The near-constant gloom that beset central Ohio this week muted what had hoped to be a watershed Presidents Cup, one where an International team victory—or at least a strong challenge—would give the event a much-needed lift. But cantankerous conditions made a lamb out of Muirfield Village Golf Club, and the American side assaulted the mushy greens and made too many birdies for the International side to match.
The International side showed promise as late as Saturday evening, when play was called due to darkness after yet another weather delay. But the American side broke their backs early Sunday morning, ultimately taking that second foursomes session 3.5 to 1.5 and building an essentially insurmountable six-point lead going into Sunday’s dozen singles matches. The American side’s three-point margin of victory, 18.5 to 15.5, looks closer than the competition ultimately felt. In short, the International squad was unable to build and maintain enough momentum to pose a serious threat to the Americans’ traditional dominance in the Presidents Cup.
Hunter Mahan (USA) def. Hideki Matsuyama (INTL) 3 & 2: A rest on Saturday afternoon clearly did Mahan some good, and he took care of Matsuyama, who showed at times a preview of what should be an exciting career.
Jason Day (INTL) def. Brandt Snedeker (USA), 6 & 4: Day was in complete control from the outset of this match, winning two of the first three holes and never looking back.
Graham DeLaet (INTL) def. Jordan Spieth (USA), 1 up: No one won a hole in this match until the ninth, when Spieth broke the ice. Neither player was more than one hole up until No. 18, where DeLaet holed a bunker shot to vanquish Spieth and cap off a 3-1-1 record. Spieth, for his part, had a solid first Presidents Cup campaign.
Ernie Els (INTL) def. Steve Stricker (USA), 1 up: The Old Guard representatives of each team had an entertaining match. Els made impressive birdies on Muirfield Village’s tough back-nine par threes to make the difference.
Jason Dufner (USA) def. Brendon De Jonge (INTL) 4 & 3: Like Matsuyama, De Jonge made the most of his opportunity as a rookie in this Presidents Cup. He ran out of gas against ball-striking surgeon Dufner, but he has to take a great deal of confidence away from this week.
Adam Scott (INTL) def. Bill Haas (USA), 2 & 1: Haas turned in a good team-play performance but Scott, the International team’s star player, was too much for the Wake Forest alum.
Zach Johnson (USA) def. Branden Grace (INTL) 4 & 2: Grace is a promising young player from South Africa, but he was completely ineffectual at Muirfield Village, going o-fer in four matches. Johnson, who battled the flu early in the week, went 3-1-0.
Marc Leishman (INTL) def. Matt Kuchar (USA), 1 up: Leishman salvaged a mediocre team-play portion of the event by beating the better-known and more polished Kuchar. Leishman has one career Tour victory, but expect that number to grow soon.
Tiger Woods (USA) def. Richard Sterne (INTL), 1 up: Sterne was not quite the opponent fans would have liked for Woods, but their match was a tight one. Speaking of tightness, Woods appeared to injure his back on No. 15 but won No. 16 and held on to secure the Cup-clinching point for the American side against the diminutive, game South African.
Charl Schwartzel (INTL) def. Keegan Bradley (USA) 2 & 1: Bradley, who seems to play with boundless energy in foursomes and four-ball matches alongside Phil Mickelson, ran out of steam in singles play against Schwartzel.
Louis Oosthuizen (INTL) and Webb Simpson (USA), halved: This match proved insurance for the American side, with Simpson never trailing. It would have gone to extra holes if it had mattered to the ultimate result, but it didn’t. Battling injury, 2010 Open Champion Oosthuizen went 1-3-1 for the week.
Angel Cabrera (INTL) def. Phil Mickelson (USA) 1 up: Had the Internationals been a bit closer going into singles play, this close match might have provided some great theater between two free-wheeling veterans. Then again, a closer Cup might have seen both players in different parts of the singles draw.
In 2015, the event heads to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea. There, the International team will look to win just its second Presidents Cup in 11 tries.