Facing Tiger Woods at the Presidents Cup – A Story of Grit, Partnership, and an Unexpected Win

When Brendon de Jonge sat down with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on the latest episode of the Subpar podcast, the conversation drifted quickly to a memory that still gives him a flutter: the 2013 Presidents Cup foursomes match against Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar. De Jonge, a 46‑year‑old former Tour pro turned broadcaster, still remembers the odd mix of excitement and dread that settled over the International locker room that Saturday afternoon.

“I’d been on tour for over a decade, played 317 events, never won but chalked up a handful of top‑5s,” de Jonge began, his voice a little softer than usual. “So when the captain, Nick Price, announced that we’d be paired against Tiger and Matt, I think everyone’s heart skipped a beat. It felt a bit like being told you were the sacrificial lamb in a very public slaughter.”

The pairing with South African legend Ernie Els added another layer of intrigue. Els, who was struggling with his belly‑putter at the time, wasn’t exactly at the top of his game. “Ernie was missing three‑footers on the first hole,” de Jonge recalled with a half‑laugh. “He was visibly annoyed – not just because of the putter, but because we were up against the man who made the gallery roar louder than a stadium concert.”

But the match didn’t stay a nightmare for long. Tiger, as always, seemed to draw energy from the throngs of fans lining the fairways. “He was just unbelievable that day,” de Jonge said. “He missed a three‑footer on the first, but then everything clicked. By the 12th hole he was hitting it dead‑on, and on 18 he sank a four‑footer that clinched the win for us 1‑up.”

The victory was the sole International win in that session, and it lifted the team’s spirits heading into the final singles. Even though the U.S. eventually took the Cup 18.5‑15.5, the moment when de Jonge and Els held their own against Woods became a cherished anecdote.

Beyond the numbers, de Jonge reflected on the personal significance of sharing the course with a hero. “Playing with Ernie for all four sessions was a dream,” he said, his voice tinged with admiration. “He’s someone I grew up watching, an idol. To stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with him, and then watch him knock the ball like a machine on that day, it was surreal. I couldn’t have imagined a better partner for that challenge.”

Listeners of Subpar can hear the full conversation, complete with the occasional pause, the chuckle when de Jonge describes the gallery’s roar, and the quiet reverence when he talks about the legacy of the Presidents Cup. For anyone who’s ever wondered what it feels like to be thrust into a match against Tiger Woods – and actually walk away with a win – de Jonge’s story offers a candid, human glimpse into the pressure, the partnership, and the unexpected joy of a hard‑fought victory.