Zing thing: Paul or nothing for US

After he inspired the team to their first Ryder Cup win in 9 years, the Americans want Azinger to captain again in 2010.

Paul Azinger, captain of the victorious US Ryder Cup team, looks like the obvious choice to lead the Americans again in 2010.

8220;I8217;m not going to think about it,8221; Azinger said when asked if he would like to serve as captain again. 8220;I8217;m just going to stay up all night and party with my boys.8221;

But his players left no doubt about their preference. 8220;Zinger in 2010,8221; said Phil Mickelson. 8220;Zinger in 2010,8221; added Justin Leonard. Ben Hogan was the last US captain to serve consecutive terms in 1947-49, when the Ryder Cup resumed after World War II.

It had been nine years since the Americans won golf8217;s premier team event. Captains sometimes get too much credit when they win, and even more blame when they lose. But for all the spectacular shots over three days at Valhalla that carried the United States to a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory, the 8220;man of the match8221; might have been the one American who didn8217;t hit a single shot.

It was Azinger who persuaded the PGA of America to scrap its archaic system of picking a Ryder Cup team. For 60 years, points were awarded to only the top 10 performances on a PGA Tour that did not include players from Fiji to Australia, from South Africa to South Korea. Azinger wanted the criteria based on money.

Instilling team spirit

It was Azinger who got the Americans to play like a team, unlocking the secret to recent European dominance. Even without the best player in the world, Tiger Woods, and a team comprised of six rookies and three veterans who knew nothing but losing in the Ryder Cup, his messages got through. Enjoy the week. Embrace the crowd support. Forget recent history.

Trailing early in all four matches on Friday, the Americans didn8217;t panic and wound up taking a 3-1 lead, their first opening-session victory since 1991. Europe never caught up.

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Ultimately, the players are responsible for points and no one else. Even so, it was clear this US team loved playing for its captain, a European trait. 8220;This team was more of a European team,8221; Padraig Harrington observed.

Reputations fail to deliver

The blame for Europe ultimately falls on Harrington, Garcia and Lee Westwood for not winning a match.

European captain Nick Faldo divided his team early when he snubbed Darren Clarke, the inspirational leader, even though he had won twice in the previous five months. Then he benched Westwood and Garcia for the first time in their careers. Finally, he put some of his best players this week Poulter, Graeme McDowell and this year Harrington, Westwood at the bottom of the lineup.

Faldo will get over it, and his team rose to his defence when British reporters challenged him on his decisions and asked how he felt to be the captain that presided over a losing team after Europe had won five of the last six times. 8220;That question doesn8217;t deserve an answer,8221; vice captain Jose Maria Olazabal said. 8220;Thank you,8221; Faldo added.