Woods, Reed lead American revival to win Presidents Cup

Tiger Woods’ personal mission to quieten Mexican Abraham Ancer spurred the United States’ stunning Presidents Cup revival as Ernie Els’ International side lost their best chance to win the trophy in 21 years.

Woods, the first Presidents Cup playing captain in a quarter of a century, responded to suggestions Ancer wanted to challenge the 15-time major winner at Royal Melbourne to win a pivotal Sunday singles clash which inspired the Americans’ fightback.

American captain Tiger Woods celebrates after clinching the Presidents Cup on Sunday.Credit: Getty

Woods finished as the only player to win every match for the week as the United States banked eight of an available 12 points on the final day, lifting the Presidents Cup for the 11th time in 13 attempts.

Golf’s revered figure Woods and American bad boy Patrick Reed led the United States revival, which was sealed when Matt Kuchar holed a short birdie putt on the 17th hole in the second last match.

An upbeat Els promised his overwhelming underdogs are getting closer to toppling the Americans – who had all 12 players ranked inside the top 23. The International side had just two and eventually went down 16-14.

Woods sent himself out against the previously unbeaten Ancer in the opening singles match, easing home three and two as his teammates ran riot in the trailing groups.

World No.39 Ancer said last month he would welcome a match-up with Woods, prompting the 43-year-old to turn their singles duel to turn personal on the sandbelt.

Asked whether he was aware of Ancer’s comments, Woods said: “Yes. Abe wanted it, he got it.”

Woods’ victory meant he surpassed Phil Mickelson as the most successful player in Presidents Cup history despite sitting himself out of both sessions on Saturday.

Ancer was adamant he never called Woods out and only thought the challenge would help improve him as a player.

Tiger Woods embraces teammates after victory was assured.Credit: Getty

He was heckled by a Woods supporter – who yelled “good luck Stephen Ames” on the first tee – a reference to the veteran who was humbled nine and eight by Woods at the 2006 Matchplay Championship when wanting to play the then world No.1.

“When they asked me that at Mayakoba first of all, that question was in Spanish, so the tone when I said it, it was never like cocky or challenging or anything like that,” Ancer said. “At the moment I thought it would be a great experience, which it was.

“No matter what with the outcome of the match, I would have gained a lot. I would have become a better player just from being in that situation. I knew I had to bring my A Game or my A+ Game to have a chance. Unfortunately I didn't play my best.”

The International side held a two-point lead heading into the final day, but were completely overpowered in the singles format as the United States won six and halved two of the first nine clashes.

Els had pitted his faith in the Presidents Cup veterans Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman when he selected them to be among the final five matches, but the momentum had well and truly swung by then.

“If you compare our team on paper with other teams in other sport, you would have laughed us out of the building,” Els said. “But we gave it a hell of a go and we came mightily close to winning and upsetting one of the greatest golf teams of all time.

“I felt we had them right in the headlock and we didn't quite finish it off on that particular time [Friday’s foursomes matches]. There's not many times when you get a team like that under the gun like that, under the pump like that.

Presidents Cup Sunday singles

• Tiger Woods (United States) beat Abraham Ancer (International) 3 and 2
• Hideki Matsuyama (International) tied Tony Finau (United States)
• Patrick Reed (United States) beat CT Pan (International) 4 and 2
• Dustin Johnson (United States) beat Haotong Li (International) 4 and 3
• Adam Hadwin (International) tied Bryson DeChambeau (United States)
• Sungjae Im (International) beat Gary Woodland (United States) 4 and 3
• Patrick Cantlay (United States) beat Joaquin Niemann (International) 3 and 2
• Xander Schauffele (United States) beat Adam Scott (International) 2 and 1
• Webb Simpson (United States) beat Byeong-Hun An (International) 2 and 1
• Cameron Smith (International) beat Justin Thomas (United States) 2 and 1
• Louis Oosthuizen (International) tied Matt Kuchar (United States)
• Marc Leishman (International) tied Rickie Fowler (United States)
• United States beat Internationals 16-14

“It was [a] great [position], but it could have been unbelievable. It could have been a knockout blow.

“If you look at their record and where these guys are at the moment, they are going places; I can tell you that. We do have major champion winners up here. We do have No. 1s, former No. 1s, but we also have had guys playing for the first time. And I can only see their future going … in a great manner. We're getting closer. We've just got to keep it up.”

Woods danced around the 17th green hugging his assistants Fred Couples, Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson after Kuchar’s putt, which condemned the International drought to at least another two years. The first and only time they won the Cup was at Royal Melbourne in 1998.

“I had faith in all the 11 other players,” Woods said. “We love the lineup. We love how we set it up going into the singles.

“We came here as a team. My teammates and my boys all played well. The captains did an amazing job of just being there for every little detail. I couldn't have done it without all their help and all my boys ... they did it.”

Reed basted to a six-up lead in the first seven holes against CT Pan before winning four and two, his first point of the week. It came a day after his caddie, brother-in-law Kessler Karain, was banned from the singles by the USPGA Tour after shoving an abusive fan.