What
a pity one of international golf’s showcase events is competing for attention with AFL grand
final week in this part of the world – someone should tell them!

The
USA today reclaimed the Presidents Cup it so controversially shared after a
17-17 draw against the Internationals in South Africa in 2003, when Chris
DiMarco clinched the Cup for the hosts after sinking an unlikely 15 foot birdie
on the 18th hole to edge out Australia’s Stuart Appleby and see
them home18½ to 15½ at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

When the final day started with the teams level at
11-11, the Internationals already knew history was against them as no US
team has yet lost the Cup on home soil, and the Yanks have never been headed in
the final day singles. Yet the US
has been on the losing side of the past two Ryder Cups.

And until DiMarco spectacularly recovered from the rough with his second shot
at the 18th, and then sank his winning putt, Appleby looked in control, although neither player had got more than one hole up
at any point in the match.

Just ahead Phil Mickelson had
finished all square at 18 with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, and then mistakenly
thought his “half” was the ticket to put the US over for the win. Under a new
system this year, the match went to extra holes to decide the match outright
while the Cup is still in contention.
But before they got to force the issue one way or another,
DiMarco’s dramatic victory put the US over the top and
Mickelson’s unfinished battle was only then officially halved.

Earlier Tiger Woods continue his very ordinary record in
international team play when he was beaten 2 and 1 by South Africa’s
Retief Goosen.

Of the other Aussies on the
final day, Kenny Perry beat Mark Hensby 4 and 3, Jim Furyk beat Adam Scott 3
and 2, but Peter Lonard defeated Stewart Cink 3 and 2.