The final day of The Presidents Cup is a confusing experience.

The ABC likened it to election night. An infrequent two-party contest that leaves normally passive observers attuned to a world they would otherwise ignore.

The reality inside the media tent was more that of a stockbroker, with banks of screens spewing colourful statistics and projections. Like a Wall Street analyst the experience became about channelling patterns of numbers and colours than considering people and their actions. For a few hours it was a room of John Nashs.

The American golf market opened bullish. The USA's four point lead over their international rivals consistent with both the short term trend of the three-days of play as well as the macro level familiarity of the US claiming six of the eight Cups previously contested.

It didn't take long for the bear to stir though. By the eighth hole of the fourth singles match the leaderboard was as true blue as a Liberal election night fantasy.

KT Kim, the Korean who requested to lead the internationals out, was three up after seven, coming home by one.

Charl Schwarzel, the only current major title holder in the 24-strong field, was four up after 11 and won by two.

Ryo Ishikawa, the young Japanese golfer who had never seen the Royal Melbourne course until Wednesday afternoon raced to three up after six and defended his lead to claim the notable scalp of Bubba Watson.

Local hero, Geoff Ogilvy, gained a single hole ascendancy after eight that he clung onto in a key marginal.

The one early international aberration was Jason Day. His outward 44 gifted Hunter Mahan a point, leaving the contest tantalisingly poised at 14-13 with seven matches remaining on the course.

As all amateur shareholders and parliament watchers are well aware, there is nothing more predictable than a cycle, the skill is pre-empting the timing.

Canberra can take a decade or more to react to public opinion. The bursting of an economic bubble can bring sanity to the market in days. At Royal Melbourne the swing from blue to red was as dramatic as dropping a live lobster into a boiling pot.

Jim Furyk, the form golfer of the week, took Ernie Els, the course record holder, to the cleaners in the ninth match on course. In the tenth, David Toms had the arduous challenge of turning up in order to beat the pitifully out-of-form Robert Allenby. Tiger Woods was rarely comfortable against Aaron Baddeley, but he was also never behind.

Adam Scott and Retief Goosen produced blue chip performances to buck the emerging trend and keep the contest at least theoretically alive until the closing stages.

The outcome would ultimately be decided on the back-nines of the sixth match, an arm-wrestle between Nick Watney and KJ Choi, and the final match, between the ailing Steve Stricker and Korean YE Yang.

Choi, who struggled to find form all week fought hard to remain in the contest. Unfortunately for him he came up against Watney, the type of candidate hand-picked by head office to fight such seats. Phlegmatic, undemonstrative, presentable, the American parred his way to an unassuming but critical success.

Stricker and Yang's battle was altogether more game with birdies and bogeys keeping the leaderboard operators in regular action. This match was in the balance until the Korean's ball became afraid of the dark towards the turn allowing the American to run in three holes in a row. A late fightback prompted a few Korean fist pumps but with the score at 18-15 to the US when Stricker finally closed out the match, they would be in vain.

The 19-15 victory reflects the greater US depth over the week. The internationals simply had too many passengers.

Captain's pick, Robert Allenby, the deadest of deadweights, was selected for his local knowledge - I hope he still has a Melways. Similarly, superstar talents like Jason Day and Ernie Els also failed to live up to the pre-tournament hype. Day in particular began the event talking combatively about feet on throats but ended with a cheery grin and an, ‘oh well,' shrug after being schooled by Hunter Mahan.

By contrast, the American team's only concern was Dustin Johnson, the laconic big hitter rarely hit his stride on an unfavourable course. There was no need for Fred Couples to worry though (as if he ever would?) because in the likes of Webb Simpson, Watney and Mahan he had invested wisely in stocks that are maturing nicely and paying handsome dividends.

The international Achilles heel remains the foursomes. The USA took eight of the 11 points on offer on Thursday and Saturday to propel the incumbents to victory. The international brains trust must remedy this alternate shot affliction or get used to another lengthy spell in opposition.

Unlike on election night, where one side may triumph but ultimately politics loses another scintilla of credibility, golf and the Royal Melbourne Golf Club were unqualified winners. The great course bared its full compliment of teeth across the four days, with Friday's hot gusty northerlies and greens at 14 on the stimpmeter in particular contrast to Saturday's wintry, wet slog.

As Geoff Ogilvy, one of the international highlights commented, "This has been a big week for us Australians. Royal Melbourne, we are really proud of this place and she showed every different aspect of why she's a great golf course this week. It's been fun to play."

The golfing caravan now returns to its collective individualism with the Australian PGA and Masters events scheduled in the coming weeks. However, like politics outside elections and the stock market in calm waters, public attention is unlikely to be diverted for too long. Team golf and the Royal Melbourne have enjoyed their moments in the sun, wind and rain. Next stop Ohio 2013.