U.S. wins Presidents Cup in convincing fashion as President Donald Trump watches

JERSEY CITY — Judging from the looks on their faces, the top American golfers got everything they wanted out of the week. They finished it Sunday with the Presidents Cup and the president in their midst.

Having been sent on their way Thursday at Liberty National with encouragement from former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the U.S. team completed the Presidents Cup event being congratulated by President Donald Trump, who officially gave them the golden trophy and told them: “That was unbelievable playing. You’re great champions.”

He will get no argument from the International team, which was throttled, 19-11, despite making it a bit more respectable with a 7 1⁄2-4 1⁄2 edge in singles matches Sunday. But the Americans had needed only one point in the final day to clinch the Cup and they did that early, when Kevin Chappell earned a half-point and Daniel Berger ensured himself of at least a half-point on the 15th hole of his match against Si Woo Kim.

Just as the three former presidents had mingled with the players on the first tee before the opening shots, Trump chatted, shook hands and posed for photos with victorious players after a brief awards ceremony on the 14th green (which is normally the 18th green for members, and thus centrally located).

“It was a fun ride. These guys played so well. They played well all year long and came here with a lot of confidence,” U.S. captain Steve Stricker said after having accepted the trophy and a compliment from Trump, who said he had been trying for years, unsuccessfully, to imitate Stricker’s expert putting stroke.

Berger had been representative of a young, hungry team and was among the most demonstrative all week. He received congratulations from team members and staff on the course and was spattered with champagne after he finished a 3-and-1 win over Kim.

Golfers on both sides seemed pleased to meet with Trump, who is at odds with athletes in other sports. The only exception was U.S. assistant captain Tiger Woods, who seemed to keep his distance from the president until the latter came up to him, vigorously shaking hands and clasping him on the shoulder.

As for having Trump there, Dustin Johnson, the top U.S. point producer at 4-0-1, said, “I thought it was awesome.”

Stricker said: “I thought it was a great opportunity for us to be with him. This tournament is about respecting the office, respecting the president of the United States. Whether your views may be one way or another, that wasn’t what this was about up around the green. It was about us getting together as a team, playing for one another, playing for the USA. It was a great thrill for all of us to get the trophy handed to us from him.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who invited all four presidents, had said the event is and always has been nonpolitical. Trump veered into controversial territory once, when he said the win was dedicated to people who had been affected by hurricanes. Mentioning Puerto Rico, source of criticism for his reaction to the devastation there, he said, “If you look today at what’s happening, how horrible it is, but we have it under really great control . . . ”

Mostly, there was congeniality. When Trump met individually with members of the losing side, fans spontaneously began singing “God Bless America.”

It was the golfers who left the most lasting impression. International captain Nick Price again called the winning side “a juggernaut” and said, “They were hitting on all eight cylinders.’’

Woods said, “This was one of the best putting teams I’ve ever seen.”

Jim Furyk, who will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team next year, was asked what he saw. “They are two different events,” he said. “But I saw a great team.”