Captain Azinger and the U.S. Ryder Cup Team "Flip the Script" on the Euros

Captain Paul Azinger's Ryder Cup leadership has been successful. The U.S. Team won Samuel Ryder's Cup by a final margin of five points.

Although many of the matches were far closer than this result may imply, there was little doubt on Sunday as to what the outcome would be.

The day began with the formerly feared Sergio Garcia teeing off for the Europeans against the Americans' brash rookie Anthony Kim.

Kim shut him out with four holes to play, a shocking margin for this level of competition. Sergio may never recover from this monumental humiliation.

Throughout the match, Kim ignored potential gimmes for Sergio Garcia after the latter strategically feigned goodwill on the first hole by conceding a birdie putt. Kim didn't fall for it and ended-up tripping up Garcia late in the round when Sergio missed a very short putt to halve a hole.

Kim also vocally questioned a potential relief ruling for Garcia, which ultimately became an unplayable lie penalty drop and victorious hole for Kim. Sergio was also out-driven all day by Kim. If all these things didn't get under the skin of Sergio they certainly did draw the television commentators' attention.

Kim's aggressive play and crowd encouragement became a beacon to focus his teammates' efforts. The eventual victory by Kim portended the unstoppable momentum generated by the U.S. players.

Nearly all losses on the day, from both sides, were suffered by Ryder Cup veterans. Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker all lost their matches for the U.S. Team.

Of those, only the 41 year-old, 18-season tour veteran Steve Stricker was making his Ryder Cup debut. From the European side, Oliver Wilson, Graham McDowell, and Justin Rose, all Ryder Cup rookies, won their singles matches.

A very similar story, only the inverse, could have been written about the 2002 European Team's victory at the Belfry.

It seems from recent history that having experience in the Ryder cup can be a detriment to success, rather than an advantage.

Given this assumption, one could conclude that the winning formula for this type of competition is weighted with emotion and excitement, as opposed to the experience and levelheadedness required in the standard stroke play competition spread over four rounds.

Paul Azinger recognized this anomaly of professional golf and chose his picks accordingly. He should be commended for his foresight and leadership. In fact, the entire Ryder Cup points system might be changed in order to favor recent performance and youth.

As for the Kentucky golf fans, please attend more golf events nationwide and help the sport overcome its uppity, quiet and reserved image. Phoenix has some of these great crowds also.

Professional athletes of any sport should be able to play through cheering crowds and not throw hissy-fits about camera clicks in their backswing. Who's camera clicks anymore? Don't even professional photographers use digital cameras?

Anthony Kim has, in one season, become golf's new hope to challenge Tiger Woods. Look at the photo above, it's a right jab counter-punch designed specifically to pre-empt Tiger's inside uppercut. I can't wait to see these two head-to-head on Sunday afternoon for the next 10 years.

I also can't wait for Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk to retire to the anonymity of the Senior PGA Tour. Even Phil Mickelson looked past his prime and certainly in no shape for a title fight.

Photo courtesy of canoe.ca