President’s Cup: US wins another one

October 7, 2013. The best from world, International Team has to wait for 2015 in South Korea to try for a win at next President’s Cup, as United States has  already established its authority over the Presidents Cup 2013.

This also marks the fifth straight win for Americans, who have won 8 out of 10 President Cup tournaments held so far.

The Americans needed only one more point to seal the victory. It was again Tiger Woods, who was entrusted to end the show on a positive note for the fifth time.

Woods found the green and two-putted for par and a 1-up victory over Richard Sterne, the third straight time he has won the clinching point in The Presidents Cup.

The Americans, who finished strong Sunday morning in the rain-delayed foursomes for a 14-8 lead, only needed to win four singles matches.

[highlight] It was a team effort this whole week, We really played well to give ourselves a nice lead, said Woods [/highlight]

It took longer than anyone expected.

“I must have asked 500 times, `How are we getting this fourth point? Where is the fourth point coming from?'” said Fred Couples, a three-time winner as U.S. captain. “You’re nervous. Not for the players — the players know what they’re doing. But we knew we needed 18 points, and we got them.

The final score — United States 18.5, International 15.5 — and whether the matches would beat the rain was really the only suspense on Sunday.

“People say it was close. Jack (Nicklaus) said it was close,” International captain Nick Price said. “You tell me. We were behind the 8-ball all day. If we pulled it off, it would have been miraculous.”

International team with seven rookies certainly gave a tough fight.

Zach Johnson closed out Branden Grace, 4 and 2, to give the Americans 17 points and assure them a tie. However, it took more than an hour to get that last point.

Graham DeLaet holed out for birdie for the second time Sunday on the 18th hole, this time from a bunker to beat 20-year-old Jordan Spieth. Ernie Els found his putting touch and beat Steve Stricker. Marc Leishman rolled in a 15-foot par putt from the back fringe of the 18th green to beat Matt Kuchar. Adam Scott and Charl Schwartzel won their matches.

The International team’s fleeting hopes ended when Woods, despite suffering back spasms again in the final hour of his match, didn’t make a birdie on the back nine and still won.

“It was a team effort this whole week,” said Woods, who went 4-1 for the best record of any player. “We really played well to give ourselves a nice lead.”