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.