Presidents Cup: Americans hold on for victory

The United States won the Presidents Cup for the ninth time Sunday, defeating the global Team 15 1/2 to 14 1/2 after a nail-biting finish on a chilly afternoon by the Yellow Sea.

When Branden Grace beat Matt Kuchar 2 and 1 in the penultimate game he became the fifth player to win five matches at a single Presidents Cup.

“This is what the Presidents Cup needed”.

With the points tally reduced to 30 from 34 this year, teams require 15.5 points to win the Cup.

With Day Three delayed by an hour because of storms, Spieth made a par after sunset on the 16th hole to close out a US win and keep the Americans in the lead they have held since opening with a 4-1 surge in foursomes on Thursday.

Team US won the 2015 global Cup as usual but it was anything but easy.

That half point would have tied the score at 15 apiece and would have resulted in only the second tie in the Presidents Cup history.

He was referring to Jason Day, his chief rival for the year, who lost twice to Spieth on Saturday with Charl Schwartzel as his partner. Spieth was so certain he was going to hole out that he asked caddie Michael Greller to get the ball out of the hole for him before he hit the shot.

Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes, United States, def. Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama, International, 3 and 2. Matsuyama then took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 16th.

In a stunning turn of events in the next pairing, Bubba Watson for the United States missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 18 that would have beat Thongchai Jaidee. Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth went 2-1 playing together in team matches.

However, the pendulum swung decisively in favour of the U.S. when Chris Kirk edged to a 1up victory over Anirban Lahiri, the first Indian to play in the competition.

“It’s OK, it’s OK”, the crowd chanted to him as he finished the final hole.

In the end the global Team didn’t get what it wanted. Bae missed the green just right, but chunked his chip shot and broke down in tears as he realized the magnitude of the moment.

It wasn’t meant to be, however, as Bae botched his third shot, a chip from the front of the green that skidded up toward the green only to roll back down toward the dismayed player.

Haas, who never trailed, struck a variety of quality shots down the stretch.

After the event, Haas senior confirmed his delight at the fairy-tale ending and he revealed the words of encouragement he gave his son on what proved to be a special day for the family in South Korea.

“That was the hardest position I’ve (been in) on the golf course in my career”, Haas said. “We were riding back down the fairway on 18 before Bill played 17, and I said, ‘Come on, Bill, win one for your mom here”.

Mickelson remained upbeat, said Haas, despite his error. Couldn’t even have dreamt this. I just feel happy for the guys. “But I think I did what I’ve done all week – misread putts”, Lahiri said.

“The success of the recent 2011 Presidents Cup and 2013 World Cup of Golf has reinforced Victoria’s stature as a global golf destination and make the area a ideal choice to welcome these esteemed competitions back within the next four years”.

“So it was a nail-biter and that’s what this has to be”, he said.

The 21-year-old Fitzpatrick, the 2013 U.S. Amateur champion, closed with a 3-under 68 for a two-stroke victory. But I’m going to go and ask my team to go and play golf tomorrow. However, if it was going to happen, this American roster was the team to do it against.