Ryder Cup Love

Congrats to the Americans, who captured their first Ryder Cup since 1999.
They won in the heart of America, Val Halla Golf Club in Kentucky. They beat the snot out of the Euros, who came in confident after plastering the Americans in recent years.
Three factors that led to the United States' triumphant victory.
1. No Tiger Woods:
You see this in basketball every close game. In the 90's the Chicago Bulls would stand around and watch Michael Jordan at the end of games. It was up to Jordan to bail his team out in difficult situations. The same scenario occurs in Los Angeles when the Lakers watch Kobe Bryant dominate the ball in late game situations. It is human nature to rely on the best teammate.
But the Americans had no Tiger this year, creating a team chemistry that was apparent. They weren't standing around waiting for Tiger to do something; they were taking it upon themselves to make something happen. Without the best player in the planet, the Americans relished the role of underdogs--and took advantage.
2. Paul Azinger:
The captain, who always had Europe Captain Nick Faldo's number in their playing days, shoved it to him again over the weekend. He paired the Americans wisely. Anthony Kim with Phil Mickelson: genius. The young and brash Kim got Mickelson's juices flowing more than I have ever seen out of lefty.
Azinger's pairing of J.B. Holmes with Boo Weekley was perfect. Pairing two small-town country boys who just don't know any better worked out ideally--the two earned one and a half points out of two possible on Friday and Saturday.
And Weekley energized the crowd, making the gallery sound more like a Kentucky football game than one of the premiere golf tournaments in the world.
3. Anthony Kim:
Can you say coming out party?
The southern California native has officially arrived among golf's premier players. Kim paired solidly with Mickelson. He was the perfect teammate, high-fiving at every turn. But Sunday is when Kim made his mark.
He trumped one of Europe's most clutch Ryder Cup players in Sergio Garcia. It wasn't even close--and yet Kim was so focused on the moment he didn't even realize he had won.
Kim will be around for years to come, and with proper direction, could challenge Tiger in two years.
So, good work America. The Cup is back in the states--where it should be.