Ishikawa, Kim leave Presidents Cup as winners
Ryo Ishikawa and Kim Kyung-Tae waved the flag for Asia with impressive singles wins but it was not enough to prevent their International team from going down to the dominant Americans in The Presidents Cup on Sunday.
The non-European Internationals pushed the US team all the way in Sunday's final singles before Tiger Woods clinched the winning point in a 19-15 win to retain the biennial team event for the United States.
Young Japanese superstar Ishikawa fought back from two opening losses with South Africa's Ernie Els in the foursomes and four-ball to finish with two points from a foursomes win on Saturday and Sunday's three-and-two win over Bubba Watson.
South Korea's Kim became an Australian fans' favourite when he holed a pressure putt at the last hole to beat Woods and Dustin Johnson in Saturday's four-ball.
He carried on his form with a resilient one-up win over Webb Simpson in Sunday's opening singles match.
Ishikawa, who raised some eyebrows with his late Tuesday arrival from Tokyo for the event, said he was thrilled to have played in his second Presidents Cup at the famed Royal Melbourne course.
"I'm just enjoying to be here and in front of the Australian people. So many nice guys. Very excited, yeah," he said.
Ishikawa said he wanted to use his early win over Watson as a spur to his International teammates as they strived to make up for a four-point deficit heading into the final day.
"Yes, I just believe in myself. I want to say to the International team members we can do it, so believe in yourself," he said.
Kim said The Presidents Cup was a memorable personal experience and would benefit his future career.
"I enjoyed it here and this is the most memorable event I have ever played. The team is really like a family here," he said.
"It's been a very great experience, a fun experience, apart from it being such an honour and privilege to play on such a great team.
"I think I will bring home a lot of confidence and encouragement that I have received over the past week.
"I do believe that this will be a solid foundation for me going forward and playing other tournaments and bigger Tour events."
South Korean K.J. Choi missed out on his fourth point this week when he lost three and two to Nick Watney in the singles.
Choi, 41, won two four-ball points with Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Thursday's foursomes with another Australian, Adam Scott.
US PGA champion Y.E. Yang, bidding for his second point after partnering Kim in Saturday's winning four-ball, lost two and one to Steve Stricker in the singles.
South Korea has been announced as the host of the 2015 Presidents Cup.