U.S. team closes in on victory
JERSEY CITY, N.J. The Americans came within one match of winning the Presidents Cup. On Saturday. Anirban Lahiri made two clutch birdies that only delayed the inevitable. This is a powerful U.S. team playing to its full potential, and the result is the biggest blowout since these matches began in 1994.
Lahiri and Si Woo Kim had the only victory for the International team over two sessions. From the sun rising over the Manhattan until the chilly twilight at Liberty National, the American poured it on. They had a 141⁄2-31⁄2 lead and need only one point Sunday to win the cup for seventh straight time.
Phil Mickelson set a Presidents Cup record with his 25th victory, breaking the mark set by Tiger Woods. Mickelson hit two wedges into birdie range in the morning foursomes session with Kevin Kisner, when the Americans won three matches and halved the other.
Justin Thomas made another big birdie on the 14th hole and cupped his hand to his ear, covered by a beanie in the chill, to fire up a crowd that didn’t need much help.
Even in the lone loss of the day, the Americans made it hard on them. Charley Hoffman chipped in from short of the 17th green and bodyslammed partner Kevin Chappell, a celebration that lasted only long enough for Lahiri to match his birdie with a 20foot putt.
Lahiri and Kim were 1up playing the par-3 18th, and when Lahiri chipped to 3 feet and both Americans were in the bunker, they chose not to concede Lahiri’s putt until after Chappell had made par.
It was meaningless in the big picture, yet it illustrated clearly — along with all the celebrations — that no victory is too big for this U.S. team.
“We knew what was on our shoulders,” said Hoffman. “I didn’t have my best stuff all day long, but I had a chance. Got to give it up to Lahiri. He made some great birdies.”
The 11-point margin is the largest going into the 12 singles matches, breaking the International record of nine points set in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, the only time it has ever won the Presidents Cup.