Americans running away in the Cup

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner rehearsed the dance from “Three Amigos.” The only question was whether to use it at the Presidents Cup, and as the veteran of 23 team events, Mickelson concluded it would need to be a big moment.

Their match was all square on the 18th hole Friday. Mickelson was 12 feet away for birdie. A victory would give the Americans a record lead.

“If this putt goes in,” Mickelson said he told his rookie partner, “we’re going to dance.”

This turned out to be one big dance party for an American team that has gone nearly two decades without losing. They hammered the International teams on the back nine to go unbeaten LEADING: United States 8, International 2. FORMAT: The Americans were unbeaten in fourballs, going 4-0-1. It was the first time in 10 years the International did not win a match in a session. MATCH OF THE DAY: Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace, giving the South Africans their first loss in six matches. SHOT OF THE DAY: Thomas holed out from a bunker on No. 14 and wound up halving the hole when it looked as though the lead would be cut to 1 up. GOOD RECORD: Phil Mickelson set the Presidents Cup record with his 10th victory in fourballs, and he tied Tiger Woods’ record

in fourballs and build an 8-2 lead, the largest margin after two sessions since the Presidents Cup began in 1994.

Mickelson had his 24th match victory to tie the Presidents Cup record held by Tiger Woods, and he set a record with his 10th victory in fourballs. for most victories with 24. BAD RECORD: Adam Scott set a Presidents Cup record with his 19th loss. KEY STATISTIC: There were 16 holes won on the back nine — 13 by the Americans. NOTEWORTHY: The 8-2 lead is the largest after two sessions. The previous mark was a five-point margin in 1994 and 1996. QUOTEWORTHY: “I’m pumped that we took that team down.” — Justin Thomas, on being the first U.S. team to beat Oosthuizen and Grace. TODAY: Four matches of foursomes in the morning, four matches of fourballs in the afternoon. TELEVISION: As for that dance? It looked a little awkward, though Mickelson did slightly better than when he cropped most of his face out of a selfie he took during the opening ceremony with the last three U.S. presidents.

“I’m clearly the worst selfie taker. I’m the worst ‘Three Amigos’ dancer,” Mickelson said. “But I can putt.”

So can his teammates, who have followed the script set out by U.S. captain Steve Stricker to win every session. They won handily in the other three matches. The other match was a halve, but even in that one, Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Hadwin had a 2-up lead with four holes to play until Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed rallied. The Americans nearly won that one, too, except that Spieth narrowly missed birdie putts on the last two holes.

“Our guys stepped up again,” Stricker said. “They have a knack for doing that. To finish like that is huge for us going into tomorrow.”

Mathematically, the International team could be done today, the first day of a double session — four matches of foursomes in the morning, following by four matches of fourballs in the afternoon. The Americans are 7½ points away from clinching the cup.

“I think we saw the strength of the U.S. team come out today,” Price said.