Presidents Cup serves as Graham DeLaet’s coming-out party

That was one heck of a coming-out party for Canada's Graham DeLaet.

He started his first Presidents Cup on Thursday as a household name only in his home town of Weyburn, Sask., and possibly in his adopted home of Boise, Idaho. After an incredible performance over four rain-soaked days, he's now known to golf fans around the world.

DeLaet was either the best player to don an International journey or tied for first with Australian Jason Day in a competition that saw the U.S. defeat the Washington Generals International side 18.5-15.5. The duo both finished 3-1-1 for the event to lead the non-American team, which has only one victory and a draw in 10 tries.

But it was the way that DeLaet got his victories on Sunday that put him on sports highlight reels across the world. In the finish of the foursomes competition on Sunday morning, he deprived the American duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley of what appeared to be a sure victory by holing out from just off the 18th green. That halved the match and kept the slim International hopes alive

Later in the day, leading American Jordan Spieth by one in the singles competition, DeLaet holed out from a greenside bunker on the 18th to preserve victory. Talk of deja vu echoed around Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Throughout the tournament, DeLaet drew nothing but rave reviews from television commentators on both sides of the Atlantic. Johnny Miller, analyst for The History Channel NBC talked about his great shot-making abilities and predicted it was only a matter of time before he would win his first PGA Tour event. British commentators praised his "gritty" nature.

International team captain Nick Price couldn't say enough about him.

"I think Canada has a lot to look forward to the next 10 or 12 years or so watching him play, because he’s definitely major championship material,” Price told reporters after the tournament.

The praise, and the performance, couldn't have come at a better time. DeLaet has been in the spotlight before, making headlines with a third-round 62 at the recent Deutsche Bank Championship and tied for second at the Barclays earlier this year.

But those stages are pretty small compared with the Presidents Cup.

Admittedly, notoriety doesn't mean much more than increased endorsement opportunities. But all that praise can go a long way to boosting a golfer's confidence, the way it did when another Canadian golfer was rising up the ranks.

Just before he won his first tournament in 1999, people were starting to talk about the little lefty from Brights Grove, Ont. They really started talking about him when he became the first Canadian to play in the Presidents Cup and Miller predicted that he would one day win a major, which he did three years later.

Weir talked about how those comments gave him confidence and it wasn't long before he started winning with regularity. So did DeLaet.

“Yeah, I got some really kind words from Mr. Nicklaus on the first tee today, saying it’s really going to build my confidence, and I think that’s true," he told the National Post's Cam Cole.

“I’ve always kind of believed in myself, (but) I definitely believe that deep inside I feel a little more confidence in myself now. These are the best players in the world and this American team is just loaded with talent. To be able to come in here and play well against them means a lot.”