Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 17 december 2019

Tiger Woods

Continued from Page 17 Tiger as captain," Kuchar
said. "We had a roomful
"Any time you have mo- of some of the greatest
ments where you're able to golfers in the world, and
do something that is bigger when he speaks, we listen.
than us as an individual, it's I think all of us will look back
so much more meaningful and have these pictures
and so much more spe- hanging on our walls and
cial," he said. say, 'We played for and
The Americans felt the alongside Tiger Woods, the
same way. greatest player ever.' It was
Trailing for the first time in awesome."
16 years, they followed his It was crushing for the In-
lead. Woods, the first play- ternationals, hoping to end
ing captain in 25 years, two decades without a vic-
went out in the first of 12 sin- tory.
gles matches and outlast- Ernie Els, who has finished
ed Abraham Ancer to set second to Woods more
the Presidents Cup record times than anyone in golf,
by winning his 27th match. assembled the youngest In-
It also set the tone for his ternational team ever and
team. inspired them with equal
Patrick Reed, winless in doses of purpose and ana-
three matches and heck- lytics. It had the lead going
led so badly for his rules into Sunday for the first time
violation last week in the since 2003, the tie in South
Bahamas that his caddie Africa.
shoved a spectator and It just didn't have enough to
was kept from working the cross the line.
final day, was 6 up through "I followed a plan, and it U.S. team player and captain Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after the U.S. team won the
seven holes. didn't quite work out, but President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15,
Dustin Johnson, playing for we came damn close," Els 2019.
the first time since the Tour said. "If you compare our Associated Press
Championship because team on paper with other victory, leaving him no lowed Woods to hold dual later. Their matched ended
of knee surgery, was 4 up teams in other sport, you choice but to be the first roles at Royal Melbourne. in a halve.
through seven holes. would have laughed us captain to pick himself. And then Stricker had to At the closing ceremony,
Perhaps most inspiring was out of the building. But we He was the only player to hold back tears of his own. the Internationals stood
Tony Finau in the second gave it a hell of a go and go undefeated at Royal The International team at with their arms crossed.
match. He was 4 down to we came mightily close to Melbourne, winning twice least kept it close, unlike The frustration was evident,
Hideki Matsuyama through winning and upsetting one with Justin Thomas and on two years ago at Liberty even among the seven
10 holes when Finau won of the greatest golf teams his own ball against Ancer, National when it was one rookies.
the next four and earned of all time." one of seven rookies for the putt away from being elimi- The Americans now lead
a half-point that put even That team included the Internationals. nated on Saturday. the series 11-1-1, the only In-
more pressure on the Inter- greatest player of his gen- "We were very inspired to Even with so much Ameri- ternational victory coming
national team. eration. Woods was ap- play for Tiger — with Tiger — can red on the score- at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
Matt Kuchar delivered the pointed captain in March and it's so satisfying to win boards, the Internationals "I'm disappointed.
winning point without even 2018 and suggested he this cup because of that," still had a chance in the That's all I can say," said
winning his match. His 5-foot might be a playing cap- Finau said. final hour. Adam Scott, who has
birdie putt on the 17th hole tain, which he later said Emotions were raw on the Matsuyama lost a 1-up played nine straight Presi-
assured the Americans the was a joke. golf course as the Ameri- lead with a three-putt from dents Cups without win-
half-point they needed to And then he won the Mas- cans celebrated their first 25 feet that led to the halve ning.
win for the eighth straight ters, his 15th major and comeback since the four- with Finau. Adam Hadwin "But I like what's happening
time. first in 11 years, to cap off point deficit at Brookline in had a 15-foot birdie putt to in the future. I can't wait for
The last two matches end- a comeback from injury the 1999 Ryder Cup. beat Bryson DeChambeau another crack at it."
ed in halves for a 16-14 made even more mean- In his TV interview, Woods on the 18th hole, but had The Internationals likely will
score. The Americans tied a ingful by the hugs he shared was fighting back tears, yet to settle for a halve when want Els to return as cap-
Presidents Cup record with with family and those who another indication to his he missed on the high side. tain. As for Woods?
an 8-4 margin in singles, the never left his side. players how much it meant. Louis Oosthuizen lost a 3-up "We are going to have
largest since the first event Two weeks before he filled "I love seeing other people lead at the turn against those conversations in the
in 1994. out his team with four cap- cry, especially Tiger Woods," Kuchar, who caught up on future, but not right now,"
"It was really cool being part tain's picks, Woods won in said Steve Stricker, one of the 15th hole and set off Woods said. "We are going
of this team and having Japan for his 82nd career three vice captains who al- the celebration two holes to enjoy this one."q