2003 Presidents Cup - Team golf's best ever finish?

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 The Presidents Cup | Wrap | 24 Nov 2003

In what may become known as one of the most gripping finishes in team’s golf, if not tournament golf, the 2003 Presidents Cup has been decided in the most bizarre of circumstances with the trophy to be shared for the next two years.

Leading by three points heading into the singles, the Internationals had only to win five points from the twelve available on the final day, but from early in the piece it appeared that would be much easier said than done.

The early matches on day four showed a swing to the Americans as firstly Jim Furyk then Kenny Perry took early leads and the momentum, so important in such events, was turning. Tim Clark looked to be stemming the tide when he went 2 up on Jerry Kelly after six holes but that would be short lived as the American fought back to win.

K.J. Choi, who would be one of the finds of the week for the International Team in his debut, was making short work of experienced team player Justin Leonard but Adam Scott was also receiving a fair old pasting from Charles Howell. Stephen Leaney’s loss to near fifty year old Jay Haas, would be balanced by the win by of Retief Goosen over a very much out of sorts Phil Mickelson. Nick Price was very emotional when a ten foot putt for birdie at the last to give him a half point against Kenny Perry, slipped by. With Peter Lonard and Vijay Singh safely in control of their matches, it became clear that the outcome of the week would be in the balance until perhaps the last group.

Tiger Woods was in one of the last three groups and although behind early in his match against Ernie Els, he rebounded quickly and from that point on never looked like being headed eventually winning 4 & 3.

And so with just two matches on the course alive, both needing to be won by the Americans if they were to win outright, it was a case of who would buckle first.

Appleby was up against Chris DiMarco in a see-sawing match that saw the lead change five times before DiMarco produced a beautiful birdie at the dangerous 17th to edge ahead for good. That left just Robert Allenby with a chance of salvaging a tie and possible win for the Internationals and when he had driven it perfectly at the par five 16th, it appeared this was his chance. After all, Love was forced to lay up and still had 170 yards to go with his third when Allenby was hitting his second. The Australian pulled his three wood second only slightly but it was enough to find a nasty almost unplayable lie just left of the green and although he tried once, he eventually took a drop and he was one down with two to play. Both hit brilliant iron shots at the 17th, Love to 12 feet, Allenby to 20 feet. How Allenby’s putt missed is probably a question he is still asking himself but he was given yet another chance when Love’s putt missed left.

The 18th gave Allenby one last chance as his second edged just through the back at the par five. Love, some twenty yards ahead from the tee, missed the green short and right with his approach and he proceeded to stubb his pitch leaving it back from where it came. Allenby, knowing he had to get up and down to ensure the half point he was so desperately seeking, hit a delightful pitch to two feet and when Love missed his par putt from fifteen feet it was a half point each and seventeen points apiece to both teams.

So what next? Envelopes were produced and the two players chosen to decide the fate of their eleven team mates in a playoff were announced. It was hardly a surprise when the names Els and Woods appeared and they headed for the eighteenth in fading light.

They would both par the first of the playoff holes and then make miraculous, given the pressure, par saving putts at the following two holes before darkness forced a compromise decision.

The decision was the logical one although it would be fair to say that things will not be done the same way should this scenario happen again. The timing of the singles matches, the last of which got underway just before 2.00pm local time ensured that it would be tight getting finished before dark if there was to be an unlikely tie and therefore, playoff.

It seemed the initial decision at the completion of the third playoff hole was that the Americans would retain the Cup but when that was pointed out by Gary Player to his team there was considerable opposition. Adam Scott was one who could be heard telling his captain that he Player had said at the start of the week that the match would be “played to the final point”. Scott was effectively saying that if there was to be a concession by the Internationals to a draw then the trophy should be shared which seemed to be the consensus amongst the Internationals. After all it was they who would be the only losers if that was not the case as they would draw the battle but lose the war so to speak.

It was then that sanity prevailed and Jack Nicklaus and his team agreed to the sharing of the trophy over the next two years. It was the most appropriate decision in these circumstances but once again, as was the case at Hyatt Coolum last year, it was a decision made at the last moment and it is hoped that in the future all possible outcomes are considered and a decision set in stone before they happen.

Irrespective of the final hour or so today, this was a week in which the Presidents Cup has come of age. The atmosphere in which it was held, the intensity of the competition and the result, bode well for the future of the event. It was also a great boost for a turbulent South Africa who proved that an event of this status could be held there and on a golf course that is world class.