Planet Golf — 22 September 2017 by GW staff and news services
USA completes Presidents Cup victory

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Presidents Cup first-timer Daniel Berger provided the clinching point for the U.S. team Sunday at Liberty National, giving the Americans their 10th win in 12 meetings against the International Team.

The Americans finished with a 19-11 points advantage, although the Internationals won the Sunday Singles session 7.5 to 4.5 points in the 12 matches.

Berger, playing in the fourth Singles match of the day, went dormie against THE PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim on the 15th hole of their match, a guaranteed half-point. Earlier, Kevin Chappell halved his opening match against Marc Leishman for the first half-point of the day.

Berger was informed by U.S. Captain Steve Stricker on the 16th hole that he had provided the clincher. When he finally finished his match, he was sprayed with champagne by fellow first-timer Charley Hoffman, and then celebrated with other members of the U.S. squad.

“What a feeling,” Berger said after closing out Kim 2 and 1 for the full point. “I’m speechless right now.”

The Americans needed just one point coming into Sunday’s 12 Singles matches to clinch the Presidents Cup, having taken a commanding 14.5 to 3.5 lead after the first three days at Liberty National.

The U.S. was hoping to win all five sessions this week, but the Internationals responded Sunday with their best effort of the week, winning six of the first nine matches.

Berger, at age 24, becomes the youngest player to ever clinch the Presidents Cup. “It’s pretty cool just to be part of the team and obviously to win it for us is amazing. It was a team effort. It didn’t come down to just me,” he said.

Stricker said the dominating performance was built on his players coming in with top form. “These guys played so well. They played well all year long and they came here with a lot of confidence,” Stricker said. “They continued it right through this tournament here.”

International Captain Nick Price said he congratulated Stricker and told him, “You’ve got a helluva team. Enjoy the ride.”

Phil Mickelson, playing in his 100th career match in Presidents Cup/Ryder Cup competition, won his match against Adam Hadwin, 2 and 1. It was the last completed match of the day.

The Americans are now 10-1-1 in this event. The Internationals will be the home team in 2019 at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

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