Ryder Cup Trophy in New Hands

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Much-needed vigour and passion has been breathed back into the Ryder Cup by Paul Azinger’s triumphant United States team after six years of European dominance.

While the Americans have traditionally gone into the biennial competition with a stronger combination in terms of world rankings, that has changed for the last two editions.

Going into Valhalla Golf Club last week, the Europeans had no one outside the top 50 in their 12-man line-up while the Americans had two in JB Holmes (56) and Chad Campbell (57).

However, Azinger’s meticulous preparations for the 37th Ryder Cup, a revamped selection system and an unwavering focus on team bonding within three distinct groups paved the way for a rousing victory by 16-1/2 points to 11-1/2 on Sunday.

Perhaps Azinger’s most remarkable achievement was infusing his team with a level of unity and ease under pressure not seen in recent American line-ups.

Many of his predecessors have failed to find the ideal blend between the journeyman player on the team with the leading lights and multiple major winners but Azinger succeeded through a three-group strategy.

In the build-up to the Ryder Cup, he kept the same four-man groups together in practice and never went outside those combinations in selecting his foursomes and fourball pairings.

Azinger’s three groups were: Kim, Mickelson, Justin Leonard and Mahan; Boo Weekley, Kenny Perry, Holmes and Furyk; and Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Ben Curtis and Campbell.

As for Europe, they were simply outplayed by the Americans over three days of high-quality golf and exhilarating shot-making at Valhalla.

Europe will now prepare to win back the 17-inch gold trophy when the teams next meet in the Ryder Cup on Welsh soil at the Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.