Struggled in team play, though he didn't have much help from Dustin Johnson or Steve Stricker, but he came out Sunday two hours prior to his tee time to work on his shaky putting stroke, and then he went out and played some high level golf in taking down Aussie favorite Aaron Baddeley. His point in the 11th singles match turned out to be the clincher. How about that?
BOGEY: Greg Norman
The handicaps to being the International Team captain are obvious with players scattered throughout the world and language barriers to clear, and as a man of stature in the golf world who commands respect and garners publicity, Norman has been a very good selection. But whatever he lacked in his playing career in getting it done in big events seems to have spilled over to his stints as captain.
BIRDIE: The Fanatics
A brigade of brightly attired and boisterous Australian fans serenaded each member of the International Team on the first tee and whipped up some excitement on what could have been a largely non-eventful day. Greg Norman even donned one of their bright green Tam O' Shanter hats. Fred Couples acknowledged at one point that they had made a difference in the early matches and stirred up the proceedings. Made for the best atmosphere of the week.
BOGEY: Robert Allenby
A 7-and-5 dismantling from David Toms was a fitting capper to a horrific week for the Melbourne native. He finished the week as the second captain's pick (after John Huston in 1998) to go scoreless in the Presidents Cup.
BIRDIE: Jim Furyk
The reigning FedExCup champion endued a mediocre 2011 season, but he was the man of the match for Fred Couples and the Americans at Royal Melbourne, becoming just the fourth man to complete the week 5-0, joining Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara and Shigeki Maruyama. Granted, he had good partners, but Furyk's 4-and-3 win over Ernie Els in singles was crucial coming in Match 31 when the proceedings started getting interesting.
BOGEY: Dustin Johnson
Didn't help Tiger Woods a lick and then was taken down by Masters champion Charl Schwartzel by losing two of the first three holes and trailing for all but the first. Probably didn't help matters that he decided to keep Keith Sbarbaro of TaylorMade as hit caddie throughout his stay abroad rather than finding a professional looper. Could it have made a difference? Would have been interesting to find out.
BIRDIE: The Ryder Cup
There's much to like about the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere of the Presidents Cup, but the one-sided nature of it is getting a bit tired. Then again, the U.S. showing is reason to look forward to next year against Europe. It hasn't always added up in the past. But it at least sets the stage for a dramatic week at Medinah.
