Golf Talk

A missed four-footer by Els was the difference.

Final Score after Day 1 foursomes:
United States 5.5
Internationals 0.5

Match 1
Team US Stricker/ Mahan
3 and 2
Team Int’l Scott/ Ogilvy

Match 2
Team US Mickelson/ Austin
Halved
Team Int’l Singh/ Weir

Match 3
Team US Cink/ Johnson
1 up
Team Int’l Sabbatini/ Immelman

Match 4
Team US Toms/ Furyk
1 up
Team Int’l Els/ Cabrera

Match 5
Team US Glover/ Verplank
2 up
Team Int’l Appleby/ Goosen

Match 6
Team US Woods/Howell III
3 and 1
Team Int’l Choi/ O’Hern

Though the score shows that Team USA steamrolled, the reality was that most of the matches came down to the final holes. Mike Weir played exceptionally well (not what I had predicted) and he and Vijay Singh were able to halve their match.

Ernie Els had a chance to halve his match but he missed a four-footer. Afterwards, Gary Player consoled Ernie saying, “We’ve all missed those before.” Still, that is a bitter pill to swallow considering their first round deficit is the largest in the President’s Cup history. Gary Player tried his best to put a brave face saying, “The President’s Cup isn’t won on the first day.” True Gary, but you’re team is down big time and you’re relying on a miracle the rest of the way. With the best player to ever play the game in Tiger Woods on the opposite team, I don’t like the chances for a comeback here unlike Team USA at the Solheim Cup.

The other news of the day was the pairing of Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin conceding a four-foot putt to Vijay Singh thus halving their match. Apparently, the call came from Team USA captain Jack Nicklaus who did out of respect for Mike Weir as a Canadian playing in Canada. Phil said afterwards, “Captain Nicklaus said for us to do it. If it was up to me I don’t know. It was the right call. Vijay wasn’t going to miss that putt anyway. He hasn’t missed one like that in four or five years.” And then Ernie Els misses his four-footer. Man, that Jack has class, with so much at stake that usually isn’t the case.

PGA Tour, President’s Cup

Photo by DAVID BOILY/AFP/Getty Images