Golf fans in the Chicago area witnessed a stunning shift in the Presidents Cup on Friday, when the International Team swept the United States 5-0 in the foursomes session at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3. The clean‑sheet victory propelled the Internationals to a 7-3 lead, erasing the one‑point deficit they carried after the opening session.
Key matches and turning points
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama paired with South Korean talent Sungjae Im opened the day for the Internationals. After falling one down on the second hole, they rallied to win 3&2, setting the tone for the rest of the session.
Corey Conners and Canadian Nick Taylor delivered another decisive win, beating world‑number‑one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns 1‑up. Scheffler and Burns had finally secured a team victory the previous day, but could not recover from an early deficit in this match.
In the closest contest of the day, Ryan Fox of New Zealand and South Korea’s Min Woo Lee edged out Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark 1‑up. Morikawa missed a birdie putt on the final hole that would have secured the point for the U.S., allowing Fox and Lee to clinch the win.
Adam Scott and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout defeated Justin Thomas and Cameron Young 3&2, taking control early and maintaining their advantage through the closing holes.
Finally, the Korean twins Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim completed the sweep, beating Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 4&3. Their partnership improved to 4‑1 for the Presidents Cup, remaining unbeaten together this week.
What this means for the competition
With four points separating the teams and 20 points still up for grabs over the final two days, the Internationals have positioned themselves for a potential first Presidents Cup triumph since 1998. The United States, which has won 11 consecutive Cups, will need to rally in the two remaining sessions on Saturday to stay in contention.
The result mirrors the 2024 event at Royal Montreal, where the Internationals also rebounded from a 5‑0 opening‑day loss to sweep the Americans in the Friday foursomes. The pattern suggests that the International side thrives when they can capitalize on momentum early in the competition.
Local relevance
Medinah Country Club, located just outside Chicago, has a storied history of hosting major championships, including multiple U.S. Opens. The club’s continued role as a Presidents Cup venue highlights the region’s importance to the sport and offers local fans a front‑row view of world‑class golf.
Chicago-area businesses are also feeling the ripple effect, as the tournament draws visitors and media attention to the area, providing a boost to hotels, restaurants, and related services during the event.
Looking ahead
The next two sessions on Saturday will feature fourball and singles matches. All eyes will be on the U.S. team as they attempt to close the gap, while the Internationals aim to extend their lead and possibly secure a historic victory.
Fans can follow live coverage through the official Presidents Cup broadcast and local sports outlets for updates on scores, player performances, and any emerging storylines as the competition unfolds.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
