Azinger: Don't blame Faldo

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The victorious American captain leapt to the defence of his rival and former television commentary partner in the wake of the United States' 16 1/2-11 1/2 win over Europe at Valhalla.

"The press will pound him over there but the captains get way too much blame when it doesn't happen," said Azinger after the Americans won back the cup for the first time since 1999, ending a three-match run of European dominance. "You know, somebody's got to win and lose."

He added: "Everybody wants to second guess everything that Curtis (Strange) or Hal (Sutton) or Lanny (Wadkins) or Kite did.

"They blamed Tom Kite because Michael Jordan rode in the cart. He rode in the cart for one or two holes. Suddenly it was Tom Kite's fault? That was crazy.

"So, Faldo will get it. Mark James got it, (Bernard) Gallacher got it. Everybody gets it."

Faldo was widely criticised beforehand for not taking Ryder Cup talismen Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke as his captain's picks and again when he chose to place his in-form players and stalwarts at the bottom of the order for the 12 deciding singles matches.

That decision saw victories for Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell rendered meaningless as were the matches for Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington.