US closer to Presidents Cup
jersey city — The United States were threatening to run away with another Presidents Cup after a four-ball rout on Friday that left an International team reeling and searching for answers.
Under the gaze of the Statue of Liberty, the United States have been domineering hosts, winning four of five four-ball matches and halving the other surging to an 8-2 lead to the delight of a giddy home crowd at Liberty National.
The United States have won nine of 11 Presidents Cups, including the last six and if the International team, comprised of players from the rest of the world except Europe, are to end the drought they will have to overturn the biggest US advantage ever after Day Two of the biennial competition.
So complete has been the United States dominance that they can clinch the Cup late on Saturday, leaving Sunday’s singles nothing more than dead rubbers.
With the sun setting over the Manhattan skyline, Phil Mickelson, who has played in every edition of the Presidents Cup, dropped a 12foot birdie putt at the par three 18th to clinch a one-up victory for himself and partner Kevin Kisner over Australians Jason Day and Marc Leishman, sparking wild cheers from his team mates and fans packed around the finishing hole.
For Mickelson it was his 24th Presidents Cup victory, tying him with Tiger Woods for the most alltime. —