Bypassing Clarke was a huge mistake, for Faldo lost a perfect combination with another player who is crucial to him — Westwood. Clarke and Westwood are an impressive 6-2 in Ryder Cup competition and undefeated since 1999. More than that, players know why Faldo overlooked Clarke and it’s not a stretch to think that an undercurrent of resentment will tear apart a locker room that has always been the key to their success.

Ignoring Montgomerie was not a shock and it’s tough to rip Faldo for that one, though the guess is, even had the sour Scotsman been in decent form, his was another personality the captain wasn’t going to bring to Louisville. Faldo even took the strange step to not replace Paul McGinley when he quit as vice captain, so now he has just one assistant, Jose Maria Olazabal.

On the one hand, Olazabal might be the most universally liked player in world golf circles, but with 12 guys coming to him (you don’t think they’ll go to Faldo, do you?), one has to wonder if the Spaniard will grow tired of his role.

Even Faldo’s supporters think he should have replaced McGinley, that he needs another vice captain, maybe even two more. But they can’t be surprised — it’s less spotlight for him to share and sadly, that’s what this task seems to be about.

Faldo’s failure to pick Clarke could be the worst captain’s blunder since James in 1999 inexplicable chose unproven and unheralded Andrew Coltart to fill out his team. Perhaps someday James can explain that one, because it made no sense then and makes even less sense nine years later.

Had James wanted experience, Langer was still in his prime. Had the captain wanted good form, there was Karlsson and his eight finishes within the top 15 that season.

Instead, he went with Coltart, a player who so inspired him that James sat him until Sunday’s singles when he was mandated by the rules to tee him up. What’s worse, James that year also sat Jean Van de Velde and Jarmo Sandelin until the singles. Unconventional as the nine-player approach was, it worked, because Europe opened a 10-6 lead ... at which time James went completely bonkers. He had to play those three, but did he need to send them right in a row?

No, but he did, and when Westwood and Clarke lost right off the bat in singles, along came three helpless causes for Europe — Sandelin overmatched by Phil Mickelson; Van de Velde crushed by Davis Love; Coltart slapped by Tiger Woods. All that nonsensical captain’s effort did was allow the U.S. to build up momentum that turned into a steamroller that did not stop until victory had been assured, 14½-13½.

It was embarrassing for the Europeans, though much of the sting has been taken out of it thanks to smashing victories in '02, '04, and '06, but as they perhaps plan yet a fourth consecutive victory celebration, the memory of ’99 lingers, because the fear is Faldo, like James, could provide the recipe for defeat.

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