Benched Aussie ‘a little upset’ as 26-year misery extended

Aussie crowd favourite Min Woo Lee spent three of the five sessions of his Presidents Cup debut on the bench as the Internationals’ win drought was extended to 26 years.
On Monday morning (AEST), the USA claimed a 18.5-11.5 win – its 10th consecutive triumph in the tournament.
The last time the USA tasted defeat was in 1998 at Royal Melbourne – the year Tiger Woods made his Presidents Cup debut. They haven’t lost since, although the Internationals did manage a a tie in 2003.
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Lee played with Adam Scott in the opening four-ball session on Thursday. They lost one-down to Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.
He didn’t play again until Sunday Singles (Monday morning AEST), where he won the final hole to salvage a tie with 2023 US Open winner Wyndham Clark.
Lee spent three of the five sessions of his Presidents Cup debut on the bench. Getty
“Of course you want to contribute as much as (you can) – of course I wanted to play every day,” Lee said after the round.
“But full trust in the team, the boys were playing really good.
“People have said they would have loved me out there, but I would have loved to, too, but I had a good rest and then came out, tried to win my match today.”
On Thursday, the Internationals were routed 5-0, but stunned the USA to reverse the score in foursomes on Friday.
Put to him some fans were surprised to see him sit out for two days, Lee suggested he understood the call by captain Mike Weir.
“Just like anyone would. You can get a little upset about it, but again, you’re a team,” he said.
Lee and Adam Scott on the first day of the Presidents Cup. Getty
“The boys played amazing on Friday. They came back with a 5-0 sweep to a reverse.
“They were playing great golf, and fair enough – why wouldn’t you play those guys in the morning? And obviously they did well in the foursomes in the afternoon.
“Yeah, next time. Play a little bit better and then I’ll be there.”
Scott won two points from his five matches, while Day – who played only three of the five sessions – won one.
On Monday morning (AEST), the USA sealed an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup, continuing a 21-year stranglehold on the tournament.
Although the scoreline might suggest otherwise, this year at Royal Montreal didn’t feel like another rout, especially when considering 20 of the 30 matches – including nine of the 12 Sunday singles matches – made it to at least the 17th hole.
US captain Jim Furyk celebrates after his team clinched a 10th consecutive Presidents Cup. Getty
None of the Internationals scored more than two points, while three of the Americans – Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele – won four each. Only four of the 12 won less than two points.
The clinching point came from Keegan Bradley, who had gone 10 years without competing for the US team and already has been appointed the Ryder Cup captain for next year. He thought he might never play in another cup, and he was mobbed when he won over Si Woo Kim on the 18th hole.
The Americans won four of the five sessions, with the Internationals picking up most of their points in that 5-0 foursomes shutout.
“A lot of these matches were so close,” International captain Mike Weir said.
“It’s disappointing not to get a win. We put our team together to win this thing, and when you don’t get a win, it’s disappointing, but a lot of great things to take away.”
– With AP