It looked like Johnson was going to put Lee out of his misery early on Saturday, but Lee kept fighting and fighting. The worldwide team was happy to be back in the match. He took his first lead when Johnson tried to drive the 14th green and found the water, and it was shaping up as the biggest surprise of singles. What a way to (basically) end it.
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Fowler made four bogeys in 13 holes.
Here’s the full match board from a week that delivered the United States of America the Cup as 15.5 to 14.5 victors. The American came out on top in both matches.
Following this event, Watson is expected to return to Pensacola where he is hosting his annual Bubba Bash for the first time in this community. He caught up to Watson when the two-time Masters champion three-putted from long range on the 17th. This is the second straight day Watson has missed a short one on the final hole for a full point. The Americans, after all, had won each of the last five matches by at least three points. He came within inches of holing a bunker shot on the 17th to halve the hole, which assured the Americans would do no worse than tie.
That statement hardly does justice to what was an outstanding week where the Presidents Cup was elevated to a new standing in the game and any suggestion that the event has developed into a one horse race has been largely put to bed. Schwartzel gave away six holes by failing to make par. He also was unbeaten in 2005 and 2009.
There were groans in the room when it was clear the Presidents Cup would not have a Spieth-Day match.
Wow. Kirk wins the match with an incredibly dramatic 18th hole birdie against Lahiri. Kirk earned a full point for the U.S.by making a 15-footer for birdie and then watched as Lahiri missed his birdie from 4 feet.
His putt caught the right edge of the cup and spun out, and he dropped his putter over his back in disbelief.
World No. 1 Spieth, who finished the week 3-2, was beaten by inspired Australian Mark Leishman 1-up as the Internationals scented only their second win in the 21-year history of the Ryder Cup style competition. Haas cared only about putting Spieth in the No. 9 slot, which tends to be the deciding match when it’s close. “It’s just golf“, he said.
The tense final session was just what this competition needed, though it didn’t feel that way to the global team. He poured it in the middle of the cup.
Day is in the 10th spot against Zach Johnson.
No fewer than seven of the 12 singles on a bitterly cold, windy and wet day went to the final hole as a succession of the world’s best players suffered huge upsets.
“I believe I would have been just as nervous no matter who was out there, but I was more emotional I think because it was Bill”, Jay Haas said. The American never woke up. Kuchar started winning holes late in the match, but Grace closed him out on the 17th.
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Maltbie: “I’m gonna go with you!” But, and I know this sounds corny as hell, the overall event was the big victor in this Sunday singles. In the final hour, the matches seemed to be headed for a 15-15 split. Grace chipped in for birdie from left of the 16th green, raising his arm before the ball reached the cup and sharing a bear hug with his childhood friend.
