Nine years, three defeats, two wipeouts and one absent superstar since the last time it belonged to the United States, the Ryder Cup changed hands Sunday at Valhalla Golf Club, where the routine cheer was just as unexpected as the outcome.

"Red, white, Boo!"

For sure, the homespun Boo Weekley inspired the U.S. team and its fans, but it still wasn't easy coming up with a blueprint for success that didn't include top-ranked Tiger Woods - who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery. Yet that is exactly how the underdog U.S. team played it, winning 16 ½-11 ½, with a trump of Europe's aces that most observers didn't expect.

Sergio Garcia of Spain, Lee Westwood of England and Padraig Harrington of Ireland didn't win a match in three days. When Anthony Kim, a 23-year-old Ryder Cup rookie, put a bruising, 5-and-4 defeat on Garcia in the first of the day's 12 singles matches, the Americans were off and running.

Jim Furyk's 2-and-1 victory over Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain in the eighth match secured the victory, giving the United States the 14 ½ points it needed, and it was over with four matches in progress.

And so, after standing in mute misery, watching back-to-back-to-back victory celebrations of group singing, flag waving and Guinness swilling by the European side, it was somebody else's turn to smile.

"I'm coming out of my skin right now, I'm so excited," said Kim, who was 2-1-1 and set the tone for the pressure-soaked last day with the way he handled Garcia. "We're feeling pretty proud of ourselves."

Paul Azinger, the first-time U.S. captain, led the celebratory parade in his red golf cart, speeding down a fairway past fans holding large flags.

U.S. players quickly joined the act around the clubhouse. Weekley removed his cap and bowed. Furyk fought back tears of joy. J.B. Holmes raised his arms to encourage fans to raise the roof. Phil Mickelson grinned, as usual. Hunter Mahan and Kenny Perry waved American flags from the clubhouse veranda.

Then the champagne came out, and its spray filled the air. Azinger emptied the contents of one bottle on Weekley's head.

On the raucous scale, this one bordered on subdued, but it was surely satisfying. The previous U.S. victory was in 1999 in Brookline, Mass.

Perhaps because that was so long ago, the U.S. team came up with a boisterous performance and won by its largest margin since 1981.

Kim was among six Ryder Cup rookies for Azinger, who tweaked the rules to focus more qualifying points on this year's play and also doubled his captain's picks from two to four.

Holmes' 2-and-1 comeback victory over Soren Hansen of Denmark set up Furyk's door-slamming moment.

Holmes, a long-hitting 26-year-old from nearby Campbellsville, Ky., birdied his last two holes.

"I'm still flying," he said. "I think I'm higher now than when I was out on the golf course."

There were some trying moments for the United States, but that is expected on the last day of the Ryder Cup. The difference this time is that there were more good moments than bad.

England's Ian Poulter won more matches than anyone and finished 4-1-0 over three days.

Then there was Mickelson, who finished 1-2-2 but couldn't have seemed happier. After playing on five losing Ryder Cup teams, it is easy to understand why. Like everyone else on the U.S. team, he is riding a winning streak.

Source: Seattle Times

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