Golf's Global Reach on Display at Presidents Cup

(ATR) The United States may have reiterated its dominance of the Presidents Cup but an International team comprised of players from Australia, South Africa, India, Venezuela, Argentina, Japan and Korea showcases golf's true universality.

Playing in the fourth singles match on Sunday, Daniel Berger clinched a 10th victory in the 12th Presidents Cup for the Americans when his opponent Si-Woo Kim failed to sink his birdie putt on the 15th hole. The U.S. won the four-day tournament – which was played in Jersey City, New Jersey with the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty as an inspiring backdrop – by a score of 19-11.

U.S. President Donald Trump presented the trophy to U.S. team captain Steve Stricker and proceeded to pose for photos and mingle with the American golfers. Former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were part of the tournament opening on Thursday.

Three U.S. Olympians made strong contributions to the team victory. Rickie Fowler’s match record was 3-0-1, Patrick Reed went 2-1-1 and Olympic bronze medalist Matt Kuchar was 2-1.

It appeared the U.S. was going to secure the victory on Saturday afternoon, however the heroics by Olympian Aniban Lahiri of India, who made a clutch 20-foot putt on the 17th green after opponent Charlie Hoffman spectacularly holed out from 50 yards, extended the outcome until Sunday.

International Golf Federation executive director Antony Scanlon tells Around the Rings that despite the lopsided score golf is achieving levels of interest and play throughout the world like never before.

"The U.S. just had the momentum this week and played too well," Scanlon saidat Liberty National Golf Club on Sunday.

"It shows just how golf is growing, not only on the amateur level, but it’s also progressing through to the professional level and it’s another indication why golf is great to be part of the Olympic program."

He was relieved when the International Olympic Committee officially approved the extension of golf, among 28 core sports, through Paris 2024 at the Lima session.

"Very proud when it happened and I think all of golf is now breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to Tokyo and the next 20 years or so," Scanlon said.

Scanlon pointed out that the IGF currently oversees 150 National Golf Federations, with two more pending. Prior to the sport’s Olympic status, there were 116.

Canadian Adam Hadwin – who lost a tight match to veteran Phil Mickelson on Sunday – said "golf is really a global game".

"Anirban had India’s first-ever point in a Presidents Cup, so when things like that happen it just gets more people interested and then we just have to get new players into the game young," Hadwin said.

Le Golf National, just outside of Paris, will be the venue for both the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.

"We’ve got that, plus every year the French Open is there," Scanlon said. "We have a strong federation in France and a great event that we can build upon and get some momentum moving into Paris 2024.

"The players like the course and I’m very confident that we’ll have the best players playing there in 2024," Scanlon added.

Scanlon said a recent inspection visit was made to Kasumigaseki Country Club, which was founded in 1929 and will serve as the golf venue for Tokyo 2020.

"The course is looking great – new grass was laid and it was redone by Fazio Design 12-18 months ago," Scanlon said.

"It was a traditional old Japanese design with a winter green and summer green at the end of the fairway," he said "Fazio got a rid of the two, consolidated into one and it’s a long, challenging course that the players will love."

The Australian golf executive said, as he witnessed at the Presidents Cup over the past four days, it is imperative to provide spectators with the best possible experience at the venue, something the IGF is striving for in Tokyo 2020.

"The way this course is set-up – the layout in terms of overlay, the hospitality and grandstands, the experience for spectators and officials of catching the ferry over to here and easily walking into the course..

"We’ve had four presidents come to this event – you wouldn’t think that security was that over the top, so it’s all been handled really well and I think people have walked away thinking it’s been a great experience and that’s what you want."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Jersey City, New Jersey

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