RYDER CUP: An upbeat United States team inspired by rookie Anthony Kim won the Ryder Cup for the first time in nine years by beating Europe 16.5-11.5 tonight.
Kim crushed Sergio Garcia 5 and 4 in the top encounter to set the tone for the Americans before Jim Furyk secured the decisive point with a 2 and1 victory over Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez at a sun-drenched Valhalla Golf Club.
"My players poured their heart and soul into it this week," an emotional US captain Paul Azinger said afterwards.
"They played great, the crowd was unbelievable and I couldn't be happier."
Azinger was hugged by his opposite number Nick Faldo shortly after Furyk was conceded a short par putt by Jimenez at the 17th to give the Americans 14.5 points.
"Congratulations to Paul," Nick Faldo said. "Look how close it was. The shots, the putts. It's fractions.
"I'm so proud of my 12 guys. We have a straight back and chin up but the Americans this particular week were a little bit better than us."
Kim, 23, delivered a sparkling display against an off-key Garcia to trigger a rousing US start on the final day.
He birdied three of the first four holes to take an early grip before Garcia lost the sixth hole after taking an unplayable lie off the tee.
The Spaniard then dumped two shots into the water guarding the front of the seventh green to slip three behind.
Kim also won the 12th before setting up another birdie with an approach to five feet at the 13th to forge five up. After draining an eight-foot par putt to seal victory on the 14th green, he pumped his right fist in celebration.
"I wanted to come out here and give the fans what they wanted to see," a beaming Kim said.
"I got chills up my spine the whole day and I'm loving every minute of it. I wouldn't trade this for $10 million."
Europe won the next two points, Swede Robert Karlsson hammering Justin Leonard 5 and 3 and Britain's Justin Rose holing an 18-footer to birdie the 16th for a 3 and 2 win against Phil Mickelson.
Moments later, Hunter Mahan halved a tight match with Britain's Paul Casey before the Americans won the next four encounters to cross the finishing line.
Kentucky native Kenny Perry outplayed Swede Henrik Stenson 3 and 2 and Boo Weekley, a crowd favourite all week at Valhalla, holed out from a bunker to eagle the par-five seventh on his way to a 4&2 victory against Britain's Oliver Wilson.
Big-hitting Kentuckian JB Holmes knocked in a two-footer to birdie the 17th for a 2 and 1 win over Dane Soren Hansen, leaving Furyk to take center stage by beating Jimenez.
From a personal viewpoint Graeme McDowell had a good Ryder Cup debut as he ended the week with a 2 and 1 win over Stewart Cink. The 29-year-old won 2.5 points from a possible four.
The news wasn't so good for the three-time major winner Pádraig Harrington. Europe's anchorman lost 2 and 1 to Chad Campbell in a match that became irrelevant as the outcome was already decided.
His figures on the day didn't make for good reading as he only made two birdies and had six dropped shots. Campbell wasn't much better but he did enough to deny the Dubliner. Harrington who only returned a half point from four outings.
-Reuters
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