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Briefly: U.S. wins Presidents Cup after Tiger Woods sets record for wins in the event

December 15, 2019 at 8:00AM
U.S. team player and captain Tiger Woods, center, holds the trophy with his players after the U.S. team won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
U.S. team player and captain Tiger Woods, center, holds the trophy with his players after the U.S. team won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Tiger Woods set the Presidents Cup record for most victories and set the tone for another American victory.

Woods beat Abraham Ancer in the opening singles match Sunday for his 27th match victory in the Presidents Cup. Then he switched from player to captain and watched his U.S. team follow his lead. The U.S. won eight of the 12 singles matches for a final score of 16-14.

The best the International team could hope for was a tie by winning the final two matches.

Instead, Matt Kuchar made a 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole for a 1-up lead over Louis Oosthuizen. That assured the Americans at least 15½ points, all they needed to win for the eighth straight time. The series stands at 11-1-1.

Woods hugged everyone hard, players and vice captains alike.

"We relied on one another as a team, and we did it — together," Woods said, his voice choked slightly with emotion. "This cup wasn't going to be given to us. We had to go earn it. And we did."

Woods went 3-0 for the week as the first playing captain since Hale Irwin at the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994. His singles victory was his 27th in nine appearances, breaking the record Phil Mickelson had set in 12 events.

The International team led 10-8 when singles began, after the U.S. made up ground in Saturday afternoon foursomes.

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Patrick Reed's caddie didn't participate Sunday after he confirmed in a statement to Barstool Sports that he shoved a spectator who he felt got too close to Reed while cursing him. The caddie, Kessler Karrain, was not on Reed's bag for the final session. Reed said in a statement he respected the PGA Tour's decision to bench Karrain.

Women's Hockey

Riveters top Whitecaps

The Minnesota Whitecaps lost 3-2 to the Metropolitan Riveters in a NWHL game decided by a shootout at the Tria Rink. Tatiana Shatalova of the Riveters, the first of six shooters in the shootout, scored the only goal.

Allie Thunstrom of the Whitecaps (4-3-0-2) scored with 5 minutes, 15 seconds left in the third period to tie the score at 2-all. She also had an assist.

Amanda Leveille had 25 saves for the Whitecaps, Sam Walther 42 for the Riveters (2-6-2-0).

Kessel helps U.S. top Canada

Former Gophers player Amanda Kessel broke a tie in the second period, propelling the U.S. women's hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Canada in Hartford, Conn. It was the first of a five-game series. The teams will meet next on Tuesday in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Around the horn

Women's bobsled: Kallie Humphries improved to 2-for-2 for the United States, winning in Lake Placid, N.Y. Humphries is a Canadian racing for the United States after leaving Canada because of abuse on the team.

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NFL: Chicago activated defensive tackle Akiem Hicks from injured reserve, a day before a key game against Green Bay. A Pro Bowl pick last season, Hicks dislocated an elbow Oct. 6.

Skiing: Sofia Goggia of Italy won a World Cup super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland, by a hundredth of a second over teammate Federico Brignone. Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States finished third.

NEWS SERVICES


The U.S. team hold their trophy after they won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
The U.S. team hold their trophy after they won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
U.S. team player and captain Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after the U.S. team won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
U.S. team player and captain Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after the U.S. team won the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
U.S. team player Tony Finau, center bottom, uses a phone to photograph teammates and the trophy after winning the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
U.S. team player Tony Finau, center bottom, uses a phone to photograph teammates and the trophy after winning the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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