While most of America was sleeping last night its Presidents Cup team finished off a wild week with a close victory over an inspired International Team.
Korean hometown hero Sangmoon Bae conceded Bill Haas’ five foot par put on the eighteenth hole to give the U.S. the one point win 15.5 to 14.5.
It was a day of missed opportunities for both teams as many of the so-called stars of their teams failed to deliver in the clutch.
It was strange that it all came down to the last pairing as the Americans had leads in nine of the twelve matches halfway through the day.
But credit Nick Price and his players for never giving up. The Internationals bounced back to capture some critical matches and when the pressure hit many players collapsed.
Rickie Fowler was slapped around by a formerly impotent Adam Scot, 6 & 5. Bubba Watson missed a 4 foot putt on eighteen to lose his win and only collect half a point. J.B. Holmes had fought back to all square after seventeen but lost one up when Hideki Matsuyama birdied the last. Jimmy Walker lost to an unimpressive Steven Bowditch as he could card no birdies at all. Matt Kuchar finished his disappointing Cup with a loss to Branden Grace and even world number one, America’s best failed to deliver. Jordan Spieth squandered a 2 up lead after two holes to lose to Marc Leishman, the thirty seventh ranked player in the world.
But the biggest blunder of all wasn’t committed by the Americans but by Moon himself. Going into the last hole at one down to Haas the best Moon could hope for was to win the hole, finish all square with Haas and give his team a much deserved tie with each team would share the cup.
But with the weight of his team, his captain and all of Korea on his shoulders, not to mention that this is his last tournament before serving two years in the Korea military, Moon buckled under the weight. He flubbed his third shot chip in front off the green and collapsed into tears with the realization that he had failed to deliver.
He regained his composure, chipped on and when Haas’s bunker shot landed five feet from the hole Moon did the sporting thing and conceded the hole. It wasn’t the way he or his captain envisioned the finish.
In spite of all the gaffes and misplays the 2015 Presidents Cup will be remembered for a spirited, competitive match that may well be the start of the Internationals staying competitive with the Americans for years to come.
At the least it was a very entertaining week of golf by both teams and a boost to the reputation of the Presidents Cup.
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