Effectively, we have now ourselves a Presidents Cup.
With a 5-0 American four-ball sweep nonetheless recent of their minds, the Internationals turned in a shutout of their very own on Friday, dominating the foursomes session, 5-0, and storming again to tie the competitors by way of two days at Royal Montreal.
Whereas the U.S. eked out most of its wins on Thursday (three 1-up victories), the Internationals posted a number of routs, together with a record-tying 7-and-6 win by Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im over American cup veterans Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. The foursomes have been so lopsided that the U.S. led for only one gap in comparison with 57 holes for the Internationals. The Internationals additionally received 27 holes to the Individuals’ six.
“We listened to Mike and different assistants, and we took the positives of how shut it was, and we didn’t get deflated,” Adam Scott mentioned. “We got here out and we knew we have been enjoying properly. … I mentioned it within the assembly yesterday; there’s numerous struggle on this group, and we’re not going to go away.”
Furyk is now 2-11 as a captain in foursomes, with this marking the second foursomes session that his American groups have been swept (0-4 in opening foursome session at 2018 Ryder Cup).
“We received to observe them leap up and down on the 18th inexperienced and have a good time, excited,” Furyk mentioned. “I hope that sticks with everybody, and I hope that’s a pit of their abdomen tonight. We’ll regroup, we’ll get some good pairs on the market within the morning, and it’s our flip to come back out firing.”
Right here have been probably the most pivotal moments in every match:
Hideki to the center
Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (Int.) def.
Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.), 7 and 6
The Internationals led the entire manner on this one, although the Individuals lastly gave the impression to be settling in late on the entrance 9. Schauffele caught his tee ball to eight ft on the par-3 seventh, and Cantlay rolled of their first birdie of the match to tie the opening and stay 4 down.
However a gap later, Matsuyama shut the door with a 16-foot birdie make, which he celebrated with an enormous fist pump.
Im added an necessary par save on the ninth gap, the place Cantlay hit his strategy to tap-in vary, and the Internationals turned with a 5-up lead. Matsuyama and Im carded seven straight birdies to shut out the 7-and-6 blowout, which tied the most important margin of victory in occasion historical past. Schauffele and Cantlay have now misplaced three straight matches as companions, their file as a duo dropping to 6-6.
“At this time from the start, our vibe was vibing,” Im mentioned.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 27: Adam Scott of Australia and the Worldwide Workforce celebrates after a putt throughout Friday Foursomes on day two of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Membership on September 27, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Picture by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Photos)
Scott from downtown
Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (Int.) def.
Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S.), 5 and 4
After a flurry of pars to begin, Scott notched the primary birdie of the match with a 9-foot make on the par-4 fourth. However it was on the subsequent gap, the par-3 fifth, that the Internationals grabbed maintain of this match.
Whereas Morikawa splashed out of the sand to 4 ft, Scott erased any hope of a tie by draining a 40-foot birdie bomb to push the Worldwide result in 2 up.
Morikawa stubbed a chip from a juicy lie on the par-5 sixth, and the Internationals received that gap, too, by no means trying again. Scott’s Worldwide-record twenty second level was formally obtained on the par-4 14th gap after Theegala flubbed a 50-yard pitch shot properly wanting the inexperienced and Morikawa caught a chip, which he needed to make, a bit heavy.
“Numerous nice moments and hard moments, too,” Scott mentioned. “I’m going to get pleasure from this one as a result of that is Taylor’s first win. I’m stoked for him, and he’s going to have many extra.”
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 27: Jason Day of the Worldwide Workforce reacts to his shot on the 18th inexperienced throughout Friday’s Foursomes matches on day two of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Membership on September 27, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Picture by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR through Getty Photos)
Day Man
Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day (Int.) def.
Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.), 1 up
It was a tough Thursday for Bezuidenhout, who missed three essential putts inside of seven ft on his final 5 holes, however he received a confidence enhance early by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt to win the primary gap.
From there, Day took over.
He hooped a 28-footer on the par-3 seventh to present he and Bez the lead once more – and for good. The largest second, although, got here on the par-4 ending gap, the place Bez flew the inexperienced together with his strategy and Day picked him up with a nifty chip to gimme vary.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 27: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada and the Worldwide Workforce celebrates on the eleventh inexperienced throughout Friday Foursomes on day two of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Membership on September 27, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Picture by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photos)
Canadian reversal
Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (Int.) def.
Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau (U.S.), 6 and 5
Conners and Hughes, two Canadians, jumped on the Individuals from the beginning, as Finau and Clark didn’t even end at every of the primary two holes and fell 2 down early. However the dagger got here on the par-4 eighth gap.
Clark pounded a drive and left Finau simply 87 yards to the opening, whereas Hughes put Conners within the righ fairway bunker, 128 yards away and with a poor angle. Conners, although, didn’t care, hitting a magnificence to inside 3 ft. Finau solely managed 8 ft, which Clark couldn’t convert from.
The Internationals received that gap and the following to go 5 up on the flip, and it was primarily over at that time, because the Canadian duo poured in seven birdies on their opponents.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 27: Si Woo Kim of the Worldwide Workforce reacts to successful his match on the 18th inexperienced throughout Friday’s Foursomes matches on day two of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Membership on September 27, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Picture by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR through Getty Photos)
Shakin’ dat…
Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An (Int.) def.
Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.), 1 up
This was the one match during which the Individuals led, 1 up after two holes. However that was short-lived. The Internationals went 1 up after Kim flagged his tee shot on the par-4 thirteenth gap, and Kim tied the fifteenth gap by changing a 12-footer for birdie.
Kim performed hero one final time on the 18th gap, the place he muscled an strategy from the thick tough simply shy of the inexperienced after which sank a 15-foot par saver to finish the 5-0 sweep.
“It’s recreation on,” Kim mentioned.
