Every two years, the United States fields a team of 12 players who produce some of their best golf.
In one of the most nervous moments of his career, Tiger Woods showed why he is the best clutch putter of his generation. Chris DiMarco, after an unlikely escape from an awkward stance in the bunker, holed a 15-foot putt that set off a celebration of raw emotion. Jim Furyk has never lost in singles.
Young or old, rookies or veterans, they come together as one and usually hoist the gold trophy.
Now if they can only figure out how to do that in the Ryder Cup.
The Presidents Cup clearly doesn't pose that much of a problem. The Americans will try to build on their 4-1-1 lead in the series Sept. 27-30 when the matches are held at Royal Montreal in what is expected to be the biggest golfing event in Canada.
Never mind that the International team, comprised of players from every continent except Europe, boasts six major champions and appears to be a more daunting opponent than Europe.
Recent results in these cup competitions are hard to fathom:
-In 2003, the International team had four of the top 10 players in the world, and eight of the top 20. Woods was changing his swing, Phil Mickelson went 0-5 in the Presidents Cup, and it still ended in a tie.
-In 2004, Europe had only three players among the top 20 in the world at Oakland Hills, yet handed the United States its worst Ryder Cup loss, 18 1/2-9 1/2.
-In 2005, the United States faced an International team with an average world ranking of 22 and won, 18 1/2-15 1/2.
-In 2006, Woods and Mickelson had won three of the four majors. Europe again won by a record margin in Ireland, 18 1/2-9 1/2.
"The teams are the same as far as on the U.S. side," Mickelson said. "We enjoy playing together. We have a lot of fun. We bring out our best golf at the Presidents Cup, and we seem to not do that in the Ryder Cup. I don't know why that is."
Equally perplexed was Furyk, although he might have hit on one possibility when he said of the Presidents Cup, "I think our team probably is a little more relaxed."
And it helps to be trying to win for an iconic leader.
Jack Nicklaus returns as U.S. captain for the fourth time, sporting a 1-1-1 record. Many thought his victory in 2005 at the Robert Trent Jones Club was a perfect way to end his career, but he agreed to be captain again as a way of staying close to the game.
He needles his players, respects them, and makes sure they have a good time.
"I've tried to make the matches fun for them," Nicklaus said. "I've tried to let them be themselves. I like to let them be part of the process and part of the solution to everything. I haven't tried to force them to do one thing or the other."
Gary Player returns as International captain, still looking for his first victory. He and Nicklaus agreed to the tie in South Africa when darkness interrupted a riveting playoff between Woods and Ernie Els, and he lost in 2005.
His most significant decision was taking Mike Weir as a captain's pick, even though Weir was No. 20 in the standings. But he is the most popular player in Canada, a former Masters champion whose game has shown signs of turning around.
"If we didn't have a Canadian in the team and playing in Canada, I can assure you, in my opinion only, the series would be quite flat among the Canadian people," Player said. "Mike is a hero in his country, deservedly so."
