Posted at 11:22 a.m., Sunday, September 30, 2007
Golf: Americans win Presidents Cup
Associated Press
MONTREAL - The United States won the Presidents Cup. Mike Weir gave Canada quite a consolation prize.
The Americans won enough of the singles matches today to capture the Presidents Cup for the second straight time, giving them an international victory in cup competition for the first time since 1993.
That didn't stop the relentless cheers that rocked Royal Montreal on a spectacular autumn day, especially when Weir won the final two holes to beat Tiger Woods and send his country home feeling like a winner.
Weir won the Masters four years ago, and he wasn't sure which felt sweeter.
"It's right there with it," Weir said. "Obviously, winning the Masters was such a thrill, but to play Tiger ... he's the best player there is, and I had to play my absolute best today to beat him."
He needed some help from the world's No. 1 player.
With the match all square and Weir safely in the 18th fairway, Woods pulled his tee shot and watched it land in a pond, just a few yards short of a Canadian flag fans were holding behind the ropes.
Weir hit his approach to 15 feet, and after Woods' chip for par stopped rolling 2 inches from the cup, he conceded the putt.
By then, the Americans were celebrating something far more important.
Scott Verplank completed a 4-0 week with birdies on the 16th and 17th to beat Rory Sabbatini, 2 and 1. Phil Mickelson hammered Vijay Singh, closing him out on the 14th hole while wearing soft spikes. The Americans needed to win only three matches to retain the gold cup, and Stewart Cink delivered the clinching point. He birdied the first five holes and beat Nick O'Hern, 6 and 4.
