Ultimate Tiger Woods 'boss move' in epic Cup victory
Tiger Woods gave golf fans another emphatic illustration of why he is regarded as the greatest golfer of all time after inspiring a come-from-behind Presidents Cup win for the ages.
With USA trailing the Internationals 10-8 going into the final day at Royal Melbourne, Woods stood tall as the Americans pulled off an astonishing eighth straight Presidents Cup triumph.
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The Americans turned a 10-8 deficit into a 16-14 triumph after an incredible performance in Sunday’s decisive singles matches.
American captain Woods took it upon himself to kick things off for his side and the 15-time major winner delivered in style.
The playing US captain outclassed International opponent Abraham Ancer 3 and 2 for his 27th Presidents Cup victory, breaking a record he shared with Phil Mickelson.
Woods equalled Mickelson's all-time record in Friday's foursomes, before claiming the record outright in the singles to finish with a perfect three wins from three.
As impressive as Woods' captain's knock for the American's was, it was the manner ini which he clinched victory that set the internet alight.
The 43-year-old's laser-like approach to the sixteenth left him requiring two putts or less to seal victory.
However, Woods only needed the one - taking his cap off before the ball had even rolled in to send the Melbourne gallery, commentators and fans into raptures.
#TigerWoods has had so many baller moves in his career, but taking his lid off before the putt drops is definitely up there on the list. Vicious and beautiful. #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/SwF28J1Tyt
— Erickson Kiva (@EricksonKiva) December 15, 2019
"As it was probably six feet out, the match was over."@TigerWoods finishes his match in style at the @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/mneJEcwcDc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019
Tiger woods !!! The boss !!!
— ctpete333 (@ctpete333) December 15, 2019
Captain Tiger Woods wins 3 and 2, sets the tone for the day and ends the week with a perfect 3-0 record. Dreamy.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) December 15, 2019
CAPTAIN BOSS MAN TIGER WOODS WALKS IT IN #PRESIDENTSCUP
— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) December 15, 2019
Boys and Girls Tiger Woods is the best player in the World. The Goat will win another Major in 2020.
— Barry D 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@PrimeTime1014) December 15, 2019
What a roll by the Boss Man @TigerWoods
— Zac Sorel (@sorelli18) December 15, 2019
@TigerWoods very proud of you boss man!
— Hunter Piskie (@HunterPiskie) December 15, 2019
It doesn't get much better than Player-Captain Tiger Woods draining a putt for the first point of the day! LFG #PresidentsCup2019
— Andrew (@acavram) December 15, 2019
@TigerWoods the boss man does it again
— Tortuga (@MitchyD_FGN) December 15, 2019
@TigerWoods is a boss
Great win in singles baby!#PresidentsCup— Logan May, PGA (@loganmay44) December 15, 2019
Most match wins at #PresidentsCup
27 - Tiger Woods
26 - Phil Mickelson
20 - Ernie Els
20 - Jim Furyk
16 - Davis Love III
16 - Vijay Singh@wwos— Brett Graham (@brett_graham) December 15, 2019
USA villain wins after drama-filled week
The Internationals went into the final day on Sunday with a 10-8 lead, with Woods' victory helping the Americans keep hopes of an an eighth consecutive Presidents Cup title alive.
Dustin Johnson was never threatened in a four-and-three victory over Cup rookie Haotong Li that locked the scores up at 10-all.
Defeat for Li earned the Chinese youngster a dubious place in the history books as the only International player not to contribute even half a point at the 2019 edition.
After losing his previous three matches in a horror week, Patrick Reed ironically gave the US the lead for the first time since Thursday morning with his four-and-two triumph over CT Pan.
Phil Mickelson’s caddy just called this the best bunker shot he’s ever seen. He is correct that Patrick Reed is out of his mind right now. pic.twitter.com/vPSVjlsETZ
— Bradley Mark Parsons (@wait4thegoodlif) December 15, 2019
The US trailed 10-8 entering the deciding singles and hoping to become the first team to turn a final-day deficit into Presidents Cup glory.
They needed at least 7.5 points from a possible 12 to win the Cup for the eighth straight time.
Reed brushed off a tumultuous 24 hours that saw his caddie Kessler Karain banned from the final day for shoving a heckling spectator.
The American star has been the subject of fierce sledging from the Royal Melbourne crowd after being accused of cheating in a tournament in the Bahamas last week.
The Americans also won through Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, with two halved matches plus a guaranteed half point for Matt Kuchar enough to give the star-studded Americans an unbeatable lead.
Red hot Americans seal epic come-from-behind win
Kuchar, who had lost all four of his previous Presidents Cup singles encounters, clinched victory with a birdie on the 17th hole to go one up against Louis Oosthuizen.
Oosthuizen had been three up at the turn before Kuchar produced a tenacious back-nine comeback as the US became the first team in the event's 25-year history to win the Cup after trailing into the final day.
Matt Kuchar had this clutch putt to secure the Presidents Cup. No wonder he's dancing.
Stream the Presidents Cup LIVE: https://t.co/MIbeuWgSG4#9WWOS #PresidentsCup #USTeam #IntlTeam pic.twitter.com/zfeeXqe5oS— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 15, 2019
In a cruel blow for the Internationals, Hideki Matsuyama then blew a four-up lead to square with Tony Finau.
Sungjae Im restored hope for the underdogs with a four-and-three win over US Open champion Gary Woodland that locked the scores up at 11.5 points apiece before Adam Hadwin scrambled to square his match with Bryson DeChambeau.
But a three-and-two win for Cantlay over Joaquin Niemann, a two-and-one victory for Shauffele over Adam Scott (Internationals) and Webb Simpson's two-and-one defeat of Byeong Hun An gave the Americans an insurmountable three-point buffer.
Not even Cameron Smith's stirring two-and-one comeback victory over the previously undefeated Justin Thomas could save the Internationals from another beating after Kuchar sealed the deal.
With agencies