Francesco Molinari is confident European golf "is in very safe hands" after captaining Continental Europe to victory over Great Britain & Ireland in a highly-entertaining Hero Cup clash.
Molinari's side won three of the four sessions over three days of competition to beat Tommy Fleetwood's GB&I team 14.5-10.5.
Although the winning margin was relatively comfortable in the end, GB&I ran Continental Europe close and several star performers emerged from both teams.
Molinari himself delivered 3.5 points and finished the week unbeaten, as did 21-year-old Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Italy's Guido Migliozzi and Frenchman Victor Perez, whose singles wins helped their team over the line on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Scot Robert MacIntyre was among those who shone for GB&I, contributing three points and finishing the week with a convincing 5&3 singles win over Alex Noren.
As he prepared to receive the inaugural Hero Cup trophy, Molinari said: "I think we showed some great golf in the last few days - both teams.
"I think both teams showed a very competitive but fair spirit. Obviously to my guys - incredible job. I'm super proud of each one of you.
"I got to know some guys that I didn't know very well and I can say that European golf is in very safe hands."
Fleetwood thoroughly enjoyed the experience of leading GB&I and insisted the week will live long in his memory despite the defeat.
He said: "Obviously we came here to win and we wanted to do it for each other but at the end of the day, the first thing that I said at the start of the week was 'team-mates don't remember if you play bad or you miss a putt or you lose a point but everybody remembers if you don't give it 100 per cent', and I couldn't have asked for any more from anybody this week.
"It's been amazing and it's been an amazing experience for me.
"I wish we could have got it done but at the same time, you remember these moments forever and you cherish them."
