The Americans won the Presidents Cup fairly easily, but Weir won the hearts of his countrymen by outplaying the game's giant. In many ways, it was a day like no other. Even for Woods.
"It was like a Ryder Cup," Woods said. "It was unbelievable how loud the roars were, especially starting out. Pretty deafening, actually. I was 3 down early, so they had a lot to cheer about. It was unreal how the atmosphere was electric out there. It got quiet on the back nine, and then it got real loud at the end. Overall, it was a great day. The way Mike came out and played this week and represented all of Canada was impressive."
The other 11 matches were anticlimatic. The Internationals won 7 of 12 singles matches, and the Americans' margin of victory was 5 points, the same number they led by after the first day's foursomes matches. In other words, the matches were dead even the last three days, 14-14.
"It was only going to be a miracle for us to win this thing today," said Ernie Els of South Africa. "We won both four-ball sessions, but we got trounced in the foursomes sessions. It's almost like a test match in cricket. You have your sessions, and we just had two bad ones — they scored about a thousand runs against us in those two."
Ultimately, there were two Presidents Cups at Royal Montreal. The first one lasted three days, featured a slew of close matches and ended with the Americans holding a Wal-Mart-size lead. The second happened Sunday and consisted of one match that mattered, Woods vs. Weir.
Weir won and reaffirmed his nation's affection. The Americans won and reclaimed their self respect after multiple Ryder Cup humiliations.
"We came into this week with a little score to settle in the international golf arena," Cink said moments after icing the Cup for the U.S. "And I think we showed everybody that we can play again."
The Americans have a year to enjoy this impressive victory and the history they wrote. When they arrive at Valhalla in Louisville next September for the Ryder Cup, perhaps they'll have a few ounces more confidence.
Captain Jack Nicklaus and the American players wore smiles and patted shoulders as they filed out of the press center Sunday night. Howell accommodated a photo request, stopping to pick up the Presidents Cup. Then he joined his teammates outside in the dark, their breath visible in the brisk night air. You could feel their sense of accomplishment as easily as the evening chill.
It was clear in Montreal that the seasons had changed. And maybe something more.
