CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Americans won the Presidents Cup again, no asterisk needed.
Sure, the International team lost at least four players, maybe more, who defected to LIV Golf and were deemed ineligible by the PGA Tour for joining the upstart rival series funded by Saudia Arabia.
A roster made up of players from outside the United States — but not Europe, which competes against the Americans in the Ryder Cup — had eight rookies asked to play before 40,000 flag-waving fans chanting for the home team. And the Internationals have never won on American soil since these lopsided matches began in 1994.
No matter. The Americans are tough to beat right now in any cup, under any circumstances.
Jordan Spieth made putts from all over Quail Hollow Club and capped off a 5-0 showing at the four-day event, Xander Schauffele delivered the cup-clinching point and lit up his big cigar Sunday, and the Americans won the Presidents Cup for the ninth straight time.