• Presidents Cup, Day Four

Woods the match-winner in Presidents Cup triumph

Tiger Woods embraces captain Fred Couples © Getty Images

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Tiger Woods' turbulent week ended with the taste of glory after his singles triumph over Aaron Baddeley proved the clincher in the United States' Presidents Cup victory on Sunday.

Woods' personal performance has provided an intriguing sideshow to the entire tournament in Melbourne, suffering the worst match play defeat of his career alongside Steve Stricker during the opening day's play, before re-gathering his form over the weekend.

The decision of captain Fred Couples to pick Woods so far in advance of the event, despite his poor form, drew plenty of criticism, but he was repaid by the former world No. 1 when it counted most. Woods' 4&3 victory over Baddeley gave the US an unassailable lead en route to an eventual 19-15 victory.

Ernie Els, one of the most experienced heads in the International team, had confessed his colleagues needed a miracle to turn around a 13-9 deficit on the final day. And they made the type of start that suggested there may still have been life in the pre-tournament favourites.

Ryo Ishikawa, Charl Schwartzel, KT Kim and Geoff Ogilvy won the first four singles matches of the day, while Adam Scott and Retief Goosen later added the scalps of Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar.

However, the fortunes of the Internationals were perhaps best summed up by Jason Day, whose horror week was complete when he shot a nine-over 44 to the turn en route to a 5&3 defeat to Hunter Mahan. That gave the US team the momentum they needed to add further points through David Toms, Nick Watney and Jim Furyk.

The stage was set for Woods who, for the first time in a while, pieced all of his game together to leave Baddeley needing an eagle at 15. The challenge was too much for Baddeley, and relief was evident in the words of Woods - despite the fact he had been five-under during an impressive round.

"It does feel good," the 14-time major champion told Sky Sports. "I was hoping it wouldn't come down to my point. I was hoping Stricks and I could take a victory lap back here but we didn't get off to a good start early.

"I was saying on the range it was going to come down to probably the last four matches and we needed to get our points so we went out there and played really well today. I played well all week. Unfortunately I just didn't make putts. I hit putts well but they weren't going in over the first three days, the first four matches."

Asked where he had turned it around, Woods replied: "On the putting green. I was listening to this dude behind me (Stricker) giving me a putting tip about releasing the blade a little bit. Whatever he says about putting, I'm going to listen to."

For Greg Norman's Internationals, favoured before the tournament, there was only disappointment.

"Obviously I feel for the guys," Norman said. "They came here full of enthusiasm. We did the right thing the way we loaded it up at the start of play, and the guys stepped up to the plate.

"I'm really proud of them for doing that. We really put a little bit of fear into the Americans. But the Americans had too much horsepower and putted really well."

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