The United States retains the Warburg Cup
The United States retained the Warburg Cup with a comfortable 14-1/2 to 9-1/2 victory over the Rest of the World on Sunday.
U.S. captain Arnold Palmer suffered the heaviest defeat of the day against Gary Player but had the last word over his old adversary when his team claimed victory.
Palmer, who captained the U.S. to a 12-1/2 to 11-1/2 win at Kiawah Island 12 months ago, lost 6 and 5 to Player, who avenged last year's singles defeat by the same opponent.
But the rest of the U.S. side rallied round their skipper and, needing only to share the singles 6-6, instead won the session 8-4 to keep hold of the trophy.
The Rest of the World, trailing 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 going into a final day in which temperatures dropped into the 30s Fahrenheit, produced two outstanding wins when Barry Lane beat Scott Hoch by one hole and Ian Woosnam defeated Tom Kite 3 and 2.
Lane, making his debut in the event, said: "I played lovely all day. I had maybe two bad shots but it's always tough when it's as windy as it was today."
Still, the writing was on the wall for the Rest of the World when Curtis Strange got a measure of revenge over fellow Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance with a 4 and 3 win over the Scot.
Paul Azinger delivered another point courtesy of a typical flourish from a bunker, similar to his heroics at The Belfry when he eagled the 15th, to close out Bernhard Langer 4 and 3.
Langer, the newest member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was disappointed to be part of a losing side for the second successive year but said: "It's been tremendous to be here..."
"Paul played fantastic and whenever he's in a bunker you know he's either going to hole it or go very close. The Ryder Cup proved that. He's one of the greatest bunker players ever."
Unbeaten Tom Lehman, claiming a third successive win, then accounted for Eduardo Romero 2 and 1 in three under-par figures that belied the cold conditions, while Hale Irwin, at 57, played his 17 holes in two under-par to beat Rodger Davis 2 and 1.
Like Azinger, Irwin holed a superb bunker shot at the 15th to help him on his way to an impressive win.
At 11-1/2 to 8-1/2 it seemed Fred Funk would have the honour of earning the clinching point, but his Japanese opponent Isao Aoki won the final three holes to halve. That made the score 12-9 and ensured the U.S. would retain the trophy.
The moment of victory arrived soon afterwards as Ray Floyd protected his 100 percent record from three ties with a 2 and 1 win over Seiji Ebihara, while Bob Gilder beat Stewart Ginn by one hole and Tom Watson halved with Denis Durnian.
