It’s nearing that time again, when every golfing fanatic’s 2nd favourite biennial team event rolls around. To be fair, I think the Solheim Cup may carry a bit more clout than the President’s Cup these days.
The President’s Cup has been hampered by a lack of competitiveness in recent seasons (the Internationals have still only won a single renewal of this Temu Ryder Cup). The shellacking’s have been particularly severe Stateside (and we will be travelling to Medinah this year). With the tournament starting just next week, I thought I might whet the appetite with my selections for the best five Presidents Cups of all time.
5. 1996: USA bt International Team 16.5-15.5 (Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Virginia)
This early humdinger was a seesaw affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats. It was mired in controversy before the first ball was struck, with a mutiny in the International camp leading to captain David Graham’s ouster (Peter Thompson replaced him at the last moment). Graham had apparently rubbed some the wrong way with his rigidity. It was unsurprising to learn that Greg Norman was one of the chief mutineers (go figure). The Arnold Palmer-led American team blitzed the Internationals 7½-2½ on a dramatically lopsided first day. But Peter Thompson’s side fought back like titans on day two, reducing the American lead to one going into Sunday’s singles. The singles matches were exhilarating, with leading International points scorer Ernie Els triumphing over fellow future hall of famer Mickelson 3&2. The whole tie came down to a tense final-match singles showdown between Fred Couples and Vijay Singh. Couples- ever a man for the big moment- sank a clutch 25-foot putt on the 17th to triumph 2&1, helping the States secure a nail-biting win.
4. 2015: USA bt International Team 15.5-14.5 (Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea (South Korea)
At times, it feels like the International Team needs divine intervention to match the firepower of the US side. But even Amazing Grace couldn’t help the Internationals get the job done in South Korea. I’m cheekily referring to the 2015 renewal, where South African Branden Grace became the first man- on either side- to win all five matches and still be part of a losing team! The International underdogs rode Grace’s superlative coattails all week, pushing the Americans to the final decisive singles match. Bill Haas, son of US captain Jay Haas, was taking on up-and-coming South Korean star Sangmoon Bae. Haas led 1-up on the 18th with the overall scores level at 14.5-14.5. Both players missed the greens with their approach shots (Bae landed just short of the green while Haas found a greenside bunker). Bae had the opportunity to heap the pressure on Haas, but he unbelievably chunked his chip, causing it to roll all the way back to his feet. The South Korean crashed to his haunches in humiliation while the crowd could barely believe their eyes. Gut-wrenching.
3. 1998: International Team bt USA 20.5-11.5 (Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia)
This is the outlier, the grand white buffalo that the tournament is so desperately in need of finding again: an International victory. More than that, this was an International rout! The Americans sent a formidable squad to the first renewal hosted outside of the US, with all its players ranked inside the top 30 in the world. But this was arguably the most lethal International side in history, with four former and future No.1 players (Els, Price, Singh, Norman) leading the charge. Norman led a four-strong Aussie contingent that included Appleby, Parry and Elkington. Their intimate understanding of the demands of Royal Melbourne formed the backbone of this utter whitewash. It also probably helped that the tournament was held in December, meaning all the Americans had been in hibernation mode going into the event. Japanese warrior Shigeki Maruyama shone brightest, going 5-0-0 to join Branden Grace as the only International player to score five points in a single edition.
2.2019: USA bt International Team 16-14 (Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia)
The last truly competitive edition of this event was one of its tastiest, as a Tiger Woods-inspired USA came back from behind to beat the Internationals at their spiritual home: Royal Melbourne. Playing captain Tiger Woods was experiencing a renaissance after his epic, age-defying win at Augusta National. But the international side- spearheaded by up-and-comer Abraham Ancer- dominated the early stages of the tournament, taking a 10-8 lead into the Sunday singles. Rookie Ancer- who had bravely suggested that he would want to take on Tiger prior to the start of the tournament- got his chance when he led the singles against the 15-time major champion. It turned out to be a classic case of ‘be careful what you wish for’, as Tiger brought the cocky Mexican down a peg with a 3&2 win that started a procession of US singles victories. Still, Ancer’s fiery gave the Internationals a blueprint of how to mix it with the mighty Americans. Woods’ victory over Ancer also took him to a record-breaking 27th match victory in the competition.
1.2003: International Team tied 17-17 with USA (Fancourt Hotel and Country Club, South Africa)
Arguably the defining moment in this tournament’s history, the 2003 President’s Cup was a spectacle that may never be matched. The stunning Fancourt links played host to a tussle for the ages, as great friends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player led their respective sides with poise and mutual respect. The teams were remarkably all square after 34 matches, prompting a playoff between pre-selected players whose names had been written on paper and sealed in an envelope in case of this improbable scenario. Tiger Woods and Ernie Els then engaged in a golfing remix of a Bruce Springsteen classic: ‘putting in the dark’. Apologies. Els and Woods matched each other beat for beat in the fading Capetonian light, forcing Nicklaus and Player to sue for peace and ensure the only tie in the tournament’s history.
