US team builds 4-1 lead in Presidents Cup
CHARLOTTE, N.C.: American red numbers fiLLED THE ELECTRONIC SCOREBOARDS THURSDAY (FRIDAY IN MANILA) IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP, AN OUTCOME THAT SURPRISED NO ONE FOR THESE ONESIDED MATCHES.
“Somebody came on the radio and said, ‘Yeah, but we’re 1 up in three matches and those can flip real quick,’” US captain Davis Love 3rd said.
When it was over, the International team was happy it wasn’t shut out.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele set the tone with the shortest foursomes match in the Presidents Cup since 2011, dispatching Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott in 13 holes as the American duo improved to 5-0 in this alternate-shot format.
Right behind them were Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, coming up with big moments after bad shots in a 2-and-1 win over Sungjae Im and Corey Conners.
Another strong American team from top to bottom played at a high level on a hot day at Quail Hollow and walked off with a 4-1 lead after the first session.
“I told the guys last night we need to set the tone — us and J.T. and Jordan’s match — and we did,” Schauffele said. “Playing this format on a day like today and not making any bogeys, it’s exactly what we need.”
Even the breaks fell the Americans’ way.
Max Homa and Tony Finau were all square with four holes to play when Homa’s shot from a fairway bunker on the 15th hole — typically the 18th at Quail Hollow — was headed for the middle of the stream when it caromed off the rocks and into the rough. Finau pitched to 8 feet and Homa made the putt to halve the hole.
“That tie felt like a win,” Homa said, and they wound up winning the match with a par on the 18th hole.
The lone bright spot for the International team was Cameron Davis and Si Woo Kim, who won the last four holes to take out Sam Burns and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world.
The International team, already an underdog in these matches, was hurt more than the Americans by players leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf, including British Open champion Cameron Smith, Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann.