Sport | Golf
US rookies earn praise, from Furyk
Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, the elder statesmen on the triumphant US Ryder Cup team, paid tribute to the form and exuberance shown by the six American rookies at Valhalla Golf Club.
- Reuters
- Published: 20:30 September 22, 2008
Louisville: Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, the elder statesmen on the triumphant US Ryder Cup team, paid tribute to the form and exuberance shown by the six American rookies at Valhalla Golf Club.
Anthony Kim, Boo Weekley, Hunter Mahan, JB Holmes, Ben Curtis and Steve Stricker combined for nine wins and eight halves as the US beat Europe by 16-1/2 points to 11-1/2 on Sunday.
"They brought a lot of enthusiasm, they fired up the crowd," Furyk told reporters after the home team ended a run of three successive defeats by Europe.
"They infused amazing energy into the crowd and also into the team, and won probably the majority of the points.
Appreciate
"From my heart, I appreciate what the young guys did, this one sitting right next to me," Furyk added, tapping Kim on his head. "They helped us win the Ryder Cup and I appreciate it."
Kim, a 23-year-old of South Korean heritage, set the tone in the last-day singles by thumping Spaniard Sergio Garcia 5&4 in the first match out.
When benched for Saturday's fourball session, he high-fived his team mates whenever possible.
Hunting and fishing enthusiast Weekley, who had the fans in fits of laughter when he pretended to gallop off the first tee using his driver as a horse, displayed brilliant form en route to a 4&2 win over Britain's Oliver Wilson.
Adopted by Kentucky fans throughout the week as one of their own with repeated "Boo" roars, Weekley orchestrated cheers from the galleries at every opportunity.
Birdie machine Mahan, who ended the week with 3-points out of a possible five, halved a tight match with Britain's Paul Casey on Sunday.
Long-hitting Holmes, one of two Kentucky players in the US team, birdied 16 and 17 to seal a 2&1 win over Dane Soren Hansen.
Curtis upset Cup veteran Lee Westwood and Stricker, despite losing 3&2 to Britain's Ian Poulter, holed a 15-foot birdie putt at the end of Saturday's fourball matches to give the US a two-point lead going into the last day.
"We have played on Ryder Cups and have not won, we know what it's like to be on the other side of it," said Mickelson.
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