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By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

MONTREAL, Canada -- At 10:30 on Sunday morning, the grandstand to the right of the 15th green was full. The bleachers behind No. 18 had a smattering of people, as well.

These special Presidents Cup captains actively promote great fun in the spirit of the game. (Cannon/WireImage)

Now, this is not normally an extraordinary event, but when you consider that the first matches of the Singles competition at The Presidents Cup weren't scheduled to tee off until 12:10 p.m., it raises an eyebrow. The earliest a group could possibly reach the 15th green would not be for at least four and a half hours.

The empty putting green was ringed with expectant fans. The first tee was jam-packed with fans waiting to erupt with the call to the tee. And these are just a few of an incredible number of great scenes at this Presidents Cup.

The inclusion of captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player ensured that this would be more than just another series of matches. Mr. Nicklaus said that he was a little surprised when Commissioner Tim Finchem called and asked him once again to captain the U.S. side. And while he didn't rule out the possibility of leading the young lads in stars and stripes again, Jack alluded to the fact that he felt it was unlikely.

In their joint press conference on Saturday night, Mr. Player said, "It's time for somebody else." Knowing that, or at least anticipating the quiet changing of the guard, makes all the little moments that have occurred this week somehow penetrate a little deeper.

Like Jack Nicklaus' quiet words to Mike Weir Saturday afternoon behind the 16th green as they watched a match in progress. Mike now knows an adulation that is only reserved for the supremely talented in ordinary times. Even as the cheers from Canada's first Presidents Cup fade, the imagination of a country has been sparked by one of its own. Mike has risen to the occasion several times this week -- including Sunday's 1-up win over Tiger Woods -- and his countrymen have responded.

The image of Jack, so fatherly in his approach to players from both sides, putting his arm around the slight Canadian's shoulders is one of sportsmanship and generosity. Jack gave Woody Austin a quiet nudge as he and Phil Mickelson stood on the par-3 17th down two. Woody heard the words of golf's greatest sage and hit his best shot of the day. His birdie bought the American side another hole where Lefty put the icing on the American's cake by making birdie and stealing a half a point from the Internationals. Jack and Phil gave each other a fist bump behind the 18th green.

As we say au revoir to Montreal and the seventh Presidents Cup matches, there are many lasting images. It only took Woody Austin a couple of decades to become an overnight sensation. We didn't think that he could do anything to trump the head-thumping that he gave himself at Hilton Head early in his career. But he dove into stardom -- literally -- and then he birdied the last three holes to prove that he belonged on this stage. In typical Woody fashion, he poked fun at himself by donning a scuba mask as he played the fateful 14th in his Singles match on Sunday.

Whether it was Weir holding his arms aloft in triumph or a side-armed fist pump from Stewart Cink reminiscent of a side-armed middle reliever, the images of joy and heartbreak are enduring. One of the things that struck me was the presence of the two captains on the first tee for the start of all the singles matches. Gary and Jack offered handshakes, good luck wishes and perhaps a word or two of advice to the players on both teams.

When the two-time Canadian Open champion, Jim Furyk, and his opponent, Retief Goosen, teed off in Match 34, the captains lingered on the tee taking pictures with assorted dignitaries and members of the media. Shortly after those tee shots, Weir and Woods made their way across the first tee and around the clubhouse to the par-4 10th hole.

The atmosphere was electric with hundreds of members of the media and thousands of jubilant Canadians cheering Mike on. Captain Nicklaus gave brief encouragement to his star, who was 3 down to Mike. While Sunday brought little drama in terms of who would win the Cup, it was fun to watch the see-saw battle between Tiger and Mike.

In the end, that is what this Presidents Cup turned out to be -- great fun in the spirit of the game. When Scott Verplank closed out Rory Sabbatini on the 17th green Sunday, he stood on the green and applauded the fans. He applauded and pointed in an extended thank you. I think his gesture speaks for all of us who visited Montreal for a fantastic week.