Presidents Cup: Holders the United States clinched the Presidents Cup for a fifth time in seven editions when Stewart Cink beat Australia's Nick O'Hern 6 and 4 in the eighth match yesterday.
The Americans led the Internationals by 14.5 points to 7.5 going into the last-day singles at Royal Montreal Golf Club and needed only three more points from the 12 on offer.
Phil Mickelson hammered Vijay Singh 5 and 4 in yesterday's singles. Mickelson shrugged off a bogey at the par-four first to outplay the Fijian in bright sunshine, birdies at the 10th and 12th putting him five up.
The American left-hander earned his team's first point of the day after Singh missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 14th green to keep the match alive.
"It was important for us as a team to get off to a good start because we didn't want to lose momentum," Mickelson said.
"I'm fortunate that I got off to enough of a lead so we could get this wrapped up early."
In the top contest, Scott Verplank led South African Rory Sabbatini one up with two holes to play while David Toms was one up on the South African Trevor Immelman after 11 holes.
Cink put another point in the bag for the US after making a sizzling five-birdie start and was three up on the Australian left-hander O'Hern after 10 holes before going on to clinch the decisive points.
In the penultimate match, American Charles Howell II was one up on Australian Stuart Appleby after eight holes.
The US won their first team title on foreign soil since clinching the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in central England after completing a rare sweep of Saturday morning's foursomes.
Canada's Mike Weir inspired a fast start by the Internationals. when he beat Tiger Woods one up. In the fourth match out, left-hander Weir was three up on the world number one after 10 holes.
Weir, urged on by huge galleries, holed a 12-footer to birdie the par-four second and went two up on Woods when his opponent bogeyed the fourth.
Woods also lost the par-five sixth after driving out of bounds and the 13-times major winner remained three down after the next four holes were shared.
The Details
SUNDAY
Singles(USA unless stated): Phil Mickelson bt Vijay Singh (Fiji) 5 and 4; Scott Verplank bt Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 2 and 1; Lucas Glover lost to Ernie Els (South Africa) by 2 holes; Stewart Cink bt Nick O'Hern (Australia) 6 and 4; Woody Austin lost to Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 2 and 1; Tiger Woods lost to Mike Weir (Canada) 1 up: Zach Johnson trailed Adam Scott (Australia) 1 up 15; David Toms leads Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 3up 14; Steve Stricker level with Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 13; Hunter Mahan level with K.J. Choi (South Korea) 12; Charles Howell III level with Stuart Appleby (Australia) 11; Jim Furyk trailed Retief Goosen (South Africa) 2up 11.
SATURDAY
Foursomes(USA unless stated) United States 14 1/2, International Team 7 1/2: Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan bt Trevor Immelman (Rsa) and Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 2 up, Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin bt Stuart Appleby (Aus) and Retief Goosen (Rsa) 5 and 4, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk bt Adam Scott (Aus) and Ernie Els (Rsa) 4 and 3, Lucas Glover and Scott Verplank bt Vijay Singh (Fij) and Mike Weir (Can) 2 and 1, David Toms and Zach Johnson bt Nick O'Hern (Aus) and Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 2 and 1 Four-ball: Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk bt Angel Cabrera (Arg) and K J Choi (Kor) 1 up, Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin and Adam Scott (Aus) and Woody Austin halved, Ernie Els (Rsa) and Mike Weir (Can) bt Charles Howell III and Lucas Glover 4 and 2, Vijay Singh (Fij) and Stuart Appleby (Aus) bt Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan 1 up, Tiger Woods and David Toms bt Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) and Nick O'Hern (Aus) 5 and 3.
