Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major
Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week it was the Eleventh
staging of the Presidents Cup Matches that are played bi-annually between Team
USA and Team International (which excludes players from Europe). There was no
prize money at stake this week only personal pride of holding up the trophy!!
And each player got a percentage of the profits to donate to a charity of their
choice. This year the matches were being staged in Asia for the first time in
Songdo IBD, Incheon City, South Korea and were being played on the Jack
Nicklaus GC, Korea. Team USA was made up of ten automatic qualifiers who were
Jordan Spieth (USA), Bubba Watson (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Zach Johnson
(USA), J.B Holmes (USA), Rickie Fowler
(USA), Dustin Johnson (USA), Patrick Reed (USA), Matt Kuchar (USA) and Chris
Kirk (USA). Jay Haas (USA) who is the USA Team Captain choose Bill Haas (USA)
and Phil Mickelson (USA) as his two Captains’ Picks. His four Captain’s
Assistants were Fred Couples (USA), Davis Love III (USA), Jim Furyk (USA) and
Steve Stricker (USA). Team International was made up of ten automatic
qualifiers also who were Jason Day (Australia), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Adam
Scott (Australia), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Branden Grace (RSA), Marc Leishman
(Australia), Anirban Lahiri (India), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Thongchai Jaidee
(Thailand) and Danny Lee (NZL). Nick Price (Zimbabwe) who is the International
Team Captain choose Steven Bowditch (Australia) and Sang Moon Bae (South Korea)
as his two Captains’ Picks. He choose K.J. Choi (South Korea) as his Vice
Captain and Tony Johnstone (Zimbabwe) and Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe) as his two
Assistant Captain’s. The Presidents Cup began on Wednesday evening with the
Open Ceremony. And play began late Thursday Morning where five Foursomes
Matches that were played. Team USA are the five time defending Championships
and were keen to make it six!! But Team International had other ideas and were
keen to repeat the performances of 1998 when they had their only win!! And 2003
when they had their only draw and shared the Cup!!
The five day one Foursomes matches were played on
Thursday 8th October in the afternoon in sunny conditions with little wind
blowing and match one was Bubba Watson (USA)/J.B Holmes (USA) for Team USA
verse Adam Scott (Australia)/Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) for Team International
and they halved the first hole in par fours. Team USA birdied the par four,
second hole to go one up. They halved the par five, third hole in birdies and
Team USA remained one up. Team USA birdied the par four, fourth hole to go two
up. Team USA birdied the par three, fifth hole to go three up. They halved the
par four, sixth hole. Team International birdied the par five, seventh hole to
get back to two down. They halved the par three, eighth hole and par four,
ninth hole and Team USA turned two up. Team International birdied the par four,
tenth hole and moved back to one down. They halved the par four, eleventh hole,
par four, twelfth hole, par three, thirteenth hole, par four, fourteenth hole
and Team USA was still one up. Team USA won the par five, fifteenth hole with a
birdie to go two up. Team USA won the par four, sixteenth hole with a birdie to
win the match 3&2!! Team USA 1 point lead Team International 0 points.
Match two was Matt Kuchar (USA)/Patrick Reed (USA)
for Team USA verse Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)/Branden Grace (RSA) for Team
International and they halved the par four, first hole in pars. Team USA won
the par four, second hole with a birdie to go one up. Team International won the
par five, third hole with a birdie and the match was all square again. They
halved the par four, fourth hole, par three, fifth hole, par four, sixth hole
and the match was still all square. Team International won the par five,
seventh hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par three, eighth
hole with a birdie and the match was all square again. Team International won
the par four, ninth hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par four,
tenth hole in pars. Team International was conceded the par four, eleventh hole
to go two up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to
go three up. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole, par four, fourteenth
hole, par five, fifteenth hole and par four, sixteenth hole and Team
International won the match 3&2!! Team USA 1 point against Team
International 1 point.
Match three was Rickie Fowler (USA)/Jimmy Walker
(USA) for Team USA verse Anirban Lahiri (India)/Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) for
Team International and they halved the par four, first hole in pars. Team USA
won the par four, second hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par
five, third hole with a birdie to go two up. Team USA won the par four, fourth
hole with a birdie to go three up. Team International won the par three, fifth
hole with a par to get back to two down. They halved to the par four, sixth
hole, par five, seventh hole, par three, eight hole and par four, ninth hole in
pars and Team USA turned two up. Team USA won the par four, tenth hole with a
birdie to go three up. Team USA won the par four, eleventh hole with a birdie
to go four up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to
get back to three down. Team USA won the par three, thirteenth hole with a
birdie to go four up. Team USA were conceded the par four, fourteenth hole to
win the match 5&4!! Team USA 2 points lead Team International 1 point.
Match four was Phil Mickelson (USA)/Zach Johnson
(USA) for Team USA verse Jason Day (Australia)/Steven Bowditch (Australia) for
Team International and Team USA won the par four, first hole with a par to go
one up. They halved the par four, second hole and par five, third hole. Team
International won the par four, fourth hole with a birdie and the match was all
square. They halved the par three, fifth hole, par four, sixth hole and par five,
seventh hole in pars. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole with a par to go
one up. They halved the par four, ninth hole and par four, tenth hole so Team
USA was still one up. Team USA were conceded the par four, eleventh hole to go
two up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to get
back to one down. Team USA won the par three, thirteenth hole with a birdie to
go two up. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole, par five, fifteenth hole
and par four, sixteenth hole so Team USA was still two up. Team International
won the par three, seventeenth hole with a birdie to get back to one down. Team
USA won the par five, eighteenth hole with an eagle to win the match two up!!
Team USA 3 points lead Team International 1 point.
Match five was Jordan Spieth (USA)/Dustin Johnson
(USA) for Team USA verse Danny Lee (New Zealand)/ Marc Leishman (Australia) for
Team International and Team USA won the par four, first hole with a par to go
one up. Team USA won the par four, second hole with a birdie to go two up. They
halved the par five, third hole, par four, fourth hole, par three, fifth hole,
par four, sixth hole, par five, seventh hole and par three, eighth hole and
Team USA remained two up. Team International won the par four, ninth hole with
a birdie to get back to one down. Team USA were conceded the par four, tenth
hole to go two up. Team USA were conceded the par four, eleventh hole to go
three up. They halved the par four, twelfth hole in birdies. Team USA won the
par three, thirteenth hole with a par to go four up. Team International won the
par four, fourteenth hole with a birdie to get back to three down. Team USA
were conceded the par five, fifteenth hole to win the match 4&3.
Team USA 4 points lead Team International 1 points
after the Day one foursomes matches. Team International needed a huge second
day in the five four ball matches to get back into these Presidents Cup Matches
heading into the weekend. So to the second day five four ball matches that were
played on Friday 9th October in sunny conditions with a stiff wind blowing and in
the first match which was Dustin Johnson (USA)/Jordan Spieth (USA) for Team USA
verse Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)/Branden Grace (RSA) for Team International and halved
the par four, first hole, par four, second hole. Team International won the par
five, third hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par three, fifth
hole with a birdie and the match was all square again. They halved the par
four, sixth hole. Team USA won the par five, seventh hole with a birdie to go
one up. Team International won the par three, eighth hole with a birdie and the
match was all square. Team International won the par four, ninth hole with a
birdie to go one up. Team International won the par four, tenth with a birdie
to go two up. They halved the par four, eleventh hole, par four, twelfth hole
and par three, thirteenth hole. Team International won the par four, fourteenth
hole with a birdie to go to three up. Team International won the par five,
fifteenth hole with a birdie to win the match 4&3!! Team USA 4 points to Team
International 2 points.
The second match was Rickie Fowler (USA)/Jimmy
Walker (USA) for Team USA verse Danny Lee (NZL)/Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) for
Team International and they halved the par four, first hole. Team USA won the
par four, second hole to go one up. Team USA birdie the par five, third hole to
go two up. They halved the par four, fourth hole with pars. They halved the par
three, fifth hole with birdies. They halved the par four, sixth hole in pars. They
halved the par five, seventh hole in birdies. They halved the par three, eighth
hole with pars. Team International won the par four, ninth hole with a par to
get back to one down. Team International won the par four, tenth hole with a
birdie and the match was all square. They halved the par four, eleventh hole in
pars. They halved the par four, twelfth hole in pars. They halved the par
three, thirteenth hole in pars. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in
bogeys. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole in pars. They halved the par
four, sixteenth hole in pars. They halved the par three, seventeenth hole in
pars. Team International birdied the par five, eighteenth hole to win the match
one up!! Team USA 4 points to Team International 3 points.
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| Adam Scott (Australia) back left, Jason Day (Australia) back right and Danny Lee (NZL) in front pose for a picture after day two matches |
The third match was Zach Johnson (USA)/Phil
Mickelson (USA) for Team USA verse Adam Scott (Australia)/Jason Day (Australia)
for Team International and they halved the par four first hole. Team USA won
the par four, second hole with a birdie to go to one up. Team International won
the par five, third hole with a birdie and the match was back to all square. They
halved the par four, fourth hole in pars. Team USA won the par five, fifth hole
with a birdie to go to one up. Team International won the par four, sixth hole
with a birdie and the match was all square. Team International won the par
five, seventh hole with birdie to go one up. They halved the par three, eighth
hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, ninth hole with a par and the match
was all square. They halved the par four, tenth hole in pars. Team USA won the
par four, eleventh hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par four,
twelfth hole with an eagle to go two up. They halved the par three, thirteenth
hole with pars. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole with pars. Team
International won the par five, fifteenth hole with a birdie to get back to one
down. They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in pars. They halved the par
three, seventeenth hole in pars. Team International won the par five,
eighteenth hole with a birdie and the match finished all square. Team USA 4.5
points to Team International 3.5 points.
The fourth match was J.B. Holmes (USA)/ Bubba Watson
(USA) for Team USA verse Marc Leishman (Australia)/Steven Bowditch (Australia)
for Team International and they halved the par four, first hole. Team USA won
the par four, second hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par
five, third hole with a birdie to go two up. Team International won the par
four, fourth hole with a birdie to get back to one down. They halved the par
three, fifth hole. Team International won the par four, sixth hole with a
birdie and the match was all square. Team USA won the par five, seventh hole
with a birdie to go to one up. They halved the par three, eighth hole in pars.
They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. They halved the par four, tenth
hole in pars. Team International won the par four, eleventh hole with a birdie
and the match was all square again. Team USA won the par four, twelfth hole
with a birdie to go to one up. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in
pars. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in birdies. They halved the par
five, fifteenth hole in birdies. They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in
pars. They halved the par three, seventeenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par
five, eighteenth hole with an eagle to win the match two up. Team USA 5.5
points to Team International 3.5 points.
The fifth match was Bill Haas (USA)/Chris Kirk (USA)
verse Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)/Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and they halved the
par four, first hole. They halved the par four, second hole. Team International
won the par five, third hole with a birdie to go to one up. They halved the par
four, fourth hole in pars. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. They
halved the par four, sixth hole in pars. They halved the par five, seventh hole
in pars. They halved the par three, eighth hole in pars. They halved the par
four, ninth hole in pars. They halved the par four, tenth hole in pars. Team
International was conceded the par four, eleventh hole to go two up. Team
International won the par three, thirteenth hole with a birdie to go to three
up. Team USA were conceded the par four, fourteenth hole to get back to two
down. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole in birdies. Team USA won the par
four, sixteenth hole with a birdie to get back to one down. Team International
won the par three, seventeenth hole with a birdie to win the match 2&1!!
Team USA 5.5 points to Team International 4.5 points.
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| Charl Schwartzel (RSA) on the left and Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) on the right celebrate winning a hole!! |
Team USA 5.5 points led Team International 4.5
points after the day two four ball matches. The Presidents Cup was now
delicately posed heading into day three.
So to the day three on Saturday 10th October and the
morning four foursomes matches and they were played in overcast cool conditions
with some heavy rain that caused an hour delay to the matches with moderate
winds and match one was Patrick Reed (USA)/Rickie Fowler (USA) for Team USA
verse Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)/Branden Grace (RSA) for Team International and Team
International won the par four, first hole with a birdie to go to one up. They
halved the par four, second hole with pars. Team International won the par
five, third hole with a birdie to move to two up. They halved the par four,
fourth hole in pars. Team USA won the par three, fifth hole with a birdie to
get back to one down. They halved the par four, sixth hole in bogeys. They
halved the par five, seventh hole in pars. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole
with a par and the match was all square. Team International won the par four,
ninth hole with a birdie to go to one up. Team USA won the par four, tenth hole
with a birdie and the match was all square. Team International won the par
four, eleventh hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par four,
twelfth hole in pars. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in pars. Team
International won the par four, fourteenth hole with a birdie to go two up. Team
International won the par five, fifteenth hole with a birdie to go three up.
They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in pars for Team International to win
the match 3&2!! Team USA 5.5 Points to Team International 5.5 Points.
Match two was Bubba Watson (USA)/J.B Holmes (USA)
for Team USA verse Adam Scott (Australia)/Marc Leishman (Australia) for Team
International and they halved the par four, first hole in pars. They halved the
par four, second hole in pars. Team International won the par five, third hole
with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par four, fourth hole. Team USA won
the par three, fifth hole with a par and the match was all square. They halved
the par four, sixth hole in pars. Team USA won the par five, seventh hole with
a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole with a birdie to
go two up. Team International won the par four, ninth hole with a birdie to get
back to one down. Team International won the par four, tenth hole with a par
and the match was all square. Team USA birdied the par four, eleventh hole to
go one up. Team USA birdied the par four, twelfth hole to go two up. Team
International birdied the par three, thirteenth hole to get back to one down.
They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in pars. They halved the par five,
fifteenth hole in pars. Team International won the par four, sixteenth hole
with a par and the match was all square. They halved the par three, seventeenth
hole with pars. They halved the par five, eighteenth hole with pars and the
match finished all square. Team USA 6 Points to Team International 6 Points.
Match three was Bill Haas (USA)/ Matt Kuchar (USA)
for Team USA verse Sang Moon Bae (South Korea)/Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) for
Team International and won the par four, first hole with a birdie to go to one
up. The halved the par four, second hole in pars. They halved the par five,
third hole in pars. They halved the par four, fourth hole in pars. They halved
the par three, fifth hole in pars. Team USA were conceded the par four, sixth
hole and the match was all square. They halved the par five, seventh hole in
pars. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole with a par to go one up. They
halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. They halved the par four, tenth hole
in pars. They halved the par four, eleventh hole in pars. They halved the par
four, twelfth hole in pars. Team International won the par three, thirteenth
hole with a par and the match was all square. They halved the par four,
fourteenth hole in pars. They halved the par four, fifteenth hole in birdies.
They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in pars. Team USA were conceded the
par three, seventeenth hole to go one up. Team International won the par five,
eighteenth hole with a birdie and the match finished all square!! Team USA 6.5
Points to Team International 6.5 Points.
Match four was Dustin Johnson (USA)/Jordan Spieth
(USA) for Team USA verse Jason Day (Australia)/Charl Schwartzel (RSA) for Team
International and Team USA won the par four, first hole with a birdie to go one
up. They halved the par four, second hole in pars. Team International won the
par five, third hole with a birdie to get back to all square. Team
International won the par four, fourth hole with a birdie to go one up. They
halved the par three, fifth hole. They halved the par four, sixth hole. Team
International won the par four, seventh hole with a birdie to go two up. They
halved the par three, eighth hole. Team International won the par four, ninth
hole with a birdie to go three up. Team USA won the par four, tenth hole with a
par to get back to two down. They halved the par four, eleventh hole. They
halved the par four, twelfth hole. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole.
Team USA were conceded the par four, fourteenth hole to get back to one down. They
halved the par five, fifteenth hole with pars. They halved the par four,
sixteenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par three, seventeenth hole with a
birdie and the match was all square. Team USA won the par five, eighteenth hole
with a par to win the match one up!! Team USA 7.5 Points to Team International
6.5 Points.
Team USA 7.5 points lead Team International 6.5
points heading in the Saturday afternoon four ball matches and they were played
in cool sunny conditions with a moderate wind and the final match was completed
in almost complete darkness due to the hour rain delay earlier in the day and
the first match was J.B Holmes (USA)/Bubba Watson (USA) for Team USA verse
Louis Oosthizen (RSA)/Branden Grace (RSA) for Team International and Team
International won the par four, first hole with a birdie to go one up. Team
International won the par four, second hole with a birdie to go two up. They
halved the par five, third hole in birdies. Team International won the par
four, fourth hole with a birdie to go three up. Team USA won the par three,
fifth hole with a birdie to get back to two down. Team USA won the par four,
sixth hole with a birdie to get back to one down. They halved the par five,
seventh hole in birdies. They halved the par three, eighth hole in pars. They
halved the par four, ninth hole in birdies. Team International won the par
four, tenth hole with a birdie to go two up. They halved the par four, eleventh
hole in pars. Team USA birdied the par four, twelfth hole to get back to one
down. Team USA birdied the par three, thirteenth hole and the match was all
square. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in birdies. They halved the
par five, fifteenth hole in pars. Team International won the par four,
sixteenth hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par three,
seventeenth hole in pars. They halved the par five, eighteenth hole in birdies
and Team International won the match one up!! Team USA 7.5 Points to Team
International 7.5 Points.
Match two was Phil Mickelson (USA)/Zach Johnson
(USA) for Team USA verse Adam Scott (Australia)/Anirban Lahiri (India) for Team
International and Team USA won the par four, first hole with a birdie to go one
up. They halved the par four, second hole. Team USA won the par five, third
hole with a birdie to go two up. They halved the par four, fourth hole in
birdies. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. They halved the par
four, sixth hole in pars. They halved the par five, seventh hole in birdies. They
halved the par three, eighth hole in pars. Team International won the par four,
ninth hole with a par to get back to one down. They halved the par four, tenth
hole with birdies. Team USA won the par four, eleventh hole with a par to go
two up. They halved the par four, twelfth hole. They halved the par three,
thirteenth hole. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole. Team USA won the
par five, fifteenth hole with a birdie to go three up. They halved the par
four, sixteenth hole and Team USA won the match 3&2!! Team USA 8.5 Points
lead Team International 7.5 Points.
Match three was Jimmy Walker (USA)/Chris Kirk (USA)
for Team USA verse Sang Moon Bae (South Korea)/Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) for
Team International and Team International won the par four, first hole with a
birdie to go one up. They halved the par four, second hole with birdies. They
halved the par five, third hole with birdies. They halved the par four, fourth
holes with pars. They halved the par three, fifth holes with pars. They halved
the par four, sixth hole with pars. Team International won the par five,
seventh hole with a birdie to go two up. Team International won the par three,
eighth hole with a birdie to go three up. Team International won the par four,
ninth hole with a birdie to go four up. Team International won the par four,
tenth hole with a birdie to go five up. Team International won the par four,
eleventh hole with a birdie to go six up. They halved the par four, twelfth
hole in pars. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in pars and Team
International won the match 6&5!! Team USA 8.5 Points to Team International
8.5 Points.
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| The final Saturday Four Ball match was completed in near darkness!! |
Match four was Patrick Reed (USA)/Jordan Spieth
(USA) for Team USA verse Jason Day (Australia)/Charl Schwartzel (RSA) for Team
International and Team International won the par four, first hole with a birdie
to go one up. They halved the par four, second hole in pars. They halved the
par five, third hole in birdies. They halved the par four, fourth hole in pars.
They halved the par three, fifth hole in birdies. They halved the par four,
sixth hole in pars. Team USA won the par five, seventh hole with a birdie and
the match was all square. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole with a birdie
to go one up. Team USA won the par four, ninth hole with a birdie to go two up.
They halved the par four, tenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par four,
eleventh hole with a birdie to go three up. Team USA won the par four, twelfth
hole with a birdie to go four up. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in
birdies. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in birdies. Team
International won the par five, fifteenth hole with a birdie to get back to three
down. In virtual darkness they halved the par four, sixteenth hole and Team USA
won the match 3&2!! Team USA 9.5 Points lead Team International 8.5 Points.
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| Sunrises over Jack Nicklaus GC, Korea before the Sunday Singles matches commence |
Team USA 9.5 points lead Team International 8.5
points and now the eleventh Presidents Cup Matches were set for a thrilling
finish heading into the twelfth Sunday singles matches. So to the twelve Sunday
Singles matches that were played on Sunday 11th October in cold wet and showery
conditions and a moderate wind blowing and the tee times were moved up an hour
and a half to avoid the heavy rain predicted later in the day and match one was
Patrick Reed (USA) for Team USA verse Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) for Team
International and they halved the par four, first hole in pars. Team USA won
the par four, second hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par five,
third hole in pars. They halved the par four, fourth hole in birdies. Team
International won the par three, fifth hole with a par and the match was all
square. Team USA won the par four, sixth hole with a par to go one up. They
halved the par five, seventh hole in pars. They halved the par three, eighth
hole with birdies. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. They halved
the par four, tenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, eleventh hole with
a birdie to go two up. Team International won the par four, twelfth with a
birdie to go back to one down. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in
pars. Team International won the par four, fourteenth hole with a birdie and
the match was all square. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole in pars. Team
USA won the par four, sixteenth hole with a par to go one up. They halved the
par three, seventeenth hole in pars. Team International won the par five,
eighteenth hole with an eagle and the match finished all square!! Team USA 10
Points to Team International 9 Points.
Match two was Rickie Fowler (USA) for Team USA verse
Adam Scott (Australia) for Team International and they halved the par four, first
hole in pars. Team International won the second hole with a par to go one up. They
halved the par five, third hole in pars. They halved the par four, fourth hole
in pars. Team USA won the par three, fifth hole with a par and the match was
all square. They halved the par four, sixth hole in pars. Team International
won the par four, seventh hole with a birdie to go one up. Team International
won the par three, eighth hole with a birdie to go two up. Team International
won the par four, ninth hole with a birdie to go three up. Team International
won the par four, tenth hole with a birdie to go four up. Team International
won the par four, eleventh hole with a par to go five up. Team International
won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to go six up. They halved the par
three, thirteenth hole in pars and Team International won the match 6&5!!
Team USA 10 to Team International 10
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| Rickie Fowler (USA) poses with the Presidents Cup Team USA won!! |
Match three was Dustin Johnson (USA) for Team USA
verse Danny Lee (New Zealand) for Team International and Team USA won the par four,
first hole with a par to go one up. Team USA won the par four, second hole with
a par to go two up. Team USA won the par five, third hole with a birdie to go
three up. Team International won the par four, fourth hole with a par to get
back to two down. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. They halved
the par four, sixth hole in bogeys. Team International won the par five,
seventh hole with a birdie to get back to one down. They halved the par three,
eighth hole in pars. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. They halved
the par four, tenth hole in birdies. Team
International won the par four, eleventh hole with a birdie and the match was
all square. They halved the par four, twelfth hole with pars. They halved the
par three, thirteenth hole in pars. Team International won the par four,
fourteenth hole with a par to go one up. Team USA won the par five, fifteenth
hole with a par and the match was all square. Team USA won the par four,
sixteenth hole with a par to go one up. Team USA won the par three, seventeenth
hole with a par to win the match 2&1!! Team USA 11 points led team
International 10 points.
Match four was J.B. Holmes (USA) for Team USA verse
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) for Team International and they halved the par four,
first hole in pars. Team International won the par four, second hole with a par
to go one up. Team USA won the par five, third hole with a birdie and the match
was all square. Team International won the par four, fourth hole with a birdie
to go to one up. They halved the par three, fifth hole with pars. Team USA won
the par four, sixth hole with a birdie and the match was all square. Team USA
won the par five, seventh hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par
three, eighth hole in pars. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. Team
USA won the par four, tenth hole with a birdie to go two up. They halved the
par four, eleventh hole in pars. Team International won the par four, twelfth
hole with a par to get the match back to one down. They halved the par three,
thirteenth hole. Team International won the par four, fourteenth hole with a
par and the match was all square. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole with
pars. Team International won the par four, sixteenth hole with a birdie to go
one up. Team USA won the par three,
seventeenth hole with a birdie and the match was all square again. Team
International won the par five, eighteenth hole with a birdie to win the match
one up!! Team USA 11 Points to Team International 11 Points.
Match five was Bubba Watson (USA) for Team USA verse
Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) for Team International and they halved the par
four, first hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, second hole with a par to
go one up. Team USA won the par five, third hole with par to go two up. They
halved the par four, fourth hole with bogeys. They halved the par three, fifth
hole with pars. They halved the par four, sixth hole in pars. Team
International won the par four, seventh hole with a birdie to get back to one
down. Team USA won the par three, eighth hole with a birdie to go two up. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. Team
USA won the par four, tenth hole with a par to go three up. Team International
won the par four, eleventh hole with a birdie to get back to two down. Team
International won the par four, twelfth hole with a birdie to get back to one
down. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in pars. They halved the par
four, fourteenth hole in pars. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole in
pars. They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in bogeys. Team International
won the par three, seventeenth hole with a par and the match was all square.
They halved the par five, eighteenth hole in pars and the match finished all
square!! Team USA 11.5 Points to Team International 11.5 Points.
Match six was Jimmy Walker (USA) for Team USA verse
Steven Bowditch (Australia) for Team International and Team USA won the par
four, first hole with a par to go one up. Team International won the par four,
second hole with a par and the match was all square. Team USA won the par five,
third hole with a par and to go one up. They halved the par four, fourth hole
with pars. They halved the par three, fifth hole with pars. They halved the par
four, sixth hole with pars. They halved the par five, seventh hole with pars. Team
USA won the par three, eight hole with a par to go two up. Team International
won the par four, ninth hole with a par to get back to one down. Team
International won the par four, tenth hole with a par and the match was all
square. Team International won the par four, eleventh hole with a birdie and
went to one up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to
go two up. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole in pars. Team
International won the par four, fourteenth hole with a birdie to go three up.
Team USA were conceded the par five fifteenth hole to get back to two down.
They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par three,
seventeenth hole with a par to get back to one down. Team International won the
par five, eighteenth hole with a birdie and Team International won the match 2up!!
Team USA 11.5 Points trail Team International 12.5 points.
Match seven was Phil Mickelson (USA) for Team USA
verse Charl Schwartzel (RSA) for Team International and Team USA won the par
four, first hole with a par to go one up. Team USA won the par four, second
hole with a par to go two up. They halved the par five, third hole in pars.
They halved the par four, fourth hole in pars. They halved the par three, fifth
hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, sixth hole with a par to go three up. They
halved the par five, seventh hole in pars. Team International won the par
three, eighth hole with a birdie to get back to two down. Team USA won the par
four, ninth hole with par to go three up. Team USA won the par four, tenth hole
with a par to go to four up. Team USA won the par four, eleventh hole with a
birdie to go to five up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with
a birdie to get back to four down. They halved the par three, thirteenth hole
in pars. Team USA won the par four, fourteenth hole with a birdie to get to
five up and won the match for Team USA 5&4!! Team USA 12.5 Points to Team
International 12.5 Points!!
 |
| Chris Kirk (USA) on the right holes the vital birdie putt to get a hard earned point for Team USA while Anirban Lahiri (India) looks on!! |
Match eight was Chris Kirk (USA) for Team USA verse
Anirban Lahiri (India) for Team International and they halved the par four, first
hole in pars. They halved the par four, second hole in pars. Team USA won the
par five, third hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par four,
fourth hole in pars. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. They halved
the par four, sixth hole in pars. They halved the par five, seventh hole in
pars. They halved the par three, eighth hole in pars. The halved the par four,
ninth hole in pars. They halved the par four, tenth hole in pars. Team USA were
conceded the par four, eleventh hole to go two up. Team International won the
par four, twelfth hole with a par to get back to one down. They halved the par
three, thirteenth hole in pars. Team International won the par four, fourteenth
hole with a birdie and the match was all square. They halved the par five,
fifteenth hole in pars. They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in pars. They
halved the par three, seventeenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par five,
eighteenth hole with a birdie in dramatic fashion to win the match one up!!
Team USA 13.5 Points to Team International 12.5 Points.
 |
| Jordan Spieth (USA) celebrates Team USA's win with Fanatics!! |
Match nine was Jordan Spieth (USA) for Team USA
verse Marc Leishman (Australia) for Team International and Team USA won the par
four, first hole with a birdie to go one up. Team USA won the par four, second
hole with a par to go two up. They halved the par five, third hole in pars. Team
International won the par four, fourth hole with birdie to get back to one
down. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. They halved the par four,
sixth hole in pars. They halved the par four, seventh hole in pars. They halved
the par three, eighth hole in pars. Team International won the par four, ninth
hole with a birdie and the match was all square. Team USA won the par four,
tenth hole with a par to go one up. They halved the par four, eleventh hole in
pars. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par and the
match was all square. Team USA won the par three, thirteenth hole with a birdie
to go one up. Team International won the par four, fourteenth hole with a
birdie and the match was all square. Team International was conceded the par
five, fifteenth hole to go one up. They halved the par four, sixteenth hole in
pars. They halved the par three, seventeenth hole in pars. They halved the par
five, eighteenth hole in birdies and Team International won the match one up!!
Team USA 13.5 Points to Team International 13.5 Points.
 |
| Jordan Spieth (USA) drives the golf cart with some of the USA Team and their wives and girlfriends as they go back to see the final matches |
Match ten was Zach Johnson (USA) for Team USA verse
Jason Day (Australia) for Team International and they halved the par four,
first hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, second hole with a par to go one
up. They halved the par five, third hole in birdies. They halved the par four,
fourth hole in pars. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. Team USA won
the par four, sixth hole with a par to go to two up. Team USA were conceded the
par five, seventh hole to go three up. They halved the par three, eighth hole
in pars. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. Team USA won the par
four, tenth hole to go four up. Team USA won the par four, eleventh hole to go
five up. Team International won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to get
back to four down. Team International won the par three, thirteenth hole with a
birdie to get back to three down. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole
with birdies. Team International were conceded the par five, fifteenth hole to
get back to two down. Team USA won the par four, sixteenth hole with a par and
won the match 3&2!! Team USA 14.5 Points lead Team International 13.5
Points.
Match eleven was Matt Kuchar (USA) for team USA
verse Branden Grace (RSA) for Team International and Team International won the
par four, first hole with a par to go one up. Team International won the par
four, second hole with a par to go two up. They halved the par five, third hole
in pars. They halved the par four, fourth hole in pars. They halved the par three,
fifth hole in pars. Team International won the par four, sixth hole with a par
to go three up. They halved the par five, seventh hole in pars. Team
International won the par three, eighth hole with a par to go four up. Team
International won the par four, ninth hole with a birdie to go five up. Team
USA won the par four, tenth hole with a par to get back to four down. Team
International won the par four, eleventh hole with a par to go five up. Team
USA won the par four, twelfth hole with a par to get back to four down. They
halved the par three, thirteenth hole with pars. Team USA won the par four,
fourteenth hole with a birdie to get back to three down. They halved the par
five, fifteenth hole in pars. Team USA won the par four, sixteenth hole with a
par to get back to two down. They halved the par three, seventeenth hole in
pars and Team International won the match 2&1!! Team USA 14.5 Points to
Team International 14.5 Points.
 |
| Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) on the left and Bill Haas (USA) on the right embrace after he clinched the winning point for Team USA!! |
Match twelve was Bill Haas (USA) for Team USA verse
Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) for Team International and as it turned out it
would be the deciding match of the 2015 Presidents Cup and they halved the par
four, first hole in pars. They halved the par four, second hole in bogeys. They
halved the par five, third hole in birdies. They halved the par four, fourth
hole in bogeys. They halved the par three, fifth hole in pars. Team USA won the
par four, sixth hole with a par to go to one up. Team USA were conceded the par
five, seventh hole to go two up. They halved the par three, eighth hole in
pars. They halved the par four, ninth hole in pars. Team International won the
par four, tenth hole with a par to get back to one down. Team International won
the par four, eleventh hole with a par and the match was all square. Team USA
won the par four, twelfth hole with a birdie to go one up. They halved the par
three, thirteenth hole in pars. They halved the par four, fourteenth hole in
pars. They halved the par five, fifteenth hole in pars. They halved the par
four, sixteenth hole in pars. They halved the par three, seventeenth hole in
pars. So Team USA lead one up over Team International heading to the par five,
eighteenth hole. Both players hit brilliant drives that were in the centre of
the fairway. Team USA hit their second shot in the left green side bunker. Team
International played next and their second shot came up short on the green.
Then both Team USA and Team International and the twenty thousand gallery
surrounding the eighteenth hole gave the players a huge standing ovation!! And
just before Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) played his third shot chip all the
South Korean gallery started chanting “Sang Moon Bae, Sang Moon Bae!!”. Team International played their third shot
first and Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) was faced with an extremely difficult
chip shot and he knew it was a must to get up and down for the birdie and get
the half point so Team International could half the eleventh Presidents Cup
Matches. But the pressure got too much for him and he duffed his chip shot!! It
rolled down the slope back to him. He hit his fourth shot chip too hard leaving
Team International a fifteen foot putt for par. Team USA now knew a birdie
would be enough to retain the Presidents Cup and Bill Haas (USA) splashed his
bunker shot for his third shot out to four feet from the pin. Team
International then conceded Team USA the birdie putt and Team USA won the match
two up!! Team USA won the 2015 Presidents Cup 15.5 Points to 14.5 Points!!
 |
| Bill Haas (USA) on the left is congratulated by Team USA Captain, and his Father Jay Haas (USA) on the right!! |
Both
Bill Haas (USA) for Team USA and Sang – Moon Bae (South Korea) Team
International embraced each other in the true sportsmanship of the
competition!! And the Team Captains and all their team members shock each
other’s hands as well!! Along with all the caddies, wives and girl friends of
the players and captains!! Then Steve Sands from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel
interviewed Team USAs, Bill Haas (USA) who won the deciding match and asked him
“What was it like playing in that anchor match and what were your thoughts when
you saw your name get put up in the twelfth position last night?” And Bill Haas
for Team USA replied “Ah, I mean honestly that is what you got to want, I said
something to Zach (Meaning his team mate, Zach Johnson (USA)) you I mean man I
hope you guys go out and dust them in the morning so it doesn’t come down to me,
Ah he said “(Zach Johnson (USA)) that is what you have go to want. You have got
to want to be in that position”. Bill Haas (USA) continued on “It wasn’t
pretty, I don’t think I might have been even par or one under so it certainly
was a ball striking day for either of us, down the stretch I hit some great
shots, ah I hated for Sang Moon Bae (South Korea) (His Opponent) there on the
last hole because he was grinding hard and you could feel the energy of the
crowd, I was just very fortunate, I had a couple of good bounces early that
allowed me to get a couple up early, and I just kind of hung in there, I mean I
was ah, that was the hardest position I felt on the golf course in my career,
so it feels good to hang on and hit some good shots down the stretch”. Then
Steve Sands from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel said to Bill Haas (USA) “You were a
captains pick, your Dad is the Captain and you are the anchor match, you looked
cool all week long you didn’t really let your emotions come out, what was going
on inside playing for your father?” Bill Haas (USA) replied “Ah Hard to
explain, um certainly love to be here, Ah, I can’t even talk about it really,
it was a goal of mine all year is to make this team, I shouldn’t be getting
emotionally this not it is just golf, but to be in that team room with all
those guys, it just means a lot to me!!”. Then Steve Sands from the NBC
Sports/Golf Channel said to Bill Haas (USA) “Congratulations on the win”. And
Bill Haas (USA) replied “Thanks Steve”.
 |
| Jay Haas (USA) the USA Team Captain on the left and Bill Haas (USA) his son on the right pose with the Presidents Cup Team USA won!! |
Then Roger Maltbie from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel
interviewed Team USAs, Team Captain, Jay Haas (USA) and asked him “Well Jay,
describe your emotions of this, you Son goes out in the last match and brings
home the bacon”. And Jay Haas, the USA Team Captain replied “I don’t know if I
can get through this (with tears in his eyes and can hardly talk) No I can’t do
it” Then Roger Maltbie from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel who interviewed Team
USAs, Team Captain, Jay Haas (USA) and said to him “I am just going to go with
you”. Then Jay Haas (USA) Team Captain continued “I am so happy for the team,
you know great bunch of guys, Ah we are riding back down the fairway on
eighteen, before Bill (His son) played the seventeenth hole and I said Bill win
one for your Mum, your Mum deserves this, and ah, oh my gosh, when we put him
(Bill, his son) out twelfth we had no idea obviously that this was going to happen, ah he (Bill,
his son) played beautifully shots down the stretch, sixteen, seventeen and
eighteen, I didn’t see the shot here at the end how close it came, just proud
of all of them, ah couldn’t even of dreamt this, I just really happy of the
guys!!” Then Roger Maltbie from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel who interviewed
Team USAs, Team Captain, Jay Haas (USA) and said to him “Congratulations, Enjoy
it!!”
 |
| The whole of the victorious Team USA poses with the Presidents Cup they won and the USA Stars and Stripes Flag!! |
Then Steve Sands from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel said
to the International Team Captain, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) “With the
International Team Captain, Nick Price (Zimbabwe), what are your thoughts right
now Nick?” And Nick Price (Zimbabwe) replied “I don’t think it could of got a
whole lot more exciting than, that, um you know just say for a couple of shots,
and maybe a little bit of inexperience on our side, you know as a captain you
start you start questioning where you place your guys, um but I think I did we
all did a pretty good job of doing the line up today, I just had a feeling it
was going to come down to one of the
last two games, and ah I’m just so proud of that team, my team, I will
tell you I can’t tell you what it is like to bring eight countries together,
eight individuals, you who speak six different languages, and different
cultures, they bonded really well, and to play the brilliant golf they did, and
I am just so proud, irrelevant of the outcome, we obviously would of loved to
have won, we put on a show of golf this week that I think are you know golf is
the Victor this week, that is for sure!!” Then Steve Sands from the NBC
Sports/Golf Channel said to the International Team Captain, Nick Price
(Zimbabwe) “You fought hard to change the format, you didn’t quite get all the
way to your side, but you got it pretty much to where you want it to be, you
also said you putting a huge significance on this week to not only help the
game of golf but to help this event, the Presidents Cup, and I know with a
losing effort you are properly not very happy right now, but can you see big
see the big picture in the effort your guys put out there to make this close?”
Nick Price (Zimbabwe) International Team Captain replied “Yeah, but it is all
about the players you know and not about me, and it’s not about the cup, it is
the guys who play and those are the guys that make this cup, okay if you take
the players out there is nothing left, so these guys have now got a goal to go
on from here, they have got some fire because they came so close, you I
remember when Seve lost the Ryder Cup, and when he went in the locker room I
think it was back in 1981 or 1983 and all the guys were down in the European
Team, and Seve said no this is only one point we lost by, this we should be excited about and I think
that is where we The International Team and the Presidents Cup is at right
now”. Then Steve Sands from the NBC Sports/Golf Channel said to the
International Team Captain, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) “Been very gracious with your
time all week long, we thank you for that Nick”. Nick Price (Zimbabwe) replied
“Thanks, Thanks for your support”.
So Team USA with 15.5 points won the matches to Team
International 14.5 points and Team USA continued their dominance with their six
straight winning of the Presidents Cup!! But at least Team International fought
a much closer battle this time under the new format of thirty matches instead
of thirty four matches as it had been in the previous ten Presidents Cups. The
Twelfth Presidents Cup Matches will be staged at Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey
City, New Jersey, USA at the end of September 2017. Let’s hope Team
International can finally break their duck and get a win over Team USA in two
years time now that they came so close this time!!
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the
State of California for the start of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and it is
the Frys.com Open and it is played on the Silverado CC
(North), Napa, California. It carries a huge prize – purse of US
$6,000,000 for the taking. Sang moon –Bae (South Korea) is the defending
champion but won’t be defending his title as he has just commenced his two
years of military service for the South Korean Army so there will be a new
Champion. Danny Lee (NZL) will properly sit this tournament out because it is
right after the Presidents Cup but Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who recently regained
his 2015/16 USPGA Tour card at the Web.com Tour Finals will hopefully get a
start and will be keen to have a good tournament to get his season going. It
starts on Thursday 15th October and I will report back who won the trophy in next
week.
So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list
standings this week and coming in at Number One Position for the sixth week of
his Career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off being part of the 2015 Team
USA Presidents Cup win this past week over Team International in South Korea and
his win at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola two weeks ago and also winning
the 2014/15 FedEx Cup and the US $10,000,000 bonus with 12.55 Official World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jason Day (Australia) who is fresh
off being part of the 2015 Team Internationals Presidents Cup narrow loss to
Team USA this past week in South Korea and also his tied for tenth position at
the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola two weeks ago with 12.53 Official World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) who is fresh
off his tied for sixteenth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola two
weeks ago and his tied for fourth position at the BMW Championship three weeks
ago with 11.09 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is
Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off being part of the 2015 Team USA Presidents
Cup win this past week over Team International in South Korea and also tied for
fifth position at the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola two weeks ago with 8.24
Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official
World Ranking Points list standings this week is Rickie Fowler (USA) who is
fresh off being part of the 2015 Team USA Presidents Cup win this past week over
Team International in South Korea and also tied for twelfth position at the
Tour Championship by Coca – Cola twos week ago with 7.86 Official World Ranking
Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his thirtieth week of another spell of
being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after being part of
the 2015 Team Internationals Presidents Cup narrow loss this past week to Team
USA in South Korea. This week he drops one place and falls to thirty seventh
position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.82
Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember there are four ways to miss a putt, but if
you get the ball past the hole you eliminate one!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com
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