THE THRILL OF VICTORY & THE AGONY OF DEFEAT

ABC's Jim McCay "The Thrill of Victory & The Agony of Defeat" are a good title for this year's Ryder Cup that ended up this morning with a tough victory by Europe and an almost great comeback by the United States. It could also be titled "The Birth of 2 Men" (Rory McIlroy & Rickie Fowler).

There is no question that this was the best Ryder Cup final day since 1991 when the matches were not decided until the last pair's match. There were similar comebacks both times. In 1991, hosted by the United States, none other than Mark Calcaveccia was "dormie 5" against Colin Montgomery (Mark was 5 up with 5 to go), and Colin came back to tie the match... with help of Mark who played those 5 holes in 6 over par. This time it was Rickie Fowler who was 4 down with 4 to go and birdied the last 4 holes and got a half point while Edoardo Mollinari played steady with pars. Fowler, who had not done much in the team competition, looked nervous and even cost a victory in a match for not knowing the Rules of Golf, came alive in his last four holes abroad, lost his fear and became a mature man possessed with the will to win and ended up scraping a valuable 1/2 point that could have given the USA the victory

McIlroy made a huge mistake on the last hole of his match against Stewart Cink; tied and with Stewart on the green in three shots, McIlroy faced a relatively easy bunker shot for his own third shot... that he left in the bunker! Now, he had a 4th shot that he needed to get close just to have a chance for a tie in case Cink missed his birdie, which he did. McIlroy blasted to about 4 feet and made the nervous putt to get 1/2 point as well, which halved the match.

It all came down to Hunter Mahan, who at one point I am sure he thought his match would not count as the USA looked like they would lose badly. Hunter had a very tough match with US Open champion Graeme McDowell in the last pairing of the day. With both teams were tied at 13 1/2 points, Graeme was 1 up after 15, and then made a fantastic birdie on #16 to go "dormie 2".

Hole #17 showed that the Ryder Cup is more than a major when it concerns the pressure on a player. Hunter mishit his tee shot on the par 3 hole, but had a relatively easy chip to a front pin that at worst, he needed to get close in case McDowell, who had also missed the green, could not get it up and down. What proceeded was one of the most embarrassing moments an professional golfer can have, a "chili dip". His shot from 30 feet, went only 15 feet and did not even reach the green. At the moment, he smiled in agony and embarrassment, and after he could not make a 3, conceded the match and the cup went back to Europe.

No one can blame Hunter for this defeat. Remember, this is a team effort, and the day before, the USA could only make 1/2 point out of 6!! So, if there is someone to "blame", is 12 players who could only get 1/2 point out of 6 played! But there is no one to blame. This is the nature of sports, there is always someone who wins, and someone who loses. There is agony and there is thrill. 2008 was thrill for the USA, this year they lost a close one and there was pain and agony, of 12 men, not one.

We should all be proud that despite a poor start and all odds against, the team fought back and made it for a very exciting, thrilling and great exhibition of courage and the will to win never giving up. I am sure there were tears, perhaps by Mahan who may have not only felt responsible for the loss, but embarrassed by his bad chip shot. But there is not need to, in fact, we appreciate the tears, it shows they really care.

Congratulatioons to both teams, to Europe for having a great victory and to the U.S.A. for showing character under pressure.

TEAM U.S.A., we are proud of you!!.