US too strong for Europe at Valhalla

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 The 37th Ryder Cup | Day Three | 22 Sep 2008

The 16½ to 11½ victory by the USA side over Europe at this week’s Ryder Cup assures the event of rekindled interest from the western side of the Atlantic. There was a time in a bygone era when, by being too dominant and successful, the Americans took a take or leave attitude to the Ryder Cup. In recent years however it was their lack of success that perhaps was beginning to produce a similar mindset.

On a fine golf course and in front of huge crowds, the USA grabbed the early advantage in Friday’s Foursome matches and never looked back. Azinger’s ploy to change the order of play from Fourball to Foursomes as the first match out may have initially seemed to be clutching at straws to some extent but it worked perfectly when the American took those matches by 3 to 1. They had the early edge they had been struggling to find since 1985.

Much of the American success this week came from its rookies. Anthony Kim, J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley all performed very well and gave Azinger plenty of confidence in his choice of combinations or match-ups.

The Europeans clawed their way back into the contest on Saturday when they drew within two of the Americans heading into the singles and it was very much a case of game on especially given that Europe needed only to tie the Valhalla battle to have the Trophy with them on the way back home.

Garcia was out first on the final day against the very much inform and fired up Anthony Kim but if Captain Faldo was looking for a momentum building start to the final day, it was soon wiped out. Kim raced to a three up lead by the turn and Garcia, who appeared flat for much of the week, was never able to get back into it. Kim won 5&4 and the tone had been set. Kim finished the week with 2½ points but his contribution to the final day and the eventual outcome was far greater than that. He was in Garcia’s face from the start and was quick to get the partisan crowd behind him.

Robert Karlsson got one back when he trounced Justin Leonard and when Justin Rose defeated the leading world ranked golfer in the event Phil Mickelson 3&2, the difference was just one.

Hunter Mahan dealt the Europeans a cruel blow when he holed from 40 feet at the 17th and went one ahead against Paul Casey. Although the Englishman won the final hole to square the match, the hope of a then all important full point for the Europeans was gone.

Kenny Perry and Boo Weekley earned points for the US when they defeated Henrik Stenson and Oliver Wilson respectively and when J.B. Holmes finished three feet from the hole at the 17th he added another point with a 2&1 victory over Soren Hansen. The score was then 13½ to 9½ and the task for the Europeans appeared forlorn.

The victory was made official when Jim Furyk held out Miguel Angel Jimenez for a 2&1 victory and while although there were still four matches on the golf course, nothing could be done to change the overall result.

It is easy to read a little too much into these victories but the role played by Azinger and his two assistant captains, Ray Floyd and Dave Stockton, was clearly a factor both on and of the golf course.

Floyd is a tough uncompromising character, as, to a lesser degree, is Stockton and they would have installed in their team the self belief and ‘go get em’ attitude that might have been missing in recent encounters. It was obvious from afar that there was a different mindset and self belief in this team from very early on.

The standout in the European Team was undoubtedly Ian Poulter who had come under so much scrutiny as a result of his selection in the team by Nick Faldo. Many felt Darren Clarke’s selection may have been more justified but almost as if he was playing with a point prove, Poulter was brilliant playing all five matches and winning four including his 3&2 win over Steve Stricker today.

It would be easy to second guess some of Faldo’s decisions but he did little wrong. He was up against an inspired American team playing in front of a partisan crowd. His team hardly disgraced themselves and will live to fight another day.

That day will come in two years time at Celtic Manor in Wales – bring it on.