The International Team needed a huge second round comeback on Friday, and they didn’t get it despite using their preferred Four-ball format. The U.S. now has the lead. The U.S. Team holds an 11-1-1 record from 1994’s inception of Presidents Cup. This makes it look even more comfortable in control. The Internationals watched as putts slipped past the hole. Corey Conners’ miss birdie putt at 4 feet 3 inches was the first. The U.S. The U.S. Team seemed to be able to make it a success, with Sam Burns hitting an 80-foot eagle shot at the par-5 7th, which was a hole that the U.S. The team owned. Patrick Cantlay and Cameron Young also eagled seventh. The story of the 14th Presidents Cup was told by the three U.S. Team eagles, each one winning the hole, in three consecutive matches. Although the International Team won the Fourball 6 1/2 — 21/2 at the 2019 Presidents Cup, they fell behind quickly as Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth birdied the fourth hole and fifth holes to give them a two-up advantage and make the U.S. the first red on their board. It was a sign that more would follow. Patrick Cantlay (USA) and Xander Schauffele (USA), each 0-2-0 in Fourball heading into Friday went 6 under and 5 up through eight holes against Tom Kim, Hideki Matsuyama. The U.S. The U.S. Team won all five matches, and the International Team was again on the back foot. Presidents Cup victories are rare and historically small, with the U.S. Team’s victory at Royal Melbourne (they were down 10-8) being the most notable. This Presidents Cup is a far cry from Liberty National 2017, where the U.S. won the Cup. The Team led 8-2 at the end of the second round, and almost won the Cup Saturday afternoon. The five key clubs for the International Team at the Presidents Cup FOUR-BALL MATCH 6 Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas, U.S. Adam Scott/Cam Davis ), 2 and 1. With a comfortable lead (4-1), Carolina temperatures dropping into the 70s, and two U.S. presidents (Bill Clinton & George W. Bush) present on the first Tee, the U.S. had some momentum going into Friday’s Fourball play. Spieth, Thomas and Thomas were not about to give up an inch. The U.S. The U.S. began the round with three pars and then made birdies on four holes to build a lead of 3-up. Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner at Quail Hollow, made a 16-foot birdie on the par-3 fourth, and added a 10-foot birdie on the fifth to make the U.S. 2 up. Spieth also added a short birdie. The Internationals were kept alive by Scott’s birdie at the ninth (8 foot). The Australians would add birdies to the next three holes but no gain, while the U.S. maintained its 2-up lead. Spieth maintained the lead with a crucial 10-footer at par-5 12th. Thomas’ third deuce came at the difficult par-3 14th, adding to his birdies at Nos. 4, 10, and 10. His 6-iron shot of 229 yards was 3 feet back from the hole. Through 14 holes, the U.S. was at 8-under. Spieth made a tremendous par save on the 15th. He then won the match with a downhill birdie shot from 20 feet at 17. Thomas is now 5-0-0 in Presidents Cup Fourball play. He was the first competitor to win five matches in this format. Spieth is 4-2-1. Spieth made a putting adjustment in order to move his hands forward in address. QUOTES – “I truly enjoy a great partner. I was glad to add some ham to my omelette this morning. It made it a little more ham-and-egg. Jordan is beginning to feel the putter and it’s fun to see.” Justin Thomas It wasn’t what I was trying for there. It was the right line. … Thomas made quite a few birdies, but they were on my opposite holes, which is just how it should be in Four-ball. U.S. Team 5, International Team 1 MATCH 7 Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns (U.S.) tied Sungjae Im/Sebastian Munoz (Intl.) Score at match’s end: U.S. Team 6 1/2, International Team 2 1/2 MATCH 8 Kevin Kisner/Cameron Young U.S. tied Mito Pereira/Christiaan Benzuidenhout International (Intl. Score at match’s end: U.S. Team 7, International Team 2 MATCH 9 Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) def. Hideki Matsuyama/Tom Kim (Intl. ), 3 and 2. After being out first a few days earlier, Schauffele/Cantlay were tucked back in the lineup, this one towards the middle. This was one of three teams that U.S. sent back. Team Captain Davis Love III. The U.S. The U.S. Team shot 6-under for a spectacular opening nine. Here’s what happened: Matsuyama was two shots closer to the hole than Schauffele at fifth. However, after a trend of two days, the U.S. converted their birdie opportunity (10 feet) and Internationals (9 feet) failed. Cantlay birdied six (at 17 feet), and then nearly holed a second shot on the par-5 seventh where he putt for eagle. Schauffele had four birdies on the first eight holes. However, Cantlay’s starry par eagle cut the hole seven. The U.S. led by five after Schauffele’s birdie on the eighth. The U.S. team was able to win the match despite a large lead. Kim, a 20-year old who won the Wyndham Champion in North Carolina, made his first hole birdie at 12th, and added another at 14, from 7 feet, before being conceded at 15, a 15-footer to keep the Internationals alive. The match ended when both teams birdied 16th hole. QUOTES : “We’re all playing our own balls, so we had a few more chances at birdie and were able to capitalize on that.” – Xander Schaffele “You just need to be present in the moment and not get too distracted. Tom makes birdie at 14; that’s a great birdie. We played very well. We played really well. Team 6, International Team 1.
By: Staff
Title: Presidents Cup: Friday Four-ball match recaps
Sourced From: www.pgatour.com/news/2022/09/23/presidents-cup-friday-match-recaps-four-ball-quail-hollow.html
Published Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400
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