Perry's victory puts spotlight on Ryder Cup storylines

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We have three more majors, three events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and a World Golf Championships between now and the Ryder Cup -- yet the profile for the biennial team competition was raised again last week.

John Maginnes

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Kenny Perry has made no bones about the fact that he would like to play one more Ryder Cup, and his win at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday has put him in prime position to secure a spot on the team. And it just so happens that this year's Ryder Cup will be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in the 47-year-old's home state of Kentucky -- and the same course where he lost a playoff at the 1996 PGA Championship.

The name Valhalla is borrowed from Norse mythology. It is the den where those slain gloriously in battle would battle by day and feast at night. Although it seems like an odd choice of name for a golf course in the middle of Kentucky it somehow makes sense for a Ryder Cup venue anywhere. Especially considering how soundly the American side has been defeated in the past three meetings.

Kenny and a host of others are vying for spots on this year's team. With his win at the Memorial, Kenny moved from 17th to fifth on the revamped points list that determines the eight automatic qualifiers. U.S. Captain Paul Azinger also will get four Captain's Picks this year rather than two as in the past. The hope is that this year's American team will be comprised of the players who are playing the best at the time of the matches. And because of this even at No. 5 in June, Kenny is far from a lock to make the team.

The U.S. Open is two weeks away at a venue Kenny has avoided over his more than two decades on the PGA TOUR. He has only played the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines three times in his career -- in 1988, 1997 and 2008 -- and has never made the cut. So he opted not to go through one of the 36-hole qualifiers on Monday and he will not be playing in the U.S. Open next week. Instead, Kenny will ride his hot streak -- he also lost in a playoff at the AT&T Classic three weeks ago -- to Memphis where he will try to earn more Ryder Cup points at the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

Kenny has been gearing up for a run at the team since last year. After last year's BMW Championship, he took the rest of the year off. The time away from the game gave the tenacious veteran a refreshed outlook. Seeing K.P. wear the Stars and Stripes in September would undoubtedly whip the golf fans of his home state into a frenzy.

Of course, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk will anchor the U.S. team. Azinger has said publicly that he wanted fresh blood on the team, though, and he appears to be getting his wish. There is a long list of players who have never played a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup vying to make the team. Two of those, Boo Weekley and Anthony Kim, are currently among the top eight in the standings. In fact, the 22-year-old Kim is among six players under the age of 30 in the top 20.

Conversely, Jerry Kelly, currently 16th, is one of a handful of players in their 40s hoping to make their first Ryder Cup team. Jerry was on track for Curtis Strange's team back in 2001 but the events of Sept. 11th postponed the matches for a year and he was unable to qualify 12 months later. As the matches get closer, these storylines will be followed closely by the media. Some players will trip on the top step and fall just short of qualifying. Other players who are currently well down the list will emerge and stake their claim to a spot on the team. Hopes will be high and the expectation of young and old alike on the American team will rise.

If Kenny can maintain his position on the team there will be yet another element added to the already fertile ground of the Ryder Cup. Throw in some good old-fashioned, down-home country cooking and the boys in red, white and blue just might turn the tide of this thing.