Weir Salvages Sunday

The Pres Cup was over before it started on Sunday. The Americans only needed 3 of 12 points to win the Cup. Even in recent Ryder Cup beatings, the Americans have been able to manage that feat. Basically, the US had won. But, Captains Player and Nicklaus gave everyone (in Canada) the match they wanted to see (for Canadians) - Tiger Woods v Mike Weir - in the Sunday singles blockbuster.

Weir climbed out to a huge lead. 3 Up through 9 holes, Weir had a short birdie putt to go 4 Up through 10 and essentially put away the world's best golfer. That putt grazed the edge, but did not fall, giving Woods a halve that he would eventually spur into a 1 Up advantage. Coming to the par 3 17th, both Weir and Woods' approach shots were within birdie range. This time, Woods' birdie effort lipped the edge. Weir, with a nice sized gallery behind him, holed the putt in the center to send the crowd into delirium. After an errant drive by Woods on the 18th - the first time he played the hole all week - Weir had won.

It was a great match and turned out to be way more compelling that I imagined. Melanie Hauser over at PGATour.com repeatedly says in her match recap, almost incredulously, that people (me included) thought this match never should have happened. I still think it should not have given the build up to the event. Despite that, Hauser is correct to point out that Weir was by far the best player on the International team during the competition. He earned the opportunity to call his shot for Sunday, and he took full advantage of the chance.

Weir is a good guy and I'm glad he pulled off a meaningful win. That does not mean, though, that it will turn his life around as Captain Player suggested, or that he is now a national hero (he already was). But, this victory could give him a lot of confidence. The guy has been working hard to find his form and is showing signs of achieving that - this among them.

Good on Weir and thanks for making the President's Cup worth watching for a few hours on Sunday.