Robert Beck/SI

U.S. captain Fred Couples made all the right moves this week, and Tiger Woods was a perfect 5-0.

Every week of the 2009 PGA Tour season, the editorial staff of the SI Golf Group will conduct an e-mail roundtable. Check in on Mondays for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors.

Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: As Stevie Williams (Tiger's New Zealand-born caddie, who lives in Oregon) would say to Greg Norman (The International team's Australian-born captain, who lives in Florida), G'day! It's International Night here at PGA Tour Confidential.

The Presidents Cup, although it never threatened to become a nail-biter, was really, for this typist, team golf at its best. In other global golf news, golf's coming back to the Olympics — and we're all going to Rio! Or not. In any event, between now and 2016, some lucky designer is going to get a plumb job: build a course that can host an Olympic event.

Let's start with the Cup. Of all the things that happened at the Presidents Cup, Tiger and Stricks and Freddie and Ernie and all the rest, what made the biggest impression on you? For me, it was hearing Tiger talk so earnestly about Ryo Ishikawa. Woods, not one to blow smoke, said the 18-year-old golfer from Japan was way ahead of where Tiger was at that age. I take that assessment seriously. What caught your eye?

Jim Herre, editor, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus: The play of the two headliners, Woods and Mickelson, highlighted the week for me. Probably because they play in a team event every year, it's clear that Tiger and Lefty, and other U.S. players, are really getting the hang of the thing. Woods and Mickelson really led the American side at Harding Park.

Gary Van Sickle, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Woods and Mickelson both played well in a team event, the first time I remember that happening. It showed how dynamic the U.S. team can be when that happens, even if a number of other guys weren't playing their best. Steve Stricker became a certified national hero and Tiger's permanent partner for team play. And Tim Clark has us all wondering how he's managed to avoid winning in America. And Ishikawa: The kid can play and make clutch putts. I'm not ready to concede him the No. 1 spot in the world in a decade, like Johnny Miller did, but he's got a chance to be pretty good. It's an exciting future with him and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.

Rick Lipsey, writer-reporter, Sports Illustrated: Stricker a "certified national hero"? How many cases of Wisconsin cheddar did you get for saying that?

Jim Gorant, senior editor, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus: Ishikawa was big. I'd seen him play before but never realized he could putt like that. After that, the most striking performers for me were Stricker and Tim Clark.

Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: What strikes me is how much I want the 2010 season, and particularly the majors, to start today. Phil is a new man with the putter, Tiger is playing great and licking his chops at the sight of Pebble and St. Andrews on the schedule. Could be a very, very good year.

Van Sickle: I second that emotion. It's amazing what a jolt of electricity Mickelson has brought to the game ever since the Tour Championship. We've been missing that the last few years with Phil's spotty playing.

Farrell Evans, writer-reporter, Sports Illustrated: Cam, I like that you're hopeful for a great 2010, but don't be surprised if Tiger and Phil win everything except the majors. Look out for the likes of Sean O'Hair and Hunter Mahan at Augusta and Pebble Beach.

Lipsey: Now if Phil can just sustain it. He always seems to have these huge highs followed by disappearing lows. He's never been able to sustain it like TW.

Herre: Phil has found something renewable in Dave Stockton. Amazing how Stockton has turned around Phil's putting.

Bamberger: Phil told me that Stockton has him doing what he used to do.

Ryan Reiterman, producer, Golf.com: I thought it was interesting that Phil said the FedEx Cup might be the reason why the U.S. is doing so well. Their games stay sharp heading into team events. Somewhere Tim Finchem is smiling.

Herre: Good point, Ryan. Maybe it's not a fluke that the U.S. has convincingly won the last three team events.

Van Sickle: Right. The unasked question was this: Why, before the FedEx, did you all put your clubs down in August when you knew the Ryder Cup was coming up? These guys may be beat after playing so much at the end of the season, but at least their games are sharper. Huge difference.

Dick Friedman, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: For me, it was Steve Stricker in Saturday's second session pouring in birdies and picking up right where Tiger left off in the first. That was goose-bump-inducing.

Damon Hack, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: As well as Stricker has played all year, Harding was one more chance for the golf world to see just how sweetly he is swinging (and putting). Not the most elegant move in the world, but man is he hitting the ball exactly where he wants to!

Morfit: Stricker is a story of a nice guy finishing first, and the fact that he's 42 makes it even better.

Lipsey: Woods's words about Ishikawa are nice, but titles are how we judge golfers, and right now Ryo has zero USGA titles and zero PGA Tour titles. Time will tell.

Morfit: The guy's putting stroke is as pure as it gets.

Van Sickle: There's more to the world than the U.S., Rick. He's won four times in Japan and he just beat your beloved Kenny Perry. He can play.

Lipsey: No doubt, Vans, but we've written way too many future-star stories that end up fizzling.

David Dusek, deputy editor, Golf.com: I'm not ready to fully jump on the Ishikawa bandwagon, but he played wonderfully and is clearly loaded with talent. I no longer see him as an oddity or someone who got a wildcard into the Masters simply because the powers that be in Augusta wanted to grow the game in Asia. He's a world class player who happens to still be a teenager. He's clearly the real deal.

Herre: History shows that Ryo will likely have a hard time winning in the U.S. if he only makes cameo appearances.