Share

USA romp to Presidents Cup victory

Jersey City - The United States polished off a 19-11 Presidents Cup win on Sunday over a battling International team whose fate was sealed over three punishing prior days.

Victory was in the bag when Daniel Berger went 3-up with three to play against South Korean Kim Si-Woo - assuring himself of at least half a point to go with the half-point gained by Kevin Chappell against Marc Leishman in the first match of the day.

By the time Berger wrapped up his 2 & 1 victory over Kim, victories for Aussie Jason Day and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama were irrelevant and it was certain that US President Donald Trump would be presenting the trophy to the home side on Sunday evening.

Trump arrived at Liberty National Golf Club - which lies in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty some 30 miles from his home at his Trump National Bedminster resort - just in time to see the Americans seal the win.

He watched for a while from the glass-walled clubhouse at the 14th green, along with US PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and former commissioner Tim Finchem.

"What a feeling," said Berger, who was informed by US captain Steve Stricker at the 16th that the United States had clinched it.

"This is a juggernaut of a US team," said International captain Nick Price. "They're an overpowering team that played some phenomenal golf. It was tough to watch, especially being on the receiving end."

The Americans set themselves up for a stress-free Sunday by thrashing the internationals over 18 foursomes and fourball matches - allowing them just two wins over the first three days.

The US led by 11 points overnight and needed just a point on Sunday to claim a seventh straight Cup.

"They came in here riding a ton of momentum and a ton of confidence," Stricker said of his players, who included the winners of the last three major championships. "It was about getting out of their way."

The Internationals, who won their only title back in 1998 and played to a draw in 2003, were hoping for more after a narrow defeat in South Korea two years ago.

In the end their only satisfaction was denying the US bid to become the first team to win every session.

The Internationals won six matches on Sunday and halved three.

"We all knew the guys were going to come out firing today to try and get a victory or to get a point for the team," said South African Louis Oosthuizen, a 1-up winner over Patrick Reed.

"In the 18 matches before today it's only 3.5 points, so I think everyone was anxious to get more points on the board."

World number three Matsuyama, noticeably out-of-sorts over the first three days, produced a 3 & 1 victory over US star Justin Thomas - who out-gunned him for the PGA Championship title in August.

Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela defeated British Open champion Jordan Spieth 2 & 1 - Spieth's third singles defeat in three Presidents Cup appearances.

Among the US winners on the final day, five-time major-winner Phil Mickelson downed Canadian Adam Hadwin 2 & 1 in his 100th match for the United States in Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup play.

Final results on Sunday in the 12th Presidents Cup match-play tournament between the United States and the International team at Liberty National Golf Club:

United States 19 International team 11

Singles

USA 4.5 Internationals 7.5

Kevin Chappell (USA) v Marc Leishman (AUS) halved

Jason Day (AUS) bt Charley Hoffman (USA) 2 & 1

Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) bt Justin Thomas (USA) 3 & 1

Daniel Berger (USA) bt Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 2 & 1

Charl Schwartzel (RSA) bt Matt Kuchar (USA) 1-up

Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) bt Patrick Reed (USA) 1-up

Dustin Johnson (USA) v Branden Grace (RSA) halved

Adam Scott (AUS) bt Brooks Koepka (USA) 3 & 2

Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) bt Jordan Spieth (USA) 2 & 1

Kevin Kisner (USA) v Anirban Lahiri (IND) halved

Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Adam Hadwin (CAN) 2 & 1

Rickie Fowler (USA) bt Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 6 & 4

Saturday Fourball

USA 3 Internationals 1

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (USA) bt Jason Day/Louis Oosthuizen (AUS/RSA) 2 & 1

Justin Thomas/Daniel Berger (USA) bt Hideki Matsuyama/Jhonattan Vegas (JPN/VEN) 3 & 2

Anirban Lahiri/Kim Si-Woo (IND/KOR) bt Charley Hoffman/Kevin Chappell (USA) 1-up

Dustin Johnson/Brooks Koepka (USA) bt Branden Grace/Marc Leishman (RSA/AUS) 3 & 2

Saturday Foursomes

USA 3.5 Internationals 0.5

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (USA) bt Jason Day/Marc Leishman (AUS) 4 & 3

Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Adam Scott/Adam Hadwin (AUS/CAN) 4 & 3

Phil Mickelson/Kevin Kisner (USA) bt Jhonattan Vegas/Emiliano Grillo (VEN/ARG) 2 & 1

Justin Thomas/Rickie Fowler (USA) v Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace (RSA) halved

Friday Fourball

United States 4.5 International team 0.5

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (USA) v Hideki Matsuyama/Adam Hadwin (JPN/CAN) halved

Rickie Fowler/Justin Thomas (USA) bt Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace (RSA) 3 & 2

Phil Mickelson/Kevin Kisner (USA) bt Jason Day/Marc Leishman (AUS) 1-up

Kevin Chappell/Charley Hoffman (USA) bt Charl Schwartzel/Anirban Lahiri (RSA/IND) 6 & 5

Dustin Johnson/Brooks Koepka (USA) bt Adam Scott/Jhonattan Vegas (AUS/VEN) 3 & 2

Thursday Foursomes

United States 3.5 International team 1.5

Rickie Fowler/Justin Thomas (USA) bt Hideki Matsuyama/Charl Schwartzel (JPN/RSA) 6 & 4

Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Adam Scott/Jhonattan Vegas (AUS/VEN) 1-up

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (USA) bt Kim Si-Woo/Emiliano Grillo (KOR/ARG) 5 & 4

Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace (RSA) bt Brooks Koepka/Daniel Berger (USA) 3 & 1

Kevin Kisner/Phil Mickelson (USA) v Jason Day/Marc Leishman (AUS) halved

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
67% - 958 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
33% - 465 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE