The last time the U.S. team lost the Presidents Cup was in 1998, when it was played at the very course the 2011 cup was to be held on.Peter Thompson, captained the International side to a 21 1/2 to 10 1/2 victory over Ken Venturi's U.S. team -- The outcome would be different this time around at Royal Melbourne.
With ever changes weather conditions by the hour it seemed this week in Melbourne, the U.S. team did not seemed to be bother by the conditions and won the Presidents Cup for the seventh time, 19 to 15.
A big surprise most likely to Couples and to all the U.S. fans perhaps, was the play of Jim Furyk this week down under.
Furyk, who was teamed with Phil Mickelson for most of the competition, became just the fourth player in the Presidents Cup nine year history to win all five of his matches.
“I felt better about my game than what I’ve been playing this year, and I kind of want to thank my partners,” said Furyk, who was not only victorious in three matches with Mickelson. He added another win with Nick Watney when Mickelson did not play in the second session of the four-ball matches.
Couples, who I'm sure was not counting on the partnership of Furyk and Mickelson to be so productive, thought it was pleasant surprise.
“We needed it. He was a leader,” the U.S. captain said. “He and Phil told me, which was very odd. I wasn’t planning on it on Tuesday night, that they wanted to play together. And they rode and rode and rode."
"Jimmy going 5-0 is great. It’s cool. It’s unique. It’s fun. And I think he’s happy, as the rest of the 14 guys are.”
On the other side, the International team were hoping that local knowledge of the course and playing in these types of conditions more would be a big boost for their side.
However, it didn't work out that way in the end for captain Greg Norman and his squad.
With five Australians on the International team, it was like a home match for their side.
Disappointed not to win the Presidents Cup on their home turf, Aussie Adam Scott was especially let down over the loss.
“It’s disappointing to not get the Cup this year, but to have this event here at home, it has been a fantastic week and one I’ll remember for my whole career,” said Scott after the competition had drawn to a close.
“We played hard. I think it’s just a really demanding golf course. No matter how good you are, on this course it’s just too hard to hit the ball well to get it around here. And they might have done it just a little bit better than us this week.”
There were some bright spots for the International team this week however.
The play of relative unknown to some in the U.S., K.T. Kim, showed his skills on an International stage and that he may be a strong player heading into the 2012 season.
Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel also had very nice Presidents Cup as well.
Ogilvy took down Bill Haas in the final day's single matches two up as Schwartzel disposed of Dustin Johnson two and one to give the International team much needed points during the final day's competition.
In the end, it was the International team falling behind early on that was their eventual downfall that would prove too much to over come.
The U.S. squad led after each day's events, taking a commanding 13 to 9 lead into the final day.
No team had ever come back on the final day in the single matches to claim victory at the Presidents Cup, and so history was not changed during the 2011 event.
Congratulations to the United States team for their seventh victory in the Presidents Cup.
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