Woods makes history and inspires USA to Presidents Cup victory
An emotional Tiger Woods led the American comeback as they overcame a two-point deficit in the Sunday singles to snatch a 16-14 Presidents Cup victory.
For the first time since 2003, Team USA needed to come from behind on the final day if they were to record another success and, in the crucial moments, a solid International team faltered.
Presidents Cup report: What happened on day four?
Playing captain Woods sent himself out in the first match and his dominant performance to beat Abraham Ancer set the tone. Woods was never behind and sealed a 3&2 victory to set a new Presidents Cup tally of 27 wins.
The early walk.@TigerWoods is in a zone, 2 UP through 10. pic.twitter.com/5sENnA1JIo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019
His side were in control throughout the final day, the scoreboard awash with red, and the USA clinched victory when Matt Kuchar tied with Louis Oosthuizen.
The American holed a five-footer on the 17th green to guarantee himself half a point and take his team onto 15 1/2 – the total needed to win the cup.
The clinching moment. 🏆
Matt Kuchar's birdie on 17 secured the @PresidentsCup for the #USTeam. pic.twitter.com/9moRWsbWmS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019
Woods embraced each player and all his vice-captains as he showed just how much this week meant.
When @TigerWoods knew… pic.twitter.com/ck6Z1xJ502
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019
He said: “We relied on one another as a team, and we did it – together. This cup wasn’t going to be given to us. We had to go earn it. And we did.”
There were six wins and four halves for the USA with the Internationals winning just two – as Cameron Smith downed the unbeaten Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im beat Gary Woodland.
Aside from Woods’ win, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Webb Simpson all won their respective clashes.
Johnson put the second point on the board as he destroyed a struggling Haotong Li 4&3.
Reed had headed into the final day on the back foot after his caddie was removed following an altercation with a fan on Saturday.
But he won his first match of the week as he dominated CT Pan from the outset in a 4&2 victory.
Five birdies on the front nine.@PReedGolf makes the turn 4 UP for the #USTeam. pic.twitter.com/3VhNKAZVXr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019
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Cantlay was the next to win as he beat Joaquin Niemann 3&2, despite being 1-down after 10. He found some fantastic form on the back nine to birdie four of his final six holes.
Schauffele quickly gained control of his match against Adam Scott and was 4-up after seven. The Australian fought hard but could only take the match to the 17th.
Simpson was the final victor for Team USA as he also won his first match of the week. He defeated Byeong Hun An 2&1 and his point saw the scores go to 15-12, guaranteeing his side a tie at the least.
What happened over the first three days of the Presidents Cup? Turn the page to get a recap of all the action.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
