Capelle On Golf

The US won the Presidents Cup, which was no surprise – our team had nine players in the WGR top 20 to three for them.

So, while I was rooting hard for a close match going into the final day, by Saturday afternoon it had turned into an exhibition. But that was okay because Harding Park is a superb old style course and the views of the Cypress trees and Lake Merced were gorgeous – and there was some great golf at a time when football dominates the tube.

Tiger Woods was the main culprit in the International’s demise, going 5-0 for the week. The key match came on Saturday morning when he and Steve Stricker overcame a one down deficit to Mike Weir and Tim Clark after 16 to win 1-up. In case you missed it, Woods’ 22 footer for birdie on 17 toppled into the cup on its dying gasp, then Weir missed a 5 foot putt and the match was even.

On the par 5 eighteenth Woods converted a beautiful drive by Stricker into vintage Tiger 230 yard 4-iron to about 15 feet. After the ball left the club, Tiger extended his arms out after the ball, a new post shot celebration that caught everyone’s attention. The result of the Woods/Stricker charge was a 3 point lead for the US rather than a one point advantage going into the afternoon matches.

When the afternoon matches were halved at 2.5 points each, the US carried an all but insurmountable 3 point lead into Sunday’s 12 singles matches.

On Sunday Woods was surprised to learn that his birdie putt on the 13th clinched the Presidents Cup. His convincing 6&5 win over Y.E. Yang was the result of an impressive 6 under performance. Still, Woods must have been wondering why this Tiger was absent on the final day of the PGA. So, in this case, revenge couldn’t have been that sweet because it doesn’t reverse the outcome of that lost major.

World #2 Phil Mickelson was a joy to watch as he went 4-0-1 while rolling in putts from all over and having fun, which is really what this “competition” is all about. He also drew kudos for assisting several teammates, showing that he could be a fine choice for captain some day.

Fred Couples and Greg Norman had to be the two coolest captains, showing nothing but class and great sportsmanship – whoever picked them deserves an A+. And Couples, who, as Woods reminded us, is known for his wandering monologues, was amazingly articulate throughout.

The big star of the Internationals was Tim Clark, who has got to be the best wedge player in history. He was nine under in closing out poor Zach Johnson on Sunday, and it seemed like he was never outside 10 feet from 80-100 yards. Now if he would just ditch that long putter, it would be easy to root for this likeable South African.

We also got a great preview of the future (which may not be so far away) with the play of Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa, who just turned 18. He was 3-2 for the event, his only losses coming to the red hot team of Woods/Stricker. He beat Kenny Perry on Sunday, 2&1. And, in a four ball match against Woods/Stricker, he won three holes with birdies to Woods’ one. With his swing, Palmer like demeanor, and his deadly putting, he just might be golf’s next big superstar.

Norman must have been one of the most pleased with Ishikawa’s performance, because it got him partially off the hook for the disaster Adam Scott (1-4, his other choice) turned out to be.

The Jack Nicklaus’ Good Sportsmanship award goes to Vijay Singh, who gave Lucas Glover a 6 foot birdie putt on the eighteenth, giving the Internationals a tie. If Glover, who’s putting was mostly awful, had missed, the final would have been 19-15.