The International squad showed remarkable resilience Saturday at Medinah Country Club, overturning early deficits to finish the day with a three‑point lead over the United States heading into the final 12 singles matches of the Presidents Cup.
Key moments of the day
Min Woo Lee was instrumental in both comebacks. Paired with Sungjae Im in the morning four‑ball, Lee helped the team recover from two down against Justin Thomas and Jackson Koivun, ultimately halving the match. In the afternoon foursomes, Lee teamed with Ryan Fox to erase an early lag and secure a decisive win over Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark.
The day’s climax came when Corey Conners sank a six‑foot par putt on the 18th green, sealing a 1‑up victory for the United States duo of Conners and Nick Taylor over Jacob Bridgeman and Russell Henley after rallying from three down.
Captain’s strategy and player usage
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker, a former PGA Tour winner, opted to sit world‑number‑one Scottie Scheffler for the afternoon session, a decision that sparked discussion. Snedeker explained, “As I said at the beginning of the week, Scottie Scheffler is not going to go out there and win us 15 points, so we’ve got to go out there as a team and do this together.” He challenged his players to step up collectively, a call that produced mixed results.
Geoff Ogilvy, captain of the International side, praised his team’s perseverance. “Both sessions having all red on the board, down in every match, and to come back and get 1½ points out of this morning felt like a little victory,” Ogilvy said. He added that the U.S. team played “high‑level foursomes,” making the International comeback all the more impressive.
Historical context
The three‑point lead is the largest for the Internationals since the 2003 tie in South Africa. The last time the International team led heading into singles was at Royal Melbourne in 2019, when the United States rallied behind playing captain Tiger Woods.
Since the Presidents Cup began in 1994, the Internationals have secured only one overall victory, making any lead a significant milestone for the squad.
Player performances
Among the Americans, Cameron Young (New York) and Chris Gotterup (New Jersey) provided a spark, winning the first four holes in four‑ball against Conners and Taylor and later dominating Im and Adam Scott in a 6‑and‑4 match.
For the Internationals, Nico Echavarria and Christiaan Bezuidenhout sat out Saturday, having not played a single match yet. Echavarria’s last meaningful shot at Medinah came on Thursday.
Looking ahead
With twelve points still on the line, both captains emphasized the importance of staying focused. Ogilvy noted, “The goal at the start of the week is to be leading going into singles. There’s still 12 points on the board, though, so we’ve seen in these team events all sorts of different things can happen.” Snedeker, meanwhile, encouraged his players to keep the momentum, raising his arms on the seventh green after a putt to rally the crowd.
The final day will determine whether the Internationals can convert their lead into a historic victory or if the United States will extend its decade‑long dominance in the competition.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
