[Photo: Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images]
A proud yet admittedly disappointed Geoff Ogilvy wants the International team to run it back at Kingston Heath Golf Club in 2028 despite falling to the might of the United States on the final day of an absorbing Presidents Cup in Chicago.
Their three-point lead through three days of competition was the third-largest margin the International team had ever taken into the Sunday singles at Medinah Country Club.
Starting the day with 10.5 points on the board, the Internationals needed to yield just five points from 12 matches yet could manage just 2.5 to 9.5, the most lopsided singles return in Presidents Cup history, securing an 11th straight US win to the tune of 17-13.
“It was just one of those days; it just felt like it was sort of right on a knife edge for a massive part of the day,” said Ogilvy.
“If you hole a couple of putts at the right time and get a bit more yellow on the board at the right time, the momentum, and the crowd sort of stays out of it a little bit. Just sort of started drifting away for us in the last few hours.
“Pretty disappointed, but pretty impressed with this group of guys. They were pretty committed to this this week. They all put in.
“The spirit in the room is great. The energy is amazing. They’re all incredibly motivated to come back in ‘28 and do it again.
“Kingston Heath’s an incredible venue, Melbourne’s my home town and it’s one of the best sports cities in the world. We’re really excited, it’s one of the best golf courses in the world, it’s a great venue, the times we’ve played the Presidents Cup down there Australians have come out to support so we look forward to that and have another go at this in ‘28.”
Having defied the statistical chasm that existed all week, the Internationals finally succumbed to the sheer class of the American players in clutch moments as a host of International players saw points slip through their fingers.
The Aussies were not immune, and the momentum turned against both Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee at the exact same hole.
Fighting tooth and nail to lead the International team to just a second win in his 12th appearance, Scott could only watch on as Patrick Cantlay holed a monster 57-foot putt from the right fringe at the par-3 16th for birdie.
Scott, in turn, missed his birdie attempt from 15 feet to remain 2 down with two to play, ultimately conceding a 2&1 victory on the 17th green when his birdie putt missed to the left side of the hole.
Like his countryman, Lee trailed for the majority of his match against Jacob Bridgeman yet squared the match with a birdie at the par-4 12th and then took a 1-up lead with a par at the par-4 15th.
With every International point a priceless representation of gold on the rundown of matches, Lee’s potential point grew in importance yet would also prove elusive thanks to events on 16.
Safely on the green at the 176-yard par 3, the West Australian watched on as Bridgeman found the bunker perched precariously at the back of the green.
With little green to work with, Bridgeman splashed out and made his putt for par, the match back to square when Lee’s two-foot par putt missed the left edge.
The pair halved the par-4 17th and then Bridgeman clinched his first Presidents Cup point with a regulation par at the final hole.
Kiwi Ryan Fox never led at any point in his match yet took Xander Schauffele all the way to the 17th hole before going down 2 down, the only International points coming courtesy of Tom Kim (3&2 over Wyndham Clark), Sungjae Im (3&1 over Sam Burns) and Canadian Nick Taylor (halved match with Russell Henley.
For the week, Min Woo Lee contributed 2.5 points to the International team, Ryan Fox 2 points and Adam Scott 1 point, Lee one of five players to play in all five sessions.
