Presidents Cup closely contested, compelling
.jpg?w=728)
Bubba Watson hugs a trophy he received after winning a singles match in this year’s Presidents Cup in this picture he posted on his Twitter account, Monday. / Photo captured from Twitter
By Nam Hyun-woo
It was a week that thrilled golf fans all around the world and the gallery crowded the 2015 Presidents Cup in Incheon.
There were questions over whether a golf tournament between the U.S. Team and non-European International Team could succeed in the foreign land of Korea, concerning “a festivity without the host.”
However, the golfers featured a highly-contested a 15.5-14.5 U.S. victory, the narrowest margin since a tie in the 2003 event, and the host’s native son, Bae Sang-moon, proved he was the right captain’s pick, recording a 2-1-1 in his first appearance in the competition. A total of 100,205 people visited Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon throughout the four-day competition and two practice rounds, rooting for the stars who displayed the best golf in front of them.
Also, by hosting the four-day event, Korea became the first Asian country to hold the event and delivered good momentum to the next host of the biennial event, Liberty National, U.S. Here are some look-backs to the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Captain’s picks repay
As Bae’s bid to secure a full point and even the score was foiled with his missed chip shot on the 18th hole of Sunday’s deciding single match against Bill Haas, the U.S. improved its record to 9-1-1. The U.S. Team’s victory was largely anticipated before the tee-off, but not everybody was sure that the Internationals would be so tenacious or the two captains’ picks would pay off throughout the competition.
Haas, who was selected by his father and U.S. Team Captain Jay Haas, had not been the best player of the U.S. Team. There were talks over his selection earlier and his performance in four-ball and foursome sessions until Sunday was 0-1-1. He said that he didn’t want to shoulder the entire weight of the team in the very last moment. He later said in an interview that his teammates who played before him should “take care of business before it comes down to me.”
However, it happened and Haas became the hero of what the foreign media describe as a “storybook ending,” defeating Bae one up and making headlines of stories reviewing the Presidents Cup.
Though Bae blamed himself for the result, especially about the last botched chip attempt, his performance throughout the week worked successfully for him to get away from the stigma of the military service issue that haunted him throughout the year.
Sentiment has been harsh on him after his attempt to extend his visa was deemed as an effort to dodge the country’s two-year mandatory duty. He said he will join the military after the Presidents Cup, but still there were more barbs thrown at him than embracing words. Though Bae joined the team as a captain’s pick, he was rested on the first day and clearing his name in his last big golf tournament for a while seemed elusive.
However, he seemed to be focused on playing golf instead of being distracted. He notched up his first point for the Internationals on Friday and went on to pile up a total of two points in four-balls and a half point in foursomes. With the contribution in the Internationals’ blue numbers appearing more in the scoreboard and the dramatic loss in the final singles match, local media, which had been harsh on him, is now busy distributing articles supporting him.
“I don’t know when it will be, but I hope that I can make another appearance in the Presidents Cup and beat the U.S. Team,” Bae said.
Rankings are not everything
One of the cards of the Presidents Cup was that World Nos. 1 and 2, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day leading their teams and facing each other in a singles match in the end. However that did not happen.
Spieth was 3-2-0 at the tournament, but it was hard to say his performance was as compelling as expected from the reigning FedExCup, U.S. Open and Masters champion. Still, Spieth may have fulfilled his role, but Day’s winless 0-4-1 Incheon outing was more disappointing. Rickie Fowler was also not successful with a 0-3-1.
Rather, another U.S. captain’s pick Phil Mickelson fired miraculous shots to electrify viewers and Branden Grace of the International Team won all the matches he played.
Mickelson proved his 11-time Presidents Cup experiences and went 3-0-1 at Incheon, becoming the two undefeated players of the U.S. 12-plaer squad along with his foursome and four-ball partner, Zach Johnson. Mickelson also made highlights with a miraculous 140-yard bunker shot as well as his ball switch mistake during Friday’s match that cost him a half point.
For the International side, Grace lifted the team, accomplishing a perfect 5-0-0 and becoming the fifth player to finish a Presidents Cup week with a perfect score. His South African compatriot and pair partner Louis Oosthuizen also won four matches and halved a single match with Patrick Reed.