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SPORTS Monday 16 deceMber 2019

Tiger Woods and U.S. team rally to win Presidents Cup again

Continued from Page 18 through seven holes before
eventually putting away
Matt Kuchar delivered the C.T. Pan to win for the first
clinching putt, a 5-footer time this week.
for birdie that assured him Webb Simpson, who
a halve against Louis Oost- played with Reed as they
huizen and gave the Amer- lost all three team match-
icans the 15 1/2 points they es, never trailed in beating
needed to win. Byeong Hun An. Everyone
“For us to be in a hole, to on the U.S. team contrib-
come back and win this uted something.
thing ... to win it as a team, With so much red on the
but to do it with Tiger Woods board, Tony Finau might
as our captain was just a have been his team the
huge thrill,” Kuchar said. biggest boost. He was 4
They result was 16-14, and down through 10 holes
at least this one was a con- against Hideki Matsuyama,
test. The U.S. victory two won the next four holes and
years ago at Liberty Nation- earned a half-point.
al was so resounding that it It came down to the final
nearly ended on Saturday. hole in South Korea four
International captain Er- The U.S. team hold their trophy after they won the President’s Cup golf tournament at Royal years ago. This time, the
nie Els was determined to Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament Americans were assured
turn it around. He created 16-14. of a tie if the Internationals
a new logo for the Inter- Associated Press were to win the last three
national team. He relied matches, creating at least
heavily on analytics. It still Els thought back to Friday, Woods hugged everyone had to go earn it. And we a little drama.
wasn’t enough. when the Americans won hard, players and vice cap- did.” But it was a familiar ending.
“I followed a plan, and it two matches with birdies tains alike, wearing a smile Els fashioned the youngest The Americans now are 11-
didn’t quite work out, but on the 18th hole and rallied not seen since he walked International team from a 1-1 in an event that began
we came damn close,” Els to halve another to keep off the 18th green at Au- record nine countries from in 1994.
said. “If you compare our the International lead from gusta National after be- everywhere outside Europe “It’s hard to digest,” said
team on paper with other growing. coming a Masters champi- and took a 10-8 lead into Adam Scott, who has
teams in other sport, you On Sunday, all he saw on again after injuries that the final day, the first time played in nine Presidents
would have laughed us was U.S. momentum that nearly ended his career. it had the edge in 16 years. Cup without ever winning.
out of the building. But we couldn’t be stopped. “We relied on one another It wasn’t enough. “It’s incredibly disappoint-
gave it a hell of a go and “We gave you everything as a team, and we did it — Patrick Reed, whose cad- ing but ... I like where this
we came mightily close to we had,” Els said to Woods together,” Woods said, his die was benched for shov- team is going, and I’ll be
winning and upsetting one at the closing ceremo- voice choked slightly with ing a fan who had cursed working really hard now
of the greatest golf teams ny. “You were the better emotion. “This cup wasn’t Reed from close range to be on the team in two
of all time.” team.” going to be given to us. We Saturday, built a 6-up lead more years.” q

Magic hand Pelicans franchise-record

12th straight loss

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jon- The Magic snapped a TIP-INS
athan Isaac had 21 points three-game losing streak. Magic: D.J. Augustin had
and 10 rebounds and the Jrue Holiday led the Peli- 17 points, and Even Fourni-
Orlando Magic beat New cans with 29 points and er 16. On Saturday night,
Orleans 130-119 on Sunday, eight assists. Augustin, a New Orleans
sending the Pelicans to J.J. Redick added 23 points native, became the first
their franchise-record 12th against the team that draft- athlete in any sport to have
straight loss. ed him in the first round in his jersey retired at Brother
Orlando center Nikola 2006. Martin High School. Augus-
Vucevic retured from a The Magic led 58-57 at half- tin, who wore No. 14, led
sprained ankle to score 20 time and pulled away with the school to two Louisiana
points. He played 29 min- a 41-point third quarter. state championships and is New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) dribbles against
utes in his first game since Isaac had 11 points in the the program’s career scor- Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier in the first half of an NBA
Nov. 20. quarter. ing leader. ... q basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019.
Associated Press