Americans have a shot at the Ryder Cup

U.S. leads 9-7 heading into today's 12 singles matches

LOUISVILLE, KY. -- The Ryder Cup is simple now.

It's down to numbers -- can the American team find the 5 1/2 points it needs in 12 singles matches to win the cup for the first time since 1999 or can the Europeans find a way to pile on the Americans' recent misery in this event?

When Anthony Kim and Sergio Garcia arrive at Valhalla Golf Club's first tee today for their 12:03 p.m. tee time in the first of the singles matches, the U.S. will have a 9-7 lead, needing 14 1/2 points to take the cup back from the Europeans, who need just 14 points to keep it.

With that in mind, U.S. captain Paul Azinger stacked his most aggressive and dangerous players at the top of today's lineup, slotting rookie star Hunter Mahan behind Kim with Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson filling out the top of the lineup.

It gives the appearance that Azinger and the Americans are going for the knockout punch immediately, particularly since the Europeans have Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington in the three closing spots of their lineup.

"We got our guys out in the order we wanted them," said Azinger, who set the lineup with limited input from his players.

"Our first four guys are pretty aggressive personalities. They're the kind of guys I wanted to go first."

On the positive side for the Americans, the trailing team has come from behind on Sunday to win only six times in the previous 36 Ryder Cup matches.

This is, however, the Americans' first lead entering the singles since 1995 when the Europeans staged a dramatic comeback victory.

"We got a lot of momentum out there [on Saturday]. I think we have a great chance," said Poulter, whose exceptional play was capped by a critical birdie putt he holed on the 18th green late Saturday afternoon to secure a 1-up victory with Graeme McDowell over Americans Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry.

A long, draining Saturday came to a dramatic conclusion with three four-ball matches being determined on the 18th green, two ending in halves and the other going to Poulter and McDowell.

After the Europeans won 2 1/2 points in the morning session, the Americans were able to hold their two-point advantage in an afternoon that crackled.

Europe's Robert Karlsson made seven birdies in the last 10 holes to earn a tie with Henrik Stenson against Mickelson and Mahan.

Poulter and McDowell earned their point with brilliant, clutch putting. In a moment that got to the heart of the day, seconds after Garcia holed a 40-foot birdie putt that had him roaring, Steve Stricker answered with his own 25-footer that had the quiet man punching the air and screaming.

"I am not that type player that you saw out there, I guarantee," Stricker said. "But it comes out."

The American lead could have been larger had Mickelson and Kim not had an epic collapse, wasting a 4-up advantage in the morning in a 2-and-1 loss to Stenson and Oliver Wilson.

"These guys are gamers and they've done great," Azinger said.

"But there's a long, long way to go and they know that."