Players of the United States Team celebrate after defeating the International Team to take home the Presidents Cup Trophy at Quail Hollow golf club in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., September 25, 2022. /CFP
The United States clinched their ninth consecutive Presidents Cup on Sunday when Olympic champion Xander Schauffele beat Canada's Corey Conners 1-up in the singles to register the winning point against the Internationals.
Robbed of top players who defected to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, the depleted Internationals were expected to be easy pickings for an American squad packed with nine players in the world's top 15.
But the biennial showdown was far from the blowout predicted ending in a respectable 17-1/2 to 12-1/2 score-line.
"They were fighting. Man, they were fighting," said International captain Trevor Immelman. "I hope fans out there really do appreciate.
"These guys have got massive hearts. Massive hearts. And I'll go to battle with them any day."
Xander Schauffele of the United States Team reacts to his putt on the 15th green during the final round of the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow golf club in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., September 25, 2022. /CFP
2022 Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup, as a series of men's golf matches, is played between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world without Europe.
United States Team Roster
Captain: Davis Love III
Players: Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Cameron Young, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth, Max Homa
International Team Roster
Captain: Trevor Immelman
Players: Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Republic of Korea's Im Sung-jae, Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Si-woo, Canada's Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith, Columbia's Sebastian Munoz, Australia's Cameron Davis and Adam Scott, Chile's Mito Pereira, and South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout
(With input from agencies)
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