The 37th Ryder Cup - USA!!!DJ – 09.21.08
So after 9 long years, the US have regained the Ryder Cup, after a convincing Sunday Singles performance over the Europeans….
Below are the results (and a side note whether my predictions yesterday were correct)…
USA 9 7 EUROPE (Predications’)
A.Kim 5&4 S.Garcia (no)
H.Mahan HALVED P.Casey (yes)
J.Leonard 5&3 R.Karlsson (no)
P.Mickelson 3&2 J.Rose (no)
K.Perry 3&2 H.Stenson (yes)
B.Weekly 4&2 O.Wilson (yes)
J.B.Holmes 2&1 S Hansen (no)
J.Furyk 3&2 M.A.Jimenez (no)
S.Cink 2&1 G.McDowell (yes)
S.Stricker 3&2 I.Poulter (yes)
B.Curtis 2&1 L.Westwood (no)
C.Campbell 2&1 P Harrington (no)
Singles Total 7.5 4.5
Final Total 16.5 11.5 USA WINS!!! (5/12…42%)
Last night the US team, probably partied like it was 1999… ironically the last time they held the cup! And what a day it was for the Red, White and Boooooo, Boo Weekly the unlikely MVP of the team.
Boo Weekly shot a 29 for the front 9 yesterday, with 6 birdies and an eagle with golf, usually played by the Europeans in the Ryder Cup. The “Happy Gilmore” skip off the first tee, was just the start of an unbelievable day for Boo, who beat Oliver Wilson 4&2 with inspired golf.
Who at the start of the week, would have predicted that Boo would win 2 points for the US team in his first Ryder Cup, and that JB Holmes and Hunter Mahan would both perform so well as Rookies… Captain Zinger did, and that is one of the reasons the US team won the 37th Ryder Cup.
Captain Zinger did all he could to secure a win; Setting the first cut of rough perfectly, preparing lightning quick greens that the Europeans struggled from distance on, and creating the right amount of balance of passion and skill throughout his line-up.
From Kim’s 5&4 victory over Garcia to start the ball rolling, to Furyk’s 3&2 win over Jimenez to collect the point needed, Captain Zinger had his lineup setout perfectly.
People will argue, Captain Faldo should have had Poulter, McDowell, Rose (the three guys with winning records) at the top of the line-up. However, who could have bet against Sergio with his previous record, or Casey winning against rookie Mahan.
Karllson and Rose did their best to secure points, against stalwarts Leonard and Mickelson. It just didn’t happen in the middle 4 matches, and that is where the match was lost for Europe and more importantly WON by the US team.
Who can deny, Kenny Perry that singles point? JB Holmes in front of his home state crowd securing a vital point against sweet swinging Soren Hansen, and finally we come to Booooooooo.
The unlikely leader of this team, Weekly demonstrated ball striking of the highest order and rightly won his match comfortably against Wilson. But more importantly than his single point, Weekly was the player who livened up the crowd, and put the belief into the crowd that Captain Zinger kept asking for all week. And with the “13th” man on their side (thanks to Boo) Team US, steam rolled to their biggest victory since 1981.
Nine years on from Brookline, this Ryder Cup will go down as one of the best there have ever been. The golf played by both teams, was of the highest order, and the passion and heart demonstrated by all 24 players and 2 Captains was incredible.
In the end, the better team won, due to the better golf! You could argue Azinger had the better strategy, the course suited the US team, the “13th” man made all the difference and the Europeans didn’t make enough putts.
However, the best team won in the end and the chants of “USA USA USA” were heard all around Kentucky last night, and the color RED, WHITE and BOOOOOOO were definitely on display!!!!!
