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The Presidents Cup was started by the PGA TOUR to provide international team match play competition between the top 12 players from the PGA TOUR and the top 12 from the rest of the world other than Europe. It is played in the years between Ryder Cup matches. The first Presidents Cup competition was held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 1994.
The Presidents Cup has developed an ambiance very different from the Ryder Cup. They have been characterized by intense, but friendly competition between the players, and by spectators who have been appreciative of quality golf by both teams. At RTJ in 1996, 2000, and 2005 the Opening Ceremonies were held on the magnificent Presentation Lawn located between the clubhouse and the lake. Attendance by several Heads of State and Ambassadors with flags and anthems of all the participating nations provides a spectacle rare to any sporting event and lasting memories for those who have been privileged to be there.
1994 - Captains for the inaugural Presidents Cup were Hale Irwin for the US Team and David Graham for the International Team. Irwin also had earned a position on the team, so he was assisted by Paul Azinger as Co-Captain. Former President Gerald Ford served as Honorary Chairman. Greg Norman had been one of the prime movers for a match play tournament against the US for players not from Europe. Unfortunately, health problems prevented him from playing in the initial Cup, but he did attend to provide support for his team.
Action was provided early in the event by David Frost with a hole-in-one on number 4. The US led all the way, but the final outcome had not yet been decided until the Fred Couples vs Nick Price match. Couples had been 3 down with just a few holes to play. With their match even on number 18, Couples hit a perfect 9-iron from a fairway bunker to the green. The shot landed on the back slope of the green and slowly rolled back to within 18 inches of the cup. The spectators went wild as this birdie provided Couples with a 1-up victory over the No.1 player in the world and the point which ensured US victory.
The Presidents Cup was off to a dramatic start!
1994 Presidents Cup Opening Ceremony with Honorary Chairman Former President Ford and Both Teams.
Hole #4 – Site of Hole-in-One by David Frost of the International Team.
Corey Pavin of the US Team.
President Ford Congratulating Course Designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
The US Team – Winners of the Inaugural Presidents Cup.
1996 - The second Presidents Cup was played at RTJ in September 1996. Captains were Arnold Palmer and Peter Thomson. The Honorary Chairman was Former President George H. W. Bush, who attended the matches much of the time. Demonstrating its international flavor, the International Team had players from Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
The US Team got off to a fast start and held a significant lead at the end of day one. But the International Team closed the gap to within one point on day two setting up a dramatic finish for the 12 singles matches on Sunday. Greg Norman defeated Corey Pavin 3 and 1 to draw the International Team into a tie at 15 1/2 each with one match remaining to be decided. That match pitted 1994 Presidents Cup hero Fred Couples against Vijay Singh. On the 17th green with its beautiful setting overlooking Lake Manassas, Couples rolled in a long putt he called “very intense and nerve-racking” for the US victory 16 1/2 to 15 1/2. Being the final deliverer of victory both times, Fred Couples became Mr. Presidents Cup.
1996 Opening Ceremony.
President Clinton and Greg Norman at 1996 Presidents Cup.
Hole #11 at 1996 Presidents Cup.
Steve Elkington and Vijay Singh defeat Tom Lehman and Steve Stricker
2up on #18 in 1996 Foursomes Match.
The 1996 Presidents Cup US Team.
2000 - The Presidents Cup in December 1998 was held outside the US for the first time at Royal Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia, demonstrating the established international significance of the event. The International Team also demonstrated their significance by whipping the US Team 20 ½ to 11 ½. While unsatisfactory for the US Team, it certainly whetted the appetite for the competition in 2000 to be held at RTJ.
In 2000 Ken Venturi was the US Team Captain and Peter Thomson captained the International Team. President Bill Clinton was the Presidents Cup Honorary Chairman, participated in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and attended some of the matches. At the Opening Ceremony RTJ President Vernon Jordan welcomed the players and spectators on behalf of the club. These matches were played in late October and the weather and fall colors were spectacular. The TV coverage of the event and the golf course received rave reviews from around the world.
The US Team won this competition 21 ½ to 10 ½, more than atoning for the loss in Australia. The US led 5 to 0 after the first set of matches and went on from there to win handily. There were, however, many exciting matches. In the Singles matches on Sunday, Carlos Franco of the International Team was 10 under par for 13 holes in his win over Hal Sutton. Franco played his four holes on the back nine in eagle, par, double-eagle, birdie! The club put a plaque in the 12th fairway from where he made the double-eagle. The Tiger Woods vs Vijay Singh match featured the winners of all four of the year’s majors. Woods won it 2 and 1.
Getting Ready for 2000 Opening Ceremony on Presentation Lawn.
Chairs in center are reserved for RTJ Members.
Tiger Woods Teeing Off.
Gallery Around the Green at #14. This is a par 5 where many players go for the green across the water in two providing much drama. It is a favorite gallery location. The Presidential Viewing Box is on the right.
Phil Mickelson Focusing on Iron Shot.
Carlos Franco of the International Team. His Sunday heroics are described in the text.
The Sunday Singles Match of Tiger Woods vs. Vijay Singh on #14 Green.
How many times have we seen Tiger’s fist pump?
The US Team Victorious Again at RTJ.
2005 - As was the case in 2000, the atmosphere for the 2005 Presidents Cup, again at RTJ, was set up by the previous event. In 2003 the Presidents Cup was played in South Africa. Jack Nicklaus was the US Captain against Gary Player as the International Team Captain. The matches ended in a 17-all tie when the captains called a halt to a play-off for the entire tournament between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els as darkness closed in.
The 2005 matches were billed as a continuation of that previous deadlock, and Nicklaus and Player were again the captains. President George W. Bush served as the Honorary Chairman.
RTJ hole number 3 was played as the first hole, and it was very convenient to the practice range. The reason for this routing change was to make RTJ number 18 play as number 16 for the tournament. This hole is one of the most challenging on the course, with a beautiful setting on the edge of the lake and a great area for spectators. As the last hole in previous Cups, many matches were finished before reaching it.
These matches were close throughout. Chris DiMarco provided extra excitement with a hole-in-one on number 7 (RTJ number 9). The teams were tied 11 to 11 coming in to the twelve Sunday singles matches. Retief Goosen did his part to keep it close by defeating Tiger Woods 2 and 1. Three key matches at the end came down to the 18th hole. Fred Couples beat Vijay Singh 1-up. Angel Cabrera and Phil Michelson halved. In front of most of the players, fans, and world-wide TV, Chris DiMarco made a 15-footer on the 18th hole to seal the deal for the US Team. At the conclusion, the US had an 18 1/2 to 15 1/2 victory, but the outcome was in doubt to the final putt on the final hole of the final match.
2005 Opening Ceremony.
2005 Opening Ceremony.
Tiger Woods vs Retief Goosen Ready to Tee Off in their Sunday Singles Match.
Phil Michelson on Sunday.
Angel Cabrera Supported by the International Team on the Final Hole on Sunday.
Chris DiMarco’s Putt on #18 to Win His Match and the Cup.
The US Team is Undefeated at RTJ.