LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP):
United States (US) captain Paul Azinger sprinted up the stairs to the clubhouse balcony at Valhalla and grabbed the biggest bottle of champagne he could find to join an American celebration he felt was a long time coming in the Ryder Cup.
They didn't need a miracle putt or an amazing comeback like their last victory in 1999. They didn't even need Tiger Woods.
The Americans rode the emotion of a flag-waving crowd and their Kentucky heroes yesterday to reclaim the Ryder Cup with a 161/2-111/2 victory over Europe.
Kenny Perry, the 48-year-old local who dreamed of playing a Ryder Cup before a home crowd, delivered a three-and-two victory that was part of an early push that swung momentum toward the US team.
"I figured this was going to define my career," he said. "But you know what? It made my career."
Two final birdies
J.B. Holmes, legendary in these parts for making his high school team in tiny Campbellsville at eight-year-old, showed off his awesome power with two final birdies that set up the Americans for victory.
The clinching point, appropriately, came from Jim Furyk. He felt hollow six years ago at The Belfry as Paul McGinley made a par putt that clinched victory for Europe, the first of three straight victories that extended its domination of a passionate event that America once owned.
Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded a short par putt, giving Furyk a two-and-one victory and the Americans the 14-1/2 points they needed to show they can win on golf's biggest stage - and without Woods, out for the year due to a knee surgery but staying involved by text messaging Azinger throughout the final day.
Good attitude
Azinger was proud of his team's effort.
"They just took an everything-to-gain attitude into this competition," Azinger said. "And I couldn't be happier."
Anthony Kim set the tone by handing Sergio Garcia his worst loss ever in the Ryder Cup and keeping him winless at Valhalla. Boo Weekley galloped off the first tee, using his driver as a toy horse, drawing laughter for his antics and cheers for his birdies.
Hunter Mahan, who criticised the Ryder Cup this year as a money-making machine, was the only player to go all five matches without losing. He wound up with a halve against Paul Casey.
Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell, the final player picked for this US team, won the final two matches against Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington for a lopsided score that for the last three years had been posted in European blue.
It was the largest margin of victory for the Americans since 1981.
