Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. These are the three men whose inability to score points in the Ryder Cup cost Europe the chance of a fourth win in a row. Garcia had not been well a week earlier and did not seem to be at his best all week. Westwood had had tonsillitis a few weeks earlier and this may have contributed to his sub-par performance. Harrington just looked flat out tired.

The Open and US PGA champion played very well in snatching a half in the opening morning's foursomes with Robert Karlsson but from the moment that Harrington and McDowell lost in the afternoon fourballs with Graeme McDowell, he looked a jaded man. As McDowell went from strength to strength gaining 2½ points thereafter, Harrington went the other way, losing the Saturday morning foursomes, being rested on Saturday afternoon and then losing to Chad Campbell in the singles. Up to that time Campbell had been comfortably the worst player on the US team.

What would Faldo have given for at least two of Europe's Big Three to have been on better form? Just a couple more points would have made all the difference. Faldo made a number of off course errors. His speech at the opening ceremony was far too long and far too immodest. His performances at several press conference were odd too. And his handling of Garcia and Westwood on Saturday morning left a lot to be desired.

His worst mistake was probably to overload the bottom of the Europe order on Sunday when one of McDowell, Poulter, Westwood or Harrington might have been better placed to have been higher up the order.

How the 2008 Ryder Cup was won

Follow the final day's play from Valhalla as the 37th Ryder Cup draws to a dramatic conclusion with today's singles matches

• Mission accomplished for United States

• Justin Rose's Ryder Cup diary: I'm heartbroken

• Analysis: misfiring big three cost Europe dear in Ryder Cup

Europe surrender under brilliant assault

The US reclaimed the Ryder Cup for first time since 1999 with a sustained performance in the singles matches at Valhalla

• Elementary approach pays off for J.B. Holmes

• Nick Faldo's bold approach backfires in failure to reclaim initiative from US

• Ryder Cup warning signs to watch out for

Multimedia

• The key moments, match by match

• Is Faldo to blame for Europe's defeat?

Poulter's form was remarkable. He was Europe's top points scorer with four our of five, and his energy kept some of his flagging teammates going. Never before can such a criticised golfer have answered his critics so powerfully.

But give credit to the US too. Azinger captained beautifully. His Kentuckians in JB Holmes and Kenny Perry played very well, as did Boo Weekley. Anthony Kim was devastating against Garcia and is clearly a force for the future in this event.

What would Faldo have done to have had Harrington, Garcia or Westwood firing at full throttle?