Ultimately,though,they invigorated the Presidents Cup by competing so well. Another huge crowd turned out. The Americans were just too good,although there were mini-victories for the Internationals.
Notably for Cameron Smith,the 26-year-old Queenslander,who beat the world No. 4 and former world No. 1 Justin Thomas,inflicting the only defeat of the competition on the American. He is emerging as a world-class player as is Sungjae Im,the South Korean 21-year-old who beat US Open winner Gary Woodland.
Smith looks like he should be picking up balls for the players on the range,but he's a man-child. He was three-down at one point against Thomas,but he would not yield. By the time he reached the 17th,his team still had a chance to tie the Americans and Thomas hit it in close.
The boy from Wantima Golf Club in Brisbane settled over his wedge and hit it a fraction closer;when Thomas missed,he buried the birdie putt for the win. He could take a lot away from this week,even in a collective defeat.
Adam Scott was gutted after his defeat by Xander Schauffele,reaching nine appearances in the competition without a victory. But even Scott was optimistic about the ground that has been made.
"I like where this team is going,"he said."I can’t wait to have another crack."
What to make of the week? The Presidents Cup will surely come back to Royal Melbourne again;the venue was perfect. Nobody tore it apart,as some expected,despite the lack of big winds. Japan is due to host and South Africa soon,but Dr Alister McKenzie's masterpiece has stood the ultimate test this week,producing golf that,Woods observed,was"the way golf should be played".
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Els is a revelation as captain,although he lost to Woods … again."You got me,"he told Woods at the presentation,in his usual good humour,but you can sense him scheming already for Quail Hollow in North Carolina in 2021.
As for Woods,he was a colossus. He led his team out today and took down Ancer,the Mexican who had been the International team's best player for the week,closing it out at the 16th with a birdie to give himself some extra time to perform his other duties as team captain (which in golf,is effectively as coach).
He was four-under par for the day and on balance,the best player on either side for the week at 43 years of age. People questioned his ability to handle both roles,and the US were on the precipice at 9-5 down at lunchtime on Saturday and still two points behind on Saturday night. Hence the emotion and the choked-back tears.
Woods has won the Masters and equalled Sam Snead's record 82 victories in 2019,and now he's a Presidents Cup captain on debut. The story just keeps rolling on,the greatest ever told in this game.