Bloomfield Township, Mich. ? After a convincing Ryder Cup victory Sunday, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood raced to their boisterous fans and unfurled the European Union flag, the new symbol of dominance in these matches.

They came to Oakland Hills as underdogs. They celebrated as underdogs.

By now, everyone should know better.

Europe again proved to be the best in the Ryder Cup with its greatest performance Sunday, handing the Americans their worst loss in the 77-year history of the matches.

“I don’t think we’ll be the favorite next time,” Phil Mickelson said. “No matter what the world rankings say, I think we’ll be the underdog. And hopefully, we’ll play like they have.”

The final stroke of this Ryder Cup rout was fitting. Padraig Harrington rammed in a 25-foot par putt on the 18th hole for a point that counted only in the record books: Europe 18 1/2, United States 9 1/2.

The score was astounding. The winner was familiar.

Europe has won the Ryder Cup four of the last five times, and seven of 10.

“These guys are grand,” U.S. captain Hal Sutton said. “If you know anything about golf, and you watch these guys play this week, you would know that they are very good players.”

European captain Bernhard Langer celebrates with spectators after the European team retained the Ryder Cup. The Europeans won the 35th Ryder Cup on Sunday at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich., defeating the Americans, 181/2-91/2.

And they sure know how to party.

Harrington, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke wrapped themselves in Irish flags. Colin Montgomerie ventured into the throng for a group hug unlike anything he has ever felt.

“Bernhard, Bernhard, there’s only one Bernhard Langer,” the fans sang to the European captain.

“All I heard all week was ‘USA, USA, USA.’ I wanted to hear some of this,” Langer said. “You work 12 months for this. I’m going to celebrate all night.”

For the Americans, the hangover will last two years.

“I’ve been on the wrong end of this celebration the last two times,” David Toms said. “I don’t know what it is, but we’ve got to find the right formula.”

Westwood clinched the cup with a four-foot par putt on the 18th to beat Kenny Perry — with six matches left to be completed. Montgomerie beat Toms in the next match to secure outright victory for Europe.

The Europeans not only are winning, they are winning big.

“Obviously, our results would suggest that,” Clarke said. “We come here with a big heart, full of hopes, full of expectations.”

The United States still leads the series 24-9-2, but Europe is closing in. It keeps showing up with a collection of players not many people know in the States until they pose with the 19-inch gold trophy.

“I think we were slight underdogs at the start of the week. As that week progressed, no, we weren’t,” Montgomerie said. “We had strength at the top, strength in the middle and strength at the end. That’s the first time I can say that. We had strength everywhere.”

The Americans have more majors, higher world rankings, greater star power.

But when it comes to the Ryder Cup, it’s no contest.

“They have just gotten the job done,” Tiger Woods said. “I don’t know why. If I knew the reason, obviously we would be doing something similar, if not a little bit better than that.”