The Hole Story by Craig DeVrieze

Any number of reasons can be cited for the United States’ surprisingly easy Ryder Cup win over Europe in Louisville over the weekend.

One is the superb stem-to-stern coaching of U.S. captain Paul Azinger.

The European press, meanwhile, is pointing to a confused performance by Euro captain Nick Faldo. (You’d have to think the British tabloids have been waiting for this opportunity ever since the acerbic Faldo thanked them from the bottom of his bottom after winning the British Open 16 years ago.)

The Europress also could point to the power failure of the power trio of Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, who were a combined 0-7-5 at Valhalla Golf Club.

Quad-Citians might point with some pride to the outstanding and steady veteran leadership delivered by native Kentuckian and reigning John Deere Classic champion Kenny Perry, .

Has anyone yet been crazy enough to cite the absence of Tiger Woods?

Call me crazy.

Hard as it is to envision an opposite outcome had the world’s unquestioned best golfer been healthy enough to join Team Zing, I would suggest it is a suggestion that bears suggesting.

Woods, after all, was on the losing side in four of the previous five Ryder Cup events and has won six majors more than he has career Ryder Cup points. He is 7-11-2 in his Ryder Cup history.

And while, as a colleague here noted, you are more likely to have a losing record when you play on losing teams, I’ll just say that when it comes to playing for God and Country, Tiger ain’t Boo.

That. of course, is as in Boo Weekley, the lovable, countrified lunk who positively flourished in his maiden Ryder Cup voyage, playing to the Stars-and-Stripes crowd with an enthusiasm that wore on a few European nerves but almost certainly was positively infectious to U.S. mates, young and old.

Almost as juiced for the battle were fellow youngster rookies J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim,  Hunter Mahan and Ben Curtis, the latter’s bag having been toted by the Q-C’s own Tony Navarro.

Combined the youthful quintet fashioned a record of 9-2-6 over the three days of competition.

This means pre-match concerns about a record six Ryder rookies on the U.S. side were woefully misguided.

This means untainted youth ultimately can be the salvation for the Stars-and-Stripes’ previously flagging Ryder Cup hopes.

The only rookie who struggled at Valhalla was the battle-scarred Steve Stricker, who went 0-2-1, and the only other losing records for Team Zing were posted by two of the veteran-most Ryder Cuppers, Stewart Cink and Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson, of course, may be the most talented golfer this side of Woods, but here’s a thought: When the U.S. heads to Wales to defend the Cup in 2010 leave PhillyMick at home. Tiger too.

Reason being, there is an I in Phil.

Just like there is an I in Tiger.

And, yes, yes, yes. There is no I in team.

Team golf is a unique and even slightly contrary concept, and it is possible that someone as singularly wired to succeed as Woods simply lacks the team gene.

(Until Valhalla, his precise opposite appeared to be Garcia, who has never won a single major but had excelled at the Ryder Cup, with a 14-4-2 record.)

Further evidence? Witness Woods’ pedestrian 13-11-1 record playing for a U.S. Presidents Cup team that has topped the International side in four of his five turns in that much lower-keyed competition. (Mickelson? He’s an malodorous 11-13-9 in seven PCs.)

This is not to say Woods doesn’t enjoy team competition.

This is not to say he and Mickelson are not trying when faced with the challenge of playing only for the love of country.

It is certainly not to suggest that Woods first and foremost is a citizen of the U.S. of Nike or the State of Buick.

It just is to say that Woods can go from zero to 60 in a second if he is chasing a major championship trophy and the opportunity to run past  Jack Nicklaus’ legacy.

The guy is teeming with talent.

He is less talented with teaming.

That’s all I’m saying.