The United States beat the global team 15½-14½ to win the Presidents Cup for the sixth time in a row and ninth time in 11 contests.
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Safe to say that the World No. 2, and the rest of the global team present and future, have little to worry about. They started the singles session quick, holding a lead in eight of the 12 matches at one point. It gave the Internationals a fighting chance against a much tougher American opponent.
Louis Oosthuizen, who had been such a stalwart all week, halved his match with Patrick Reed after being two down early.
Hideki Matsuyama, International, def. J.B. Holmes, United States, 1 up.
Moments later, Lahiri blew his bunny putt and in a span of five minutes, the entire Cup outlook shifted yet again.
Watson and Holmes both missed the green, and when neither chipped in for eagle, Grace rolled his putt close enough to be conceded the birdie and a crucial win. After a Watson bogey on the 17th, a match that looked like a sure fire American point suddenly was all square. Lefty rewarded Captain Haas’ faith in him by playing incredibly well all week. “We’re representing our country and we’re representing our teammates and we feel responsible when we don’t play our best, we feel accountable to others, not just ourselves”.
“It’s OK, it’s OK”, the crowd chanted to him as he finished the final hole.
Global skipper Nick Price was determined no blame should be apportioned to Bae and Lahiri and said his team could have had a much easier task had it not been for their woeful foursomes performance on the opening day.
World number one Jordan Spieth was two up after two holes against Marc Leishman. Spieth did not play well all week, but he looked to be turning his fortunes around on Sunday when he jumped out to a quick 2 Up lead on Leishman.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get through this”, Jay Haas, 61, said, holding back tears as he began talking with NBC’s Roger Maltbie.
“I’m certainly looking forward to next year’s Ryder Cup, as well, and I hope that I don’t put the captain in a position where he has to pick me this time”, Mickelson said.
Team International’s MVP, Brendan Grace, got the Internationals one point from pulling off the upset and ending the losing streak when he took down Matt Kuchar.
Here is a list of the scoring for each of the players in the 2015 Presidents Cup highlighting the heroes and goats for each team.
The United States had led from the first day but were gradually pegged back by their opponents before Haas secured the win with his defeat of Bae. Bae, needing to win the hole to halve the match and thus make it a 15-15 tie, chunked his third shot from just short of the green and then pitched far past the hole with his fourth shot. Your mom deserves this, ‘ ” Jay Haas said. “That’s my favourite part about these matches”, the 22-year-old Texan said. “We put him out 12th and had no idea this was going to happen”. “But he played lovely”.
“I couldn’t even have dreamt this”. “I do feel bad right now, obviously”.
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On the opposite side of the emotional spectrum was Haas, who may be the least emotional player on the team. “I can’t even imagine these Major winners up here, what they are feeling like down the stretch, having felt that”, he said. The American advantage near the bottom of the roster was neutralized, and the result this week in Korea was the competition’s most exciting duel in 12 years.
