Americans rally

U.S. overcomes 2-point deficit on final day to win Presidents Cup

MELBOURNE, Australia — High emotions, fierce hugs from Tiger Woods, this time as a winner both ways in the Presidents Cup.

Woods capped off a big year that began with his 15th major at the Masters by playing and leading his U.S. team to another victory in the Presidents Cup on Sunday at Royal Melbourne.

The first playing captain in 25 years, he opened the 12 singles matches by beating Abraham Ancer to set the Presidents Cup record with his 27th match victory, and set the tone for the rest of his team.

The scoreboard was filled with American red scores all day as they rallied from a two-point deficit to win the Presidents Cup for the eighth straight time against an International team that faltered at the worst time.

Matt Kuchar delivered the clinching putt, a 5-footer for birdie that assured him a halve against Louis

Oosthuizen and gave the Americans the 15 1/2 points they needed to win. The result was 16-14, and at least this one was a contest. The U.S. victory two years ago at Liberty National was so resounding that it nearly ended on Saturday.

International captain Ernie Els was determined to turn it around. He created a new logo for the International team. He relied heavily on analytics. It still wasn’t enough.

Els thought back to Friday, when the Americans won two matches with birdies on the 18th hole to keep the International lead from growing. On Sunday, all he saw was U.S. momentum that couldn’t be stopped.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted,” Els said.

Woods hugged everyone hard, players and vice captains alike, wearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. TEAM PLAYER AND CAPTAIN TIGER WOODS (LEFT) celebrates with vice captain Fred Couples after Woods won his singles match during the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. TEAM PLAYER AND captain Tiger Woods (left) celebrates after U.S. team player Tony Finau sinks a putt on the 16th green in his singles match during the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday. The United States won 16-14.