LOUISVILLE, Ky.—U.S. captain Paul Azinger sprinted up the stairs to the clubhouse balcony and grabbed the biggest bottle of champagne he could find to join an American celebration he felt was a long time coming in the Ryder Cup.

They didn’t need a miracle putt or an amazing comeback like their last victory in 1999.

They didn’t even need Tiger Woods.

Strong as a team and equally mighty on their own, the Americans rode the emotion of a flag-waving crowd and their Kentucky heroes on Sunday to take back the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory over Europe.