My first Ryder Cup was a lifetime experience. It was something to be proud of and I am, and I know my dad would be, too. Three points - that’s cool. There were moments out there when you know you’ve arrived and you know you’re living the dream. I think I had one or two on Sunday when I was playing Phil Mickelson and was lucky enough to win. For me, it was another step up in my career.

I found Phil to be a gentleman. The Ryder Cup is a big thing for him, but he is not out there to win at all costs. He and his caddie said some kind things to me afterwards. The match referee said that if I keep playing like that I’m going to win major championships. Phil’s caddie reiterated those words.

Paul Azinger [the United States captain] said that anyone who can compete at this level knows that they can do it for ever. These are nice things to hear. That was what I wanted to achieve in Kentucky, as well as a team win. I feel you need to use these situations to develop yourself.

My good play on Sunday stemmed from a practice session I had on Saturday night. I was trying to get my hands into a slightly more upright position so that they would slot into place on the downswing. It was a tiny change, something that would look minuscule on camera, but it immediately felt better. After that I started to hit some great iron shots coming in against Phil. The feeling I want to have is that my hands are above my shoulders at the top of the backswing.

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?

Related Links

• Azinger revives American belief

• Faldo draws line under Ryder Cup defeat

Nick Faldo has been getting some criticism. That is the nature of his career. He put himself on the rack out there by having only one vice-captain. As a team member it didn’t feel as if we fell short in any department. The result didn’t go our way, so it is easy to look for things that aren’t there.

When the order of play for Sunday’s singles came out, we all felt excited by the lineup. We looked at 1 down to 12 and we thought: “We fancy our chances.” It came down to Boo Weekley being eight under par and Oliver Wilson being four under par with no bogeys and losing. Can’t account for that. That’s the Ryder Cup. They played better. The margin in all pro sports is so small - 16½-11½ is not a true reflection of what happened.

I hear rumours that the format might be changed to four days to avoid delays caused by bad weather. I hate changing tradition. I hate messing with a tried and tested format. Yes, it is a hard week. Yes, the schedule is brutal. We would welcome more time off, more breathing space in terms of time to rest. It is a great competition. I wouldn’t want to mess with it if it was me. Maybe you could start it on a Thursday and play to Saturday, giving Sunday as a rollover day. That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I don’t think changing the whole format around the weather is a good idea at all.

If the change is being proposed to make more money, that is sad. The players give up all that to play in the Ryder Cup, so if it is about being commercial then let’s get on the bandwagon, too. I think the players are prepared to come here, give our hearts, blood, sweat and tears for no rewards, but if the organisers are going to milk us for another day I believe we should be rewarded. We shouldn’t be exploited and put through the mill for the sake of commercial reasons. I think it is a great tournament and it would be sad to see it changed for the sake of commercial considerations.

One of my memories of the week is of the Europe fans on the 1st tee. They were exceptional. They put their heart and soul into it. Almost the most fun was before anyone teed off, listening to the rival fans singing to one another. It was classic. My favourite of the week was “You’ve got Big Macs, we’ve got G Mac” - Graeme McDowell.

I have a week off at home in Orlando now. I will play a little tennis and I have got some commercial work for TaylorMade at the weekend. Then I fly to Scotland for the Dunhill Links Championship. I will then play Sergio’s tournament, the Valencia Masters, before defending the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.