MEDINAH, Ill. – The Presidents Cup took a dramatic turn on Friday as the International squad captured a 7-3 lead over Team USA. The sweep in the foursomes session marked the first time the United States has faced such a deficit in the competition since 1998.
Key moments from the day
Canada’s Nick Taylor set the tone with a clutch 151‑yard 9‑iron that landed a foot from the hole, securing a full point for the Internationals. British Open champion Ryan Fox followed, sinking three crucial putts on the final four holes to claim another point.
Veteran Australian Adam Scott, who played his 56th Presidents Cup match—a record—reflected on the International team’s confidence. “From where I sit, if any of the guys were lacking belief, they should have it now,” Scott said, recalling the team’s sweep at Royal Montreal in 2024.
Match highlights
Scott and Christiaan Bezuidenhout won their foursomes 3‑and‑2 against Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im matched that margin over Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman. In the fifth match, Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim defeated Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 4‑and‑3.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker reminded his players that 20 points remain and cautioned that the comeback will be a “slow, steady process.” “We’re not going to be able to get it back in one session. It’s going to be a point‑by‑point effort,” Snedeker said.
Individual performances
Taylor, playing his first Presidents Cup at age 38, showcased his clutch ability. Known for dramatic finishes, he previously holed a 72‑foot eagle putt at the Canadian Open. “I wasn’t sure if I could hit that close, to be honest, but it came out perfect,” Taylor said after his decisive shot.
Burns, paired with Scottie Scheffler, missed a chance to halve the match when his putt rimmed the cup. Fox and Min Woo Lee fought a tight battle, with Fox delivering a 15‑foot birdie on the 15th and a 20‑foot birdie on the 16th to put the Americans briefly ahead before the match ended in a halve.
Looking ahead
International captain Geoff Ogilvy praised his team’s performance, noting the experience gained from the 2024 Friday sweep. “It’s enjoyable to have a day like that on the golf course, but we reset tomorrow and start again,” he said.
Saturday will feature four fourball matches in the morning and four foursomes in the afternoon, followed by 12 singles on Sunday. The format makes the next two days pivotal for both sides.
“There’s no scenario where you ever want to get swept,” U.S. player Thomas added. “If we’re going to do it, Friday sounds a little better than any of the rounds tomorrow.”
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
