The United States will take a two-point lead to Saturday afternoon foursomes play at the Presidents Cup after beating the Internationals 3-1 in the morning four-ball matches.
That sets the score at 8-6, with four matches in the afternoon and 12 singles matches Sunday remaining.
Match 1: Scheffler/Morikawa 2&1 over Scott/Pendrith
Match 2: Finau/Schauffele 3&2 over Conners/Hughes
Match 3: Kim/Kim 4&3 over Clark/Bradley
Match 4: Cantlay/Burns 2&1 over Matsuyama/Im
The opening match of Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa against Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith was an even affair before the World No. 1 took over late. Scheffler had yet to make a birdie through 15 holes but went birdie-birdie on Nos. 16 and 17 to flip the match from a tie to a victory for the U.S.
The second match was one-sided, as the all-Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes couldn’t replicate their brilliant play from Friday. The pair combined for two birdies all day – well back of the 5-under score shot by Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
The third game featured Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim blitzing Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley with some incredible play. The South Korean duo provided highlight after highlight, erupting every time a long putt was made to claim a hole. Si Woo Kim capped the match with an incredible early celebration on a walk-in birdie that sent the Iocal fans into a frenzy.
Patrick Cantlay wouldn’t be denied in the day’s final match to down the duo of Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. Cantlay went 5-under over the final six holes to flip the outcome from a tie to a resounding American win.
