2008 Ryder Cup

On September 19-21, 2008, the 37th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The USA team, won 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 which broke the three win streak for Team Europe. In addition, this was the USA’s biggest margin of victory since 1981. Since 1979, this is the first time the U.S. had the lead in every session of play. The last two consecutive losses to Europe were thorough trouncings. The USA captain was Paul Azinger with Raymond Floyd, Olin Browne and Dave Stockton assisting. The Europe team coach was Fick Faldo with his assistant Jose Maria Olazabal.

Tiger Woods was unable to play due to recovering from knee surgery. The team that was left was called “an unlikely band of seeming misfits.” The oldest member on the team was Kenny Perry at 48. He was only two years from the “old-timers tour.” Since he lives in Kentucky, he got an early start training and spared nothing to get in top form. He got things started on an up note by winning the first match of the day. There had not been a lot of hope for Team USA before Kentucky. It was known there were some good players but they had not meshed as a team and did not seem to play with any enthusiasm. Kentucky changed all that.

Many of the newcomers were young, boisterous, and popular with the crowds. With Tiger out of the picture, the face of American golf may face some changes.