EUROPE WINS BACK CUP - Americans Might Gain the Most

    Go ahead... call me crazy.  The United States will gain more from the Ryder Cup than the guys who won it Monday in the first place.
    There.  I said it! Crazy?  Maybe - after all I just got off the air on Golf Channel after doing a post-game show on the Ryder Cup that was supposed to be 2 hours and went close to 4.  I'm a bit dizzy from getting up at 4am to watch the singles session.  But if you watched the drama at the 16th hole as Graeme McDowell holed the putt that ultimately decided the Ryder Cup.. and the Hunter Mahan struggle at the 17th, you realize the magnitude of the event.  And if you watched the news conferences after the closing ceremonies (which we televised on Golf Channel)... you might understand where I'm coming from.

Valhalla to Wales - Quite a Different Result

    Folks, Hunter Mahan was distraught.  He was in tears, torn up, unable to speak clearly or concisely.  Clearly he felt like his flubbed chip cost the United States the Ryder Cup.  Clearly he felt the world on his shoulders and the pressure to the highest level.  Every time a question came his way.. he couldn't muster an answer.  And Phil Mickelson came to his defense.. took the microphone in front of Mahan and brought it toward himself.  It's one of the things you'd have to see to believe.  But Cink, Mickelson and Furyk all jumped in to spare Mahan the pain of verbally reliving the moment.
    Mickelson took blame for losing his first three matches.  Furyk said everyone could look back at themselves for the point or half-point needed to retain the cup.  And Cink said that if you polled every PGA TOUR player and asked them if they'd actually like to be in the situation Mahan was in... 50% would say "yes"... but only 10% would be telling the truth.  Mahan reportedly asked for the 12th position and accepted it going in.
     Going out... we're left with a new or at least stronger sense of American pride, team unity and leadership.  Mickelson might deserve "Man of the Match" for the leadership he showed in the closing press conference alone.  Cink himself missed a few key 6 footers and can share the blame Mickelson is taking.  Furyk used the moment to point out that the Ryder Cup means more to the United States players than anyone would or will ever know.
     In the end... maybe the loss is actually a win.  Mahan will need help.  And Mickelson - who's let U.S. Opens slip away in 95, 99, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009..... and maybe 2010 too... is the perfect guy to be the role model.  His words might mean the most - and his leadership in the press conference alone leaves me forgetting his Ryder Cup record and instead focusing on his great attributes.

Europe's 14.5-13.5 Win... Could Spur USA

     The United States watched the Ryder Cup slip away in the 6 match session on Sunday.  Monday was unreal.  Fowler's 4 birdies in 4 holes down the stretch to tie the matches was proof that the entire team had no give up.
      Now... I personally think the United States' passion for the Ryder Cup is stronger than ever.  Unity is stronger than ever.  and leadership can no longer be questioned.  Corey Pavin was nitpicked for several things, but in the end he must have done a few things right.
      I hope Mahan moves on to great things.  I feel quite certain that he will.  I feel even stronger that the USA will take Ryder Cup golf to an even higher level - thanks to a flubbed chip that we've all experienced before.