Americans cruise to Presidents Cup victory

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 The Presidents Cup | Round Four | 01 Oct 2007

It was a brave and impressive response by the International Side on Sunday at the Presidents Cup but the lead they had allowed the Americans to develop prior to today’s singles required a miracle to overcome.

The Foursomes contests on Thursday and again on Saturday morning proved to be the difference between the two sides with the Americans winning a total of 10½ points in those matches alone. They earned only 4½ of their total of 19½ in the Four-ball matches and just five in the singles so clearly their combinations in the Foursomes had the Internationals on the back foot from the opening day.

Facing a possible record loss, the Internationals responded to the challenge. Despite Vijay Singh receiving a drubbing by Phil Mickelson and Rory Sabbatini being beaten by David Toms in the first matches out, the Internationals rallied and although the ten points they needed on the final day to win the event was always going to be a tough ask, they began to build the momentum needed to at least save face.

Ernie Els came from three down against Lucas Glover to win at the last and earned the International’s their first point and with several other matches on the course in the favour of the Internationals the inevitable might be delayed a little longer.

The match between Nick O’Hern and Stewart Cink would officially decide the tie in favour of the Americans. O’Hern was never in the match against the red hot American who made the turn in 29 and was four up. O’Hern was doing little wrong as he made the turn in 33 but he could not match Cink’s brilliance. When their match finished at the 14th with Cink a 6&4 winner, the inevitable had arrived and the Americans had moved to 17½ points. All matches on the course were therefore for pride and historical records rather than affecting the overall result.

Gary Player’s decision to give Mike Weir one of his two captain’s picks was a controversial one at the time with many suggesting he had done so only to appease those who wanted the Canadian fans to support the event. Weir’s game had been very ordinary in the eighteen months leading into the event but in the end Player would have the last laugh.

Weir became the highest points earner of the International Team’s week when he recorded an unlikely victory over Tiger Woods. The manner of his win made the result even more impressive. The 2003 US Masters champion raced to a three up lead through seven holes but then had to withstand a powerful Woods comeback.

Weir actually fell behind in the match after he was forced to concede the 15th hole but produced a beautiful birdie from 9 feet at the 17th to draw level again and watched in what was no doubt relief as Woods pulled his tee shot marginally at the last and found the hazard. To add insult to injury Weir holed a lengthy birdie putt to win one up and the Canadian fans were rewarded for the tremendous support they had given the event.

The victory may well play a significant role in resurrecting the career of Weir and team captain, Gary Player, was quick to point that out in a post event interview.

“This could change the life of Mike,” enthused Player afterwards, struggling to hide the thumbing of his nose to those who criticised his decision to include the Canadian in the field.

Other wins amongst the Internationals came from Angel Cabrera, who edge out perhaps the most talked about figure of the week, Woody Austin.

Austin had played beautifully in his combined matches and had provided one of the video highlights of the week and the year when he lost his balance on the edge of a hazard on Friday and fell back into the water.

It was one of the funniest things witnessed on a golf course for some time and fortunately for Austin he felt the same. That he was able to recover and play several fine shots in the three holes he had left after his misadventure was impressive enough in itself.

Adam Scott, who had struggled on the greens all week, finally got things moving in the right direction with seven birdies to dispatch of Zach Johnson.

Geoff Ogilvy led for much of his match but let Steve Stricker back into the contest with a bogey at the 12th and a concession at the 14th. He then trailed by one but birdied the 16th and was actually conceded the last himself and took the match one up.

K.J. Choi was scoreless heading into today’s singles but he came from behind to beat rookie Hunter Mahan 3&2.

Retief Goosen took on the world number three, Jim Furyk, and was quickly two down through four holes. The South African worked his way back into the match and was two up through ten holes. He eventually won the last match of the day by 2&1 and the Internationals had closed to gap to five. It was undeniably a trouncing but they had performed very well on the final day.

The tournament returns to its spiritual home of Lake Manassis in Virginia in 2009 and then it heads across the Pacific to Royal Melbourne in 2011. There will be much interest in just who will make the team and perhaps even who would make themselves available for such a trip but if a full strength American Team travels to Melbourne then we can expect a tremendous contest.