Trust was the one element that stood out in the dramatic comeback the United States staged at the President Cup over the weekend. Down by four heading into the pivotal third day of the biennial competition, skipper Tiger Woods could very well have tapped his best player in order to stem the tide that seemed to be turning against the red, white, and blue. In fact, not a few quarters believed he should have, what with the deficit still at three points, and only after final-hole heroics in Day Two foursomes salvaged a tie out of a possible shutout. Instead, he stuck to his plan hatched with deputies Steve Stricker, Fred Couples, and Zach Johnson.
To be sure, confidence wasn’t the only factor that had Woods holding his ground. For one thing, he happened to be his best player; for all his competitiveness, he knew he would be courting fatigue by suiting up anew. For another, he had the unenviable task of apportioning tee times to 12 members; the zero-sum dilemma would require him sacrificing slots for others were he to claim them for himself, even if for the benefit of the collective. And, yes, he was fully aware of the backlash should he then go on to lose. In other words, he figured the risks to be too high given the potential rewards.
In retrospect, Woods made the right decision. Day Three didn’t start off well, with the US actually giving up more ground in fourballs, where it traditionally proved superior. In afternoon alternate shot, however, it managed to forge two wins and two ties, putting it within striking distance. And as far as he was concerned, the circumstances were ripe for a rally. Even as he had to come up with seven and a half points from the scheduled singles matches to triumph, he didn’t waver in his faith. His was the superior lineup, and remained steadfast in his conviction that every single one in it had the capacity to deliver under pressure.
There would be no second-guessing Woods on his Day Four choices. He put his name, and his captaincy, on the line by heading out first, and against Internationals powerhouse Abraham Ancer. Prevail, and he would inspire the others in Sunday red to do the same. Yield, and he would make their endeavor decidedly Sisyphean. As things turned out, he didn’t just keep his record unblemished; he did so with flourish, carding seven birdies and capping his round with a curling 20-foot putt to seal the deal on a 3-and-2 masterpiece. And everybody else followed his lead.
No doubt, the way the 2019 Presidents Cup was contested should provide it with much-needed gravitas moving forward. Royal Melbourne in Australia lived up to expectations, with only the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in 2015 providing a closer denouement. The International Team has nothing to be ashamed of. It deserved to win, really. Bottom line, the US did because it had Woods the captain invoking trust, and because it had Woods the player ensuring payoff.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
