Golf Barometer: Catch You in 2011

It's time for our final stock watch of the year - all Ryder Cup reactions, all the time. Catch you in January, 2011.

UPGRADES

Graeme McDowell: He played brilliantly in the final singles match, ultimately securing the Ryder Cup win for Europe. Consistency tee to green, nerve on the greens. He said all the right things in the interview room. The U.S. Open victory was not a fluke - he's going to be a factor in majors for the next 10 years.

Stewart Cink: He didn't lose a match (1-0-3) and his passionate podium support of Hunter Mahan will be one of the lasting images from this Ryder Cup. Cink justified his selection to the U.S. team and would be an excellent captain's choice in future seasons. Heck, he might be a future captain when his bread-winning days are over.

Rickie Fowler, Jeff Overton: They acquitted themselves well as Ryder Cup rookies and while they might not have enough game to be here every two years, they'll certainly be back.

Colin Montgomerie: He had the upper hand in the captain's battle every step of the way, and Monty has the presence of mind to say after it all that this victory was the biggest moment of his career. We need more of Montgomerie in the public eye - he'd be a fantastic golf commentator. You get the idea that Corey Pavin wanted to win the Ryder Cup but Colin Montgomerie had to have it.

Lee Westwood: He didn't win his singles match, but he was stellar before that, and hey, he's now No. 2 in the world, passing Phil Mickelson. If only we could coax Westwood to play a few more U.S. events.

Ian Poulter: It was no surprise to see him bag three more Ryder Cup points. Poulter walks confidently, talks confidently, and putts with the nerve of a burglar. He should be a staple on future European teams, no matter if he qualifies or not.

DOWNGRADES

Phil Mickelson: Another Ryder Cup, another batch of losses for Lefty. He's a minus player for his career on this stage, for whatever reason that may be, and the U.S. has only captured two cups in the eight where Mickelson has competed (1999, 2008). Mickelson looked primed for a huge year when he won the Masters in April, but he's been quiet as a mouse since.

HOLDING STEADY

Hunter Mahan: Wanting to be the final man in the singles matches is admirable; being up to the task is another matter. But say this for Mahan: he competed, he took the heat in the press room, and he cared as much as anyone possible could - maybe too much, if that's possible.

Tiger Woods: He showed flashes of his dominant form at the end of the weekend, that's good. But his body language at the send-off press conference (Tiger's face basically said "when the hell can I get out of here?") doesn't make him more likable to the fans that he'd, in theory, like to win back.

Corey Pavin: The rain-gear flap was embarrassing and ultimately a captain looks bad when his team doesn't win, but Pavin can at least feel validated by his wild-card selections, which for the most part played well.