Who Really Won and Lost the Presidents Cup

Calling the Presidents Cup a second fiddle in the team match play events might actually be a compliment. The U.S. players versus the rest of the world except Europe was, by all accounts, a complete bore. The Americans have dominated the event since its inception.

So the 2015 playing of the event was vital to the future of the event. Another U.S. blowout and the event was all but finished. What we got was not only an outstandingly competitive event but also excitement from the participants and even a broader discussion about the involvement of two giants who are just now thinking about graceful retirements.

The event itself started ominously, 4 to 1 in favor of the U.S. after the first day foursomes. It was looking as though it was going to another disaster for the Internationals. Friday, in the four-ball matches something changed and the ROW team found their stride. A 3½ to 1½ session left the U.S. team up only a point. For the rest of the event there was nothing to separate the teams. They tied each event the rest of the way.

The last day, the singles matches, had its share of drama. It was heightened by the fact that Jay Haas put his son Bill, his captain’s pick, out in the final spot and the entire event was coming down to the last match. Bill held off Sang Moon Bae but it had to be done on the eighteenth hole. It was really fun to watch.

All of this excitement got me thinking about who where the winners and losers of this event. Not surprisingly because I thought the event was a success, really an overwhelming success, I have many more winners than losers.

Winners

Phil Mickelson – Nobody had a better week. Even though he made the foolish mistake of not reading the rules and incurring a penalty and he had a pompous answer about spotting his opponents holes, he was the clear winner. He apologized for the dig, which was probably the right thing to do, but it still was a perfect FIGJAM moment. He also was a questionable captain’s pick because his form hasn’t been that good. How did he respond? By going 3-0-1. Nearly a perfect record considering his halve came in the match where he gave the Internationals two holes. He also put himself right near the top of the conversation for whom should be a future captain. With everyone on the team saying how valuable he was not only on the course but in the team room. The team wants to play for him.

Nick Price – The International Captain did just about everything he could. His push for the format change put his team in position to win the event. That was his best move of the week. He answered questions all week the right way, putting the focus on the players by thanking them and putting the spotlight on them. He was graceful in defeat and did a great job with the team.

Anyone named Haas – Jay was more of a silent type of captain. I can hardly remember many interviews with him except after the event was over. He just doesn’t strike me as a rile them up type of captain. The players responded well to this kind of leader, and the real purpose of the captain is to make two picks and then pair the players. For Jay’s job he was perfect. Bill performed really well and Phil was unquestionably the most important player on the team. Job well done!

Zach Johnson – This is probably his penultimate or last Presidents Cup. Guys like Zach tend to fall off the map because their swing speed is not high enough as they get older to be competitive. This is not a knock on Zach, the guy has gotten absolutely everything he could when you consider he is competing with larger athletic guys like Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. But reality will set it in at some point in the next few years. No matter what happens he had not only a great Presidents Cup but a win at St. Andrews for the British Open made it a great year.

Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace – Hard not to describe these guys in any other way than a powerhouse team. They were unbeatable.

Tiger Woods – What, you say? His call to Davis Love offering support and help for the upcoming Ryder Cup was huge. I think this could the start of Tiger taking a role in golf similar to Jack Nicklaus. Become a true icon in the game not only for how awesome he was as a player, but supporting the younger guys as a mentor. This does not mean he has to retire, Fred Couples was a great Presidents Cup captain and then nearly won the Masters. You can be both. I am hopeful that Tiger will be more involved in the team events as a mentor. It can only help the American teams and probably his own game.

Losers

Jason Day – After the British Open there was basically no better golfer on the planet, so a let down might be expected, but 0-3-1 with the half coming after Phil spotted his team two holes can be classified as a disaster. As the star of the International team he has to be better. Continuing to play him may have been Nick Price’s only mistake in the tournament, but it is hard to knock the International captain for not wanting to bench his star.

Anirban Lahiri – It is really hard not to feel bad for this guy. After he and Chris Kirk hit their third shots on the eighteenth hole you had to feel he was going to pull off a whole point for the Internationals. It would have been a pivotal point. Kirk makes and he misses and it turned out to be the decisive point for the Americans. In reality I think the miss was not nearly as bad as it now looks because Bubba Watson missed the exact same putt a few groups before. So if they both make as professionals should the result would have been the same. Still, he had to feel bad for a few days after.

Rickie Fowler – His pedigree has him being a better match play golfer. His play in team events has been declining since his breakout performance for the Ryder Cup team in 2010. It is now near rock bottom. He was a liability out there and was squashed like a bug on a windshield during his singles match. We need more.

In reality the event went so well there were not many losers. The Presidents Cup got a much needed boost and it was great theater.

Photo credits: © Lee Jin-man, © AP