COMMENTARY

By Tim Dahlberg

updated 4:11 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2006

STRAFFAN, Ireland - Well, at least that one’s out of the way.

Happened pretty quick, too. Turns out the Americans can’t play singles very well, either.

No big deal. Besides, it was kind of neat to watch how good the Europeans were at chugging Guinness.

Now Phil Mickelson can go back on vacation. And Tiger Woods can jet over to England and win another title, assuming he can dry out the 9-iron his caddie dropped in the water on the seventh hole.

The rest of the team can catch the redeye charter home and probably still make the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

There’s money there. Three million bucks, no pressure.

Courtesy cars, nice hotel rooms. People who actually cheer for you.

It might even be dry.

Best of all, you don’t have to worry about carrying the weight of your country around on your shoulders.

Life will return to normal — as normal as it gets for the average pampered millionaire PGA Tour pro.

So the United States lost another Ryder Cup. So what.

It has become routine — three in a row if you’re counting at home and eight of the last 11.

The only person who couldn’t understand that on Sunday was Chris DiMarco, who played the role of arrogant American to the watery end on the 18th hole before even he conceded the agony was finally over.

Instead of matching its biggest singles comeback ever to win the cup, the U.S. team responded with its worst day of Ryder Cup singles ever.

A fitting end to a crummy week. The only bright spot was the Americans didn’t have to stick around The K Club to watch the Europeans chug Guinness and spray champagne all over themselves on the clubhouse balcony in front of delighted fans.

“I’m not even sure what to say,” U.S. captain Tom Lehman said.

36th Ryder Cup Europe 18 1/2, United States 9 1/2 Record-tying rout for Europe | Results   Slide show: Top images from The K Club   Discuss: What went wrong for U.S. team? Opinion: Tiger not to blame | Has ideas Opinion: Get used to these Euro routs Clarke wraps up emotional, successful week Woosnam's choices on money | Euros rejoice McGinley's concession denied shot at record Tiger wins after caddie lets one slip away Verplank gets first American ace Individual points | All-time champions The K Club (pdf. file) | Future sites

There wasn’t a whole lot to be said. The rout was on from the opening better ball on Friday and grew with every roar from the rain-soaked crowd.

Now comes the search for an explanation. Losing is one thing, but being trampled by the same 18½-9½ score two Ryder Cups in a row cries out for some serious self examination.

It does if anyone still really cares, that is.

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