I definitely didn’t think I’d regret not staying up past my curfew last night to watch the Presidents Cup. I certainly didn’t think I’d miss anything but the standard U.S. routing or maybe the Internationals attempting a tepid comeback. I really didn’t think I’d be saying what I’m about to say, especially since any little interest I had in the Presidents Cup completely disappeared after the only thing I considered that could be slightly intriguing did not happen — which was obviously Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, the worlds nos. 1 and 2, respectively, facing off in what would naturally be an intense battle filled with lots of thumbs-up and fist-pumps for Sunday singles.
Well, to be honest, I doubt I would been awake to watch, anyway, since I was playing in a tourney at NGLA this weekend (yes, very important with at least a few hundred in pro shop credit on the line) and had an early-ish tee time. #sorrynotsorry
But had it been any other weekend, I’m still not sure I would’ve been awake at 3am. I would have been kicking myself probably, but I’ve completely digressed into rambling nonsense, which I apologize for as I’m suffering from serious #firstworldproblems. I gathered it was actually worth tuning into for a bit when I woke up to check my Twitter feed, but I didn’t realize what a classic had unraveled on the other side of the planet in South Korea, while most Americans were sleeping in the wee hours of Sunday morning in the United States. (or doing something, anything besides watching golf on Saturday night). I mean, unfortunately, majority of my playing partners didn’t even realize the event took place this weekend. I’m not exaggerating, either.
Well, I finally sat down to read about the thrilling matches and emotional story lines that evolved into a Presidents Cup for the ages. Who would have thought? Sounds like it started out like a snooze-fest and then magically, chaos and drama and everything that makes match play and team events the best thing in golf unfolded.
Here are some of the highlights we missed…
*Sang-Moon Bae, the South Korean fan favorite who was playing in his last event in front of his home crowd before he has to report for duty in the two-year mandatory military service, chunking a chip on the 18th hole to choke away the chance to tie the Americans for the Cup. It is absolutely heart-breaking to watch him fall down to his knees, covering his face with his hands in agony (just about every time you have grown men crying in sports, you know it’s an instant classic or gut-wrenching moment).
The pressure of The Presidents Cup. pic.twitter.com/dP9vGTe6G2
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 11, 2015
*Bae lost to Bill Haas, who was able to clinch the winning point in the final match of the day, with his father Jay Haas as the captain. Haas, as you may recall, was one of the two wildcard picks. It was one of those fairytale father-son moments that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. You may even shed a tear. And that’s perfectly OK.
“I couldn’t even have dreamt this.” #PresidentsCup http://t.co/3yqCyyYeYX — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 11, 2015
*Chris Kirk holed a massive putt on the 18th hole to win his match against India’s Anirban Lahiri, but no, that’s not the catch — he reacted and showed emotion on the golf course…for the first time ever (not really)!!! He even threw in a massive fist-pump!
Wow. Kirk wins the match with an incredibly dramatic 18th hole birdie against Lahiri. #PresidentsCuphttp://t.co/xPiw5HrLMu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 11, 2015
From Bob Harig’s report on ESPN.com:
The biggest putt belonged to Chris Kirk, the only American who had never played in a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, especially because of the shocking turnaround in the match and in deciding who won the gold trophy. Kirk was all square with Anirban Lahiri of India, both just short of the 18th green. Kirk hit his pitch too hard and it went 15 feet by the cup, while Lahiri played his shot with perfect pace to 4 feet.
Given the status of the other matches on the course, it looked like an International victory. But only briefly.
Kirk, as stoic as they come on the PGA Tour, slammed his fist down when his putt took one last turn and dropped into the cup. It looked as though they would halve the match until Lahiri’s birdie putt hit the right side of the cup and spun out, and he let his putter fall over his back in disbelief.
It was like that all day. Seven of the 12 matches went the distance.
*Unfortunately, someone has to be on the other side of it and it hurts. Gutted for the almost-hero of the International team Lahiri.
Anirban Lahiri after a heart-breaking loss to Chris Kirk. #PresidentsCuppic.twitter.com/ERgvMMN8NN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 11, 2015
*Shout-out to Branden Grace for going an undefeated 5-0 on the week.
*Round-up/good summary of all the matches.
Only thing that could have made it better was if the Internationals had won…just sayin’. The all-time record is now 9-1-1 with the U.S. dominating. Well, at least we can count on winning one team event every two years! (Sorry, cheap sht, but just couldn’t resist.)
Congrats, team USA!
Riveting event, definitely worth staying up until 2:30am to watch. One side note as to why Jay Haas was so happy for his son Bill playing solid under enormous pressure. Jay was in the anchor match of the ’95 Ryder Cup and had a chance to win it for the US. What he did was hard to watch …. hit some of the most nervous, twitchy shots I’ve ever seen a pro hit. A video of his ugly 18th could be shown in Webster’s as the very definition of choke. The moment was just too big for him.