MONTREAL (AFP) – With 2025 US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley delivering the deciding point, the United States (US) won a 10th consecutive Presidents Cup on Sunday, defeating the Internationals 18.5-11.5 at Royal Montreal.
Bradley defeated South Korea’s Kim Si-woo 1-up to clinch the trophy, which gave the Americans a 13-1-1 lead in the series against the non-European side whose only win came in 1998.
“Wow, that was incredible,” Bradley said. “Just to play in this tournament and then to win the point, my goodness.”
The US team featured 12 of the world’s 25 top-ranked players and won fights late in matches to continue their rivalry domination.
“These players were amazing,” US captain Jim Furyk said. “These guys played their hearts out this week and they played really well on the back nine. We owned the back nine this week. That was the difference.”
The Internationals took seven lost or tied matches to the 18th hole this week before the Cup was decided.
“When you don’t get a win it’s disappointing but a lot of great things to take away,” Internationals captain Mike Weir of Canada said. “We’re close. A lot of these matches were so close.”
After winning Saturday’s foursomes and four-ball sessions each by 3-1, the Americans needed only 4.5 points in 12 singles matches for the trophy.
Wins by second-ranked Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay and a half-point tie from Sam Burns set the stage for Bradley, who last played on a US team at the 2014 Ryder Cup.
“Last time I played, I was the point to lose the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said. “So if this is my last round as a player, I’m happy with that.”
Bradley, 38, birdied the 14th hole from just inside 12 feet for a 3-up lead over Kim. But Bradley missed a four-foot par putt to lose 16 and an eight-foot birdie putt to clinch the match and Cup at the par-3 17th, then watched Kim sink a five-footer for birdie to push the match to the 18th hole.
Kim dropped his approach to just outside eight feet while Bradley landed 26 feet away.
Bradley rolled his putt to the edge of the hole for a concession par, but when Kim missed his birdie putt, the Cup was sealed for the US.
