Team USA Wins Presidents Cup in Dramatic Finish

Most of you were probably sleeping, but there were some fireworks in Day 4 of the Presidents Cup Sunday in South Korea. Team USA entered the final day with a 9 1/2-8 1/2 lead with the singles matches remaining. The U.S. needed six points to win the Cup while the Internationals needed seven.

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Unfortunately for the International Team, no trailing team has ever entered the singles matches on the final day to come back and win the Presidents Cup. However, if it was going to happen, this American roster was the team to do it against. Entering Day 4, the players on Team USA had a combined singles record at the Presidents Cup of 3-14-3 and both teams were tied in singles play dating back to 2005 at 30 point each. The day was set up for some dramatics.

Team USA got off to a hot start, leading singles play by as many as seven matches at one point. The Internationals simply couldn’t make short putts to get started, but they got something to click and certainly made things interesting for the Americans.

Patrick Reed took on Louis Oosthuizen in the first match and ended up All Square. Reed was 2 UP at one point of the match, but Oosthuizen took over on the 18th. Trailing by 1 DOWN entering the final hole, Oosthuizen put his second shot of the par-5 within 10 feet and finished with eagle to win the hole and even the match. Both teams were awarded half a point. Team USA – 10 Internationals – 9

Rickie Fowler battled Adam Scott in the second match of the day and it didn’t go so well for the American. Fowler has struggled in singles play of the three career team events he’s played in and his bad streak continued on Day 4. Rickie was down four through 13 holes and the Aussie ended up mopping the floor with him, beating the American 6&5. Team USA – 10 Internationals – 10

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Dustin Johnson and Danny Lee were the features of the third match. DJ took advantage of Lee’s terrible putting in the first three holes, building an early 3 UP lead, a lead that Lee would bring back to even by the 11th hole. Johnson was able to close out on the 16th and 17th holes to beat hometown kid 2&1. Team USA – 11 Internationals – 10

Phil Mickelson and Charl Schwartzel were technically the seventh match of the day, but this one got over in a hurry. The captain’s pick for Team USA took care of Schwartzel from the get go. Lefty took the lead on the first hole and never looked back. Showing his dominance in these team events, Mickelson beat Charl 5&4 to give USA a two-point lead. Team USA – 12 Internationals – 10

The fourth match was between J.B. Holmes and Hideki Matsuyama. The late addition for Team USA built an early lead against Matsuyama going 2 UP by the 11th hole. Matsuyama was able to even the match by Hole No. 14 and even took a 1 UP lead by the 16th. Holmes got it back to All Square on 17, but couldn’t close out. Matsuyama birdied the 18th hole to win the match for the International Team. Team USA – 12 Internationals – 11

Bubba Watson battled Thongchai Jaidee for the fifth match of Day 4. Bubba found himself with a 3 UP lead by the 10th hole, but Jaidee was able to knock away and the lead and the match was All Square after No. 17. Entering the final hole all knotted up. Watson found himself with a 3-footer for birdie and the win. Bubba missed the birdie putt and tied the match with Thongchai. Bubba remains winless in singles play of the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Team USA – 12.5 Internationals – 11.5

Jimmy Walker and Steven Bowditch was the match for the sixth event. Walker found himself off to an early lead, going 2 UP by the 8th hole, but that lead would soon disappear. Bowditch quickly turned things around and was the new leader by the 11th, a lead he’d hold onto. Bowditch took down Walker 2&1 and just like that the Presidents Cup was tied. Team USA – 12.5 Internationals – 12.5

Chris Kirk and Anirban Lahiri played in the eighth match and what might be the most exciting match of the day. Kirk took led the match for almost the whole round even going 2 UP by hole No. 11. Lahiri was able to make the match All Square by the 14th hole and the two entered the 18th even. Both golfers had similar chips around the green, but Kirk made a mistake and put his birdie putt 15 feet away while Lahiri cozied his within 4 feet. Kirk needing to make birdie, stepped up to his putt and buried it. Lahiri was left with almost a tap in to halve the match and he rimmed out, handing the match to Team USA. Team USA – 13.5 Internationals – 12.5

The world No. 1 Jordan Spieth went up against an unlikely hero in Marc Leishman for the ninth match of the day and pulled off an incredible upset. This was Spieth’s match for most of the round. Leishman never held the lead until the 15th hole. Spieth needed to win the 18th hole halve the match, but Leishman didn’t let down. Marc matched Spieth’s birdie and won for the Internationals to tie the Presidents Cup yet again. Team USA – 13.5 Internationals – 13.5

The Champion Golfer of the Year duked it out with the PGA Championship winner for the 10th match. Unfortunately, Jason Day didn’t continue his dominance like he did in the final weeks of the season. This was Zach Johnson’s match right off the bat and even built his lead to 5 UP by the 11th hole. ZJ ended up beating the Aussie 3&2 and gave the Americans a point lead. Team USA 14.5 Internationals – 13.5

Matt Kuchar had to take on Branden Grace in the 11th match, but it didn’t go so well for the American. Grace entered Day 4 4-0-0 for the week at the Presidents Cup and he had his eyes set on the perfect record. Grace built a dominating lead by going 5 UP by the 9th hole. Kuchar was able to knock off some of that lead on the back nine, but it wasn’t enough. The South African won 2&1 to finish his week with an undefeated record of 5-0-0. Just like that we are tied again and it all comes down to the final match. Team USA 14.5 Internationals – 14.5

The coach’s son and the hometown hero were the features for the final match. Little did they know that the Presidents Cup would come down to them. Bill Haas was 2 UP by the 9th hole over Sangmoon Bae, but Bae was able to bring it back to All Square by the 11th. After a massive putt by Bae on the 17th, the golfers headed to the 18th hole with Haas up one. Bae needed to win in order for the Internationals to tie Team USA for the Presidents Cup. It all came down to a chip for Bae around the green and the pressure got the best of him. Bae chunked the chip, ultimately handing Team USA their ninth Presidents Cup. Haas won 2&1. Team USA 15.5 Internationals – 14.5

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