DiMarco clinches U.S. win at Presidents Cup

Chris DiMarco provided the clinching point with the biggest putt of his life. Best of all, the Americans sent captain Jack Nicklaus into retirement as a winner.

Right when it looked like the Presidents Cup might end in another tie, DiMarco capped off a sensational week with a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole on Sunday, giving him a 1-up victory over Stuart Appleby, the final points the Americans needed to win the cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

"Every piece of my body was shaking," DiMarco said. "My caddie says before I hit the putt, 'This is the moment you've waited for your whole life, so go ahead and do it.' And you know, I did."

DiMarco knew it was good as the ball was still a few feet from the hole. He charged toward the cup, and then into the arms of Nicklaus as the players hugged everyone they could find.

It was a great week for DiMarco, who went 4-0-1.

But ultimately, this was more about getting a win for their captain, the greatest champion in golf.

"All I thought about was to get him a win," DiMarco said.

Nicklaus already said farewell to the majors this year at an emotional British Open. He doubts he'll be a Presidents Cup captain again, wanting someone else to get a chance, so this likely was his last time in the spotlight, and his last chance to get a victory in this event.

"It feels a lot better to have a win, there's no question about that," said Nicklaus, whose team had lost badly in Australia in 1998, and tied in South Africa two years ago. "As far as being something special, I may never captain another team, I may never play another round of golf, and if I end my career this way, it's a pretty good way to end it."

Nicklaus put Phil Mickelson and DiMarco in the final two matches, and they came through in the clutch.

Mickelson thought he had earned the clinching point when he stuffed a wedge into 4 feet and made birdie on the 18th hole to square his match with Angel Cabrera. But under new rules this year, every match had to go extra holes until one team had enough points to claim the cup.

Someone apparently forgot to tell Mickelson.

With the Americans already at 17 points, Mickelson pounded his fist when the putt fell, removed his cap to shake hands and was ready to start the celebration when European tour rules official Andy McFee broke the news -- the match wasn't over.

Mickelson looked on with utter shock, and headed to the first tee.

But he never had to finish the extra hole. A massive roar behind him told him all he needed to know.

"For Chris to win it was so fitting this week," Mickelson said. "It's a memory that we'll have a lifetime, and we'll never forget."

DiMarco was the star of this American team, not only by going 4-0-1, but for emerging from a titanic duel with Appleby over the back nine. Both exchanged clutch putts to halve three straight holes and keep the match square. Both gave away a hole with bogey, DiMarco on the 16th, Appleby on the 17th.

PGA Tour

Robert Gamez ended a PGA Tour-record 15 1/2-year stretch between wins Sunday, closing with a 6-under 64 for a three-stroke victory at the Texas Open in San Antonio.

The 37-year-old Gamez won for the first time in 394 events, dating to the 1990 Bay Hill Invitational, a stretch of 15 years, 6 months. He recently surpassed Butch Baird's record of 15 years, 5 months and 10 days between wins. He also avoided Ed Fiori's mark of 409 events without a victory.

Gamez opened with three straight birdies and added three more on the back nine to reach 18-under 262 at LaCantera Golf Club's Resort Course.

Olin Browne, a winner two weeks ago at the Deutsche Bank Championship, also shot a 64 and finished at 15 under. Mark Wilson (68) and third-round leader Woody Austin (69) tied for third at 14 under.

-- From wire reports