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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. captain Paul Azinger sprinted up the stairs to the clubhouse balcony and grabbed the biggest bottle of champagne he could find to join an American celebration he felt was a long time coming in the Ryder Cup.
They didn't need a miracle putt or an amazing comeback like their last victory in 1999.
They didn't even need Tiger Woods.
Strong as a team and equally mighty on their own, the Americans rode the emotion of a flag-waving crowd and their Kentucky heroes on Sunday to take back the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory over Europe.
Kenny Perry, the 48-year-old native son who dreamed of playing a Ryder Cup before a Bluegrass crowd, delivered a 3-and-2 victory that was part of an early push that swung momentum toward the U.S. team.
"I figured this was going to define my career," he said. "But you know what? It made my career."
J.B. Holmes, legendary in these parts for making his high school team in tiny Campbellsville as a third-grader, showed off his awesome power with two final birdies that set up the Americans for victory.
The clinching point, appropriately, came from Jim Furyk.
He felt hollow six years ago at The Belfry as Paul McGinley made a par putt that clinched victory for Europe, the first of three straight victories that extended its domination of a passionate event that Americans once owned.
For all the birdies and spectacular shots over three inspirational days at Valhalla, the Ryder Cup ended with handshake.
Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded a short par putt, giving Furyk a 2-and-1 victory and the Americans the 14 1/2 points they needed to show they can win on golf's biggest stage - and without Tiger Woods, out for the year with a knee surgery but staying involved by text messaging Azinger throughout the final day.
This truly was a team effort.
"They just took an everything-to-gain attitude into this competition," Azinger said. "And I couldn't be happier."
Anthony Kim set the tone by handing Sergio Garcia his worst loss ever in the Ryder Cup and keeping him winless at Valhalla. Boo Weekley galloped off the first tee using his driver as a toy horse, drawing laughter for his antics and cheers for his birdies.
Hunter Mahan, who criticized the Ryder Cup earlier this year as a money-making machine, was the only player to go all five matches without losing at Valhalla. His match was the only one to reach the 18th green, all because of a 60-foot birdie putt from Mahan that slammed into the back of the cup on the 17th hole.
He wound up with a halve against Paul Casey, and a new appreciation for this event.
"It's an incredible, incredible experience," said Mahan, who went 2-0-3 and tied a U.S. record for most points as a captain's pick. "I wish every golfer could experience this, because it's amazing."
Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell, the final player picked for this U.S. team, won the final two matches against Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington for a lopsided score that for the last three years had been posted in European blue.
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