They trailed after each of the first four sessions, but the U.S. dominated the International Team, 8-4, on Sunday at Royal Melbourne to win the Presidents Cup 16 matches to 14 after four days of stunning golf.
That tied the record for most points scored in Singles in tournament history. The U.S. set that record 25 years ago in the first Presidents Cup.
Tiger Woods won his match and finished 3-0-0, making him the first playing captain since Sam Snead in the 1959 Ryder Cup to go undefeated in his team’s victory.
“The whole team played extremely well today on a very difficult golf course against a very formidable International Team,” Woods said in the final press conference.
“They were up 8-10, and the guys went in and got it done. We were up early in a lot of matches and it came down to the very end.
“We knew that was going to happen. We had some really strong guys at the end. Actually, strong guys from 1 through 12.
“We were excited about going into this session. I know we lost the two-team sessions after the four-team sessions, but we were excited about our chances going into singles and we did it as a team.”
After the match International Team Captain Ernie Els reflected on what was the difference today.
“I think the first match was a crucial one, the way it went down,” Els explained.
“We needed that. In any case, yeah, quite a few, but I wanted to be well-placed for the final push.
“I have a lot of experience at the back and knew it was going to get very close. The Americans just played really great golf. They made the putts when they needed to and they got some crucial wins throughout the day.
“They tried so hard. They played so hard for each other and the team, and to buy into something new like I tried, I really have to take my hat off to every one of them.
“There are a lot of young, young players, a lot of players that the world has never seen or heard but you will see them a lot in the future.
“I have admiration for my guys and the caddies and the wives, it’s been fantastic.”
