Tiger Woods led the US team home. REUTERS/Brandon Malone
Tiger Woods sealed the winning point as the experience of
the United States staved off a stiff challenge by the
Internationals to seal the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne
Golf Club today
The 14-times major champion, whose selection as one of Fred
Couples's two captain's picks was controversial, found his
putting groove at the right time to march to a 4&3 win
over Australia's Aaron Baddeley and give the Americans the
trophy again.
"It does feel good. I was hoping it wouldn't come down to my
point," Woods said in a greenside interview after sealing the
win on the 15th green.
"We didn't get off to a good start early ... We needed to get
our point. We went out there and played really well today and
put a lot of heat on Badds (Baddeley)."
Leading the Internationals 13-9 going into the final day in
sun-bathed Melbourne, the US needed only five wins from the
singles matches but were made to work hard to close it out.
The Internationals young brigade charged out of the blocks
early to win the first four matches but Hunter Mahan and Nick
Watney steadied the US ship before the seasoned campaigners
took over.
David Toms blasted Australia's Robert Allenby 7&5 to
leave the US needing only two points to win, before Jim Furyk
rolled in a five-foot putt to beat South African Ernie Els
4&3.
"I knew our guys would settle down," said Couples, who won
his second straight Cup over counterpart Norman. "The old
stand-bys in the end worked well."
Woods, who credited team mate Steve Stricker for helping him
rediscover his touch on the greens after struggling
throughout the tournament, dropped a sublime shot from the
bunker within a foot of the pin, leaving Baddeley a monster
putt to take the match to the 16th.
Baddeley didn't go close and the the United States celebrated
their fourth straight Presidents Cup win at the venue of
their sole loss in 1998.
Woods's win was a repeat of 2009, when the former world
number one stroked the winning putt against South Korea's YE
Yang at San Francisco.
"It's disappointing to maybe not get the Cup this year,"
Australia's Adam Scott said after beating Phil Mickelson
2&1 to give the Internationals a glimmer of hope. "Good
showing from us today but too little too late maybe."
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