through and around the media center.

The Euros, of course, had started the drinking out on the course, well before their wonderful joint press conference. Rory McIlroy’s bottle of champagne didn’t even want to wait until the matches were over, popping itself at the side of the 18th green as the USA’s Zach Johnson putted out.

But as soon as those golf formalities were finished, every bottle of champagne on the Gleneagles property was popped and consumed. Rory found a bigger bottle.

Photo via Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Angel Jimenez didn’t have to worry about playing this week, as he served in an assistant captain role. This allowed him to keep puffing on a cigar for the entire matches while out on the course. Once it was locked up, however, he frolicked on the course with an entire box.

Photo via David Cannon

Donaldson started drinking almost immediately after hitting the shot that clinched the winning point. He enjoyed champagne greenside and all through the closing ceremonies. By the time the official photos with the cup were needed, it was hard for him to take it seriously.

Photo via Jamie Squire

Once finally off the course, the drinking continued in that incredible press conference. We’ve already noted Lee Westwood’s non-verbal addition to the official transcript -- LEE WESTWOOD: (Not-so-discreetly popping bottle of champagne and sending cork flying). Here’s the video accompaniment:

The press conference was just the closing of official Ryder Cup duties. The unofficial celebration would go deep into the night.

Westwood and Ian Poulter we’re still going at 4 a.m. in Scotland.

Westwood is the most veteran Euro and definitely seemed to lead the partying from the press conference bottle popping onward.

When morning rolled around, he Tweeted, “I have felt better.”

Donaldson, well, he was still drunk.

The lesson: maybe it’s best if the Euros keep winning this thing.