The professional pen-wielders said Paul Azinger’s team was a serious underdog in this years version of the Ryder Cup.  After all, Tiger Woods wasn’t playing due to injury, while Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, and Jim Furyk had all been utilized as cleaning solvent by the Euros in Cups past.  The rest of the squad  a bunch of Cup rookies whose underwear was sure to shrink so small as to make breathing a conscious activity.

  Nick Faldo’s European squad had a bunch of guys with winning Ryder Cup experience led by Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez.  It was a given these guys would come in to Kentucky and make putts from all over the yard leaving the US squad cleaning their wounds and drowning their sorrows with imported Tennesee Whiskey. 

Something happened on the way to the mugging.   How about the only American not to win a match being Steve Stricker, the captains selection whose putting prowess is well documented managed a half point over the three days. The rest of the US team won two matches each save Mr. Mickelson, Ben Curtis and Mr. Cink who won one match apiece.   Compare that to the European squad members who won no matches; Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Soren Hansen, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Lee Westwood.  If I had been offered a wager on that group being winless, I’d have lost a nice tidy sum.  Mr. Faldo’s controversial captains picks, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter were 3-1-0 and 4-1-0 respectively.  I’d say 7 of the 11.5 total points confirms the wisdom of those selections.

Anthony Kim dismantled Mr. Garcia during Sunday singles, recording 3’s on the first four holes and playing the front nine 4 under par thanks to two birdies and an eagle for a 3 up lead.  He closed Mr. Garcia out 5 & 4 with two more birdies along the way.  Quite a display from a young man on the way to the top of his sport.  It was marvelous to watch great golf shots and the exuberance of youth.  The talent was obvious, as was the sense that the best is yet to come. 

Kenny Perry was a man living a dream.  His goal, as anyone who paid any attention to golf this year, was to make this team.  To see him Sunday roll in putts of various lengths in jumping out to a 3 up lead was to see a man performing at his best.  When Henrik Stenson turned his game around on the 10th hole by making a birdie, Mr. Perry followed with a birdie of his own on the 11th hole.  Mr. Stenson birdied the 12th, Mr. Perry the 13th, Mr Stenson the 14th, Mr. Perry the 15th, a remarkable stretch of golf as one could ask to see on any stage.  Mr. Perry then closed out the match on the 16th hole with a par.   Exciting stuff.

Boo Weekley started Sunday riding his driver like a horse into battle, a vision I will never forget.  All three days Mr. Weekley waved his arms exhorting the crowd to cheer louder, antics which got under the waistband of Mr. Westwood on Friday.  Mr. Weekley subsequently stayed calm until everyone had holed out before returning to his role as cheerleader.  If there ever was someone so obviously having fun with this atmosphere, it was Mr. Weekley.  For a man not know for his putting prowess, he made enough to earn 2.5 points.  The game is certainly easier when you’re having fun, both to play and to watch.

Hunter Mahan, captain’s choice maligned by both talking heads and pen wielders alike for speaking his mind about the inanities surrounding the Ryder Cup, only won more points than anyone for the US team.  I liked his selection immediately because the guy can putt and has streaks where he makes everything he looks at during a round.  Witness his 5 rounds of 62 in 5 years on tour.  This is a player who can go low consistently.  Putting wins Ryder Cups, so give me all the putters you can find. He and Justin Leonard’s two wins Friday helped the US to an early lead they never surrendered.  He almost stole a half point from Paul Casey Sunday when he made a side hill bomb on the 17th hole, but gave it back with a drive into the hazard on the 18th hole. 

I should leave Phil Mickelson alone, but can’t, really I just can’t help myself but to say this is not the format for Mr. Mickelson.  His putter just let him down too many times all weekend. They say that Ryder Cup pressure will expose the weakness in your golf game and it surely did that today.  18 hole match play is just not his forte.  Too bad, because Mr. Mickelson is someone who could have real fun with this environment.  Maybe he should stay home next time.

So the day ended with Team USA holding the Cup.  For some, Captain Azinger with be hailed as a genius for his changing the rotation of events on Friday, and in allowing for 4 captains selections.  His course set up will probably be praised to the heavens as a feat similar to that of walking on water, hey he even got the way they cut the grass in the rough named after him.  Captain Nick Faldo will be swatted around in the British press like a badminton birdie for his team losing to a bunch of underdog nobodies.  Neither will deserve everything handed out by the all knowledgable press monkies.  These two did a great job promoting the event, witness all the made for the tube competitions they aired because there was nothing else to show. What we saw was an entertaining event, the first such in 9 or so years.  It did what it was supposed to do, show us how good these guys really can be, and how funny the game of golf can be at times. 

I salute both teams, the last three days were as entertaining as any tournament this year.  I thank you all for your stellar performances.