Weekley beat Europe's Oliver Wilson 4-and-2. Another rookie, Louisville Slugger Holmes, disposed of Soren Hansen 2-and-1. Another rookie, Ben Curtis, won five of the last seven holes to shoot down Lee Westwood. And then a captain's pick, Chad Campbell, closed the 7½ point day by closing out Padraig Harrington.

“We had six guys who had not experienced that, who were determined to help turn the United States' performance in the Ryder Cup around,” said Mickelson. “And they did that. Look at their record; it was phenomenal. They brought a game, an attitude, an energy, and it invigorated the team.”

The six rookies finished their first rodeo 9-4-8, which included a 4-1-1 performance in the pressure-packed singles of Sunday. They accounted for 13 points while another category, the captain's picks represented seven points, or close to half the winning total.

The fresh faces rejuvenated veterans like Furyk, who came into the tournament with a frustrating 6-12-2 record in previous exhibitions, who came out of it with 2½ points and a 2-1-1 record. Furyk had the honor of finishing off the Europeans. When Miguel Angel Jimenez missed a long birdie attempt on No. 17, the classy Spaniard conceded Furyk's par, giving the Americans the required 14½ points to win with four matches still in progress, giving Furyk some payback.

Furyk stood on the green when his opponent, Paul McGinley clinched the Cup at the Belfry in 2002.

“To be standing out there by yourself on the green when that happens and hear the cheers, honestly, it's a miserable feeling,” said Furyk, who was especially thrilled, “to have it flip. I think you dream of winning the Ryder Cup, knocking in the 10-footer for your team and having the place go bananas. Mine was a two-foot conceded putt, but I'll take it, how's that?”

While the Young Americans were relentless, Europe's old reliables were missing in action. Harrington, a two-time major championship winner this year, Garcia and Westwood came into the event with 35 wins, seven halves and a total of 38 ½ career points. The point total for the Terrific Trio fa exceeded the career totals for the entire U.S. contingent.

Remarkably, all that experience counted for nothing. Garcia, Harrington and Westwood went without a win during the tournament - in team or singles play. They combined for an 0-6-6 mark and just three points of Europe's 11 ½ tallies.

Like the Dollars, the Euros got more production from their less-seasoned sentries. Ian Poulter, one of Faldo's at-large picks, was a star. Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose, both rookies, did their part. In the end, the experienced backbone of the visiting squad was its glaring weakest link.

For the U.S. team, Valhalla wasn't just about new faces and new results. It was a new beginning. “This is unreal,” said Weekley. “I think the more we're together, the closer we are going to get. I think we actually became a family and that's something we've been missing in the past.”

Nothing was missing this time, nothing but experience.

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