Azinger cautious despite fine day

Paul Azinger congratulated his players on a first American opening-day Ryder Cup lead for 13 years but warned there was still a long way to go at Valhalla.

The United States captain saw his team compile a 51/2-21/2 over three-time defending champions Europe at the end of the first day’s play in Kentucky, the first time since 1995 at Oak Hill that the United States has led after the first day.

Then the Americans led 5-3, eventually losing 141/2-131/2 and Azinger was quick to guard against complacency.

“Well, clearly we haven’t led in a long time, so we’re real happy about that,” Azinger said after his side had won the closing fourball matches session 21/2-11/2.

“We also know how good Europe are, so we’re just going to try to get a nice rest and go out and play well tomorrow.

“We’re in a happy spot. I mean, it’s better than it being the other way, that’s for sure. But like I said, we’re not even to the halfway point yet.

“My hope is these guys can go back and get some rest and play some ping-pong or go to bed, whatever. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon.

“We’ve been here since Monday practising, or Monday night, doing stuff, and it’s a long week. We’ve got a long, long way to go, and we know how good they are.”

Azinger paid tribute to the six debutants on his team, with captain’s pick Hunter Mahan recording two victories alongside Justin Leonard and Anthony Kim winning 11/2 points in tandem with Phil Mickelson.

“I put a bunch of rookies out there this afternoon, and they did real well. I’m real proud of them all.

“It could have gone either way today. The guys, there were some nice comebacks today. They just played really well. Everybody kind of stayed on point, stayed in the present, and just kept going.”

Azinger said he could offer no explanation why his team had played so well and kept so relaxed when previous teams had failed to do so.

“Well, that’s the intangible,” he said. “The main thing is that these guys stayed focused on the task at hand, and they did a great job of it.

“I’m sure everybody was nervous. I walked into the locker room and I was thinking, man, I wish I had my clubs, I want to be playing.

“Then when I got to the first tee, I was like, man, I’m glad I’m not playing,” he said with a laugh. "These guys are going to embrace this crowd, they’re going to embrace the energy and they’re going to embrace the pressure.

“That’s the whole message. I’m real proud of them. They did a great job today but I’ll reiterate that I’m sure the European team is going to come out free-wheeling with everything to gain tomorrow. We’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to do it again.”

Opposite number Nick Faldo took the bold step of resting both Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia for the first time in their Ryder Cup careers for Saturday’s opening foursomes matches, but Azinger refused to offer his feelings on the situation.

“I’m not going to justify why Nick Faldo does what he does,” Azinger said. “I’m sure he’s confident in the guys he put out there, and the way I look at the teams they put out there, they look pretty strong to me.

“I’m not going to justify that. I’ll let him answer that question.”

He also refused to go too deeply into an analysis of today’s opening match-ups, which will see Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell face Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in a rematch of Friday’s 1-up victory for the Americans, Leonard and Mahan reunited against Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell, Mickelson and Kim kept together to play Henrik Stenson and Oliver Wilson and Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry brought back to play Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson.

“Once again,” Azinger said, “I respect everybody on their team. I know what they’re capable of and, you know, what’s on paper doesn’t mean anything to anybody. We’ve just got to go play good.”