Stuart Appleby was a dejected spectator as United States foe Chris DiMarco sank a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole to win their match one-up and claim the Presidents Cup for the United States.
But the 34-year-old Australian took some confidence from the Internationals’ effort in Sunday’s 18 and a half –15 and a half loss to the Americans, who improved to 4-1 with one drawn in the biennial team matches against a non-European squad.
The US team had never lost the trophy on home soil, but would have been forced to share the Cup if Appleby could have held his one-up lead with two holes to play and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera had halved the 18th with Phil Mickelson.
”We kept them close on the Americans’ home soil,” Appleby said.
”There’s no doubt in the future we can take this thing out.”
Third-ranked PGA Championship winner Mickelson birdied the 18th to force extra holes against 11th-rated Cabrera, but their match was declared halved when DiMarco secured an outright US victory by winning his last two holes.
The format was a change from 2003 at South Africa, where Woods and Els met in a darkness-halted playoff before a 17-17 draw was declared. Outright winners were mandated in every 2005 match until the Cup was won by one team or shared.
The Internationals will have their next chance in 2007 at Canada’s Royal Montreal Golf Club while the Americans hope the end of a five-year win drought in team events carries over to next year’s Ryder Cup against Europe in Ireland.
”People are going to have to realise the International team is better than the European team,” US veteran Fred Funk said.
Internationals captain Gary Player of South Africa was adamant that the sport was the true winner.
”Any time you have two Presidents Cups in a row go to the last green, golf is the winner. It was absolutely unbelievable,” Player said.
”Disappointing to lose but a great day for golf.
”I don’t think there were winners and losers. There was quite a vibe. The excitement was quite unbelievable. Everybody was on edge. Everybody was enjoying it. All in all, mission accomplished.”
Four of five Aussies on the squad lost in singles, the lone wonder from Down Under being Peter Lonard, a three and two winner over Stewart Cink. The nearest miss was Appleby, who was nevertheless delighted to be part of the drama.
”Chris just played a tiny bit more solid and I really had to weather the storm,” Appleby said. ”I kept hanging in there. I knew it’s match play — be aggressive. It was a real thrill.” – Sapa-AFP