At least Captain Couples didn’t try to pucker up.
The US retained the Presidents Cup, finishing with 19.5 points vs. the Internationals’ 15.5.
It was only fitting that Tiger’s dominating 6&5 victory over Y.E. Yang — the man who took him down at the PGA Championship — sealed it for the US. For Tiger, the hole was the size of a toilet bowl, where he dropped putt after putt on a defenseless Yang. There was never a doubt Tiger would seek some sort of redemption today. It appeared it was good enough for him:
He got me there, and I figured I could get him here. It certainly was not exactly the same atmosphere, but then it still was an important point.
And he closed the week with a pristine 5-0 record — which apparently Freddie was banking on:
I needed him — this is going to sound stupid — to go 5-0.
Tiger had a little help from his BFF Steve Stricker in the team matches, particularly yesterday, which the always insightful and tactful Johnny Miller pointed out during the telecast. But Tiger graciously concurred:
Man, I helped out on two holes pretty much — well, three holes all day, 17, 18 this morning and then here. Otherwise I was cheerleading all day.
Teamwork! But those contributions were spectacular enough: The clutch 22-foot birdie on the 17th to extend the match. The picture-perfect Tiger fist-pump, one more animated than usual. One that we haven’t seen enough of this year (despite his 6 wins). The beautiful 4-iron approach shot to 7 feet on the final hole.
Now of course there were 10 other guys that chipped in, too. Kinda. After struggling on the greens earlier in the week (despite Michael Jordan’s sage words of wisdom), Sean O’Hair cured his atrocious case of the yips with a putting lesson from Phil Mickelson. It helped, obviously — O’Hair obliterated Ernie Els 6&4.
Let’s not forget about Phil. I will happily admit his play highlighted the team matches and greatly contributed to securing a dominating US victory. Yay FIGJAM.
The team camaraderie and the match play format in the Presidents Cup are what provide the theatrics that make only the true die-hard fans swoon. Like me and you.
[Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images]
