The USA have claimed victory over the Internationals in the Presidents Cup as many predicted they would, surviving a small scare before notching up an 18.5-15.5 result at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Coming back early Sunday to finish four rain-affected incomplete foursomes matches, the Internationals had a chance to stick close to the USA if they could muster the majority of points, but they imploded instead.
Having led in all five matches of the final session at a time on Saturday afternoon, the visitors ended up winning just one, losing three and scratching out a half.
It put them in a deep hole, six points down at 14-8 ensuring it would take 10 wins from 12 singles matches to win.
Nick Price’s team fought tooth and nail but managed just seven wins.
When Tiger Woods closed out a 1up win over South African Richard Sterne the competition was clinched, giving the USA a fifth straight Presidents Cup, and their eighth outright win in 10 attempts.
The Internationals had closed to within three points with just three matches remaining before Woods ensured there would be no miracle at Muirfield for the visitors.
Australian Jason Day tried to spark a comeback by closing out his match against Brandt Snedeker quickly, surging to a 4up lead through six holes and eventually winning 6 and 4.
“I knew it would take a big push from the Internationals to win but I just wanted to finish my second Presidents Cup with a bang,” Day said.
“I’ve been playing great golf the whole week, and I just wish it was a little bit closer.”
Canadian Graham DeLaet kept the roll going with a 1up win over Jordan Spieth, iced with a hole out birdie from the bunker on the 18th.
But Japanese 21-year-old young gun Hideki Matsuyama couldn’t pull off an upset against Hunter Mahan, losing 3 and 2, and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge fell 4 and 3 to recent PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner.
When South African Branden Grace fell 4 and 2 to former Masters champion Zach Johnson it guaranteed the USA a tie at worst.
Australian Adam Scott defeated Bill Haas 2 and 1 and South African Ernie Els took out Steve Stricker to keep the faintest International hopes alive.
When Aussie Marc Leishman drained a 15-foot putt from the fringe on 18 to beat Matt Kuchar 1up, and Charl Schwartzel closed out Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 a whiff of a miracle tie, and a share of the cup, was still in the air.
But Sterne, trailing by one hole after hitting a terrible shot over the par three 16th green, couldn’t find a way to win on the final two holes.
With the title in safe keeping Webb Simpson and South African Louis Oosthuizen played out a halved match while Argentina’s Angel Cabrera beat Phil Mickelson 1up.
