CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — The Americans have a juggernaut. Jordan SpiethAnd Justin ThomasThey moved closer to another win in the Presidents Cup Saturday.
The International team has a spark plug for a 20-year-old Tom KimThe emotion and big putts from he delivered made it clear that the Americans must work hard for it.
The day began with the Americans having the mathematical chance of winning the cup. They ended up with an 11-7 lead. There were 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Spieth & Thomas were only the second U.S. couple to win all four matches of the Presidents Cup. They won the mornings foursomes match and the afternoons fourballs match.
The Internationals split the morning matches and, based on the way this Presidents Cup went for them, not losing ground felt like winning. Then it got even better.
They rallied in the final hour of two matches to win 1-up matches and take the afternoon session with three wins out of four matches.
Kim, the youngest player at Quail hollow and perhaps the most famous personality, was the star. Kim started his comeback by putting a 55-foot eagle putt on Par-4 11th hole. Patrick CantlayAnd Xander Schauffele.
They were all equal going to the last. Si Woo KimTom Kim was already out of the hole and faced a 10-foot birdie to win. As the ball approached the hole, he stepped back and dropped his putter. He then slammed his head to the ground in a loud celebration.
Kim said, I wanted to putt that putt more than any other in the world.
A few seconds later, Adam ScottAnd Cameron DavisThe team rallied from 1 down to 3 holes left when Davis made a 12 foot eagle putt at the 16th hole and a 15-foot birdie shot on the 17th to make it 1 up.
The final hole: Sam BurnsHe was able to reach 4 feet and he was able to give him and Billy HorschelYou have a chance to earn the halve. Davis then made another point with a 10-foot birdie.
The International team is a small but important group, already drained by four players who have left the PGA Tour to take part in the Saudi-funded LIV Tour, and already facing eight straight cup losses.
The Americans remain in control and need just four wins and a half from the 12 singles matches.
Thomas and Spieth are the ones who have led the way. The only other U.S. pair in a Presidents Cup that went 4-0 was Spieth and Thomas. Tiger WoodsAnd Steve StrickerHarding Park in 2009. The Internationals had Louis OosthuizenAnd Branden GraceIn 2015, do the exact same thing in South Korea
Thomas and Spieth are close friends since junior golf and international outings. They are playing together for the first time in a Presidents Cup. Its a deadly combination.
Spieth took a moment to reflect on the matchs end.
Spieth stated, We have to get the job done tomorrow and earn two more points for team, I would love to win singles, and I know Justin would too. Were going too close to each other that our two would be extremely important.
Kim won both of his matches Saturday. He was paired with K.H. LeeMorning foursomes to beat Masters champions and Burns Scottie Scheffler2 and 1.
Scott is on his 10th team. He has eight losses and one tie. Scott was left out until he was allowed to play. Hideki YamayamaTaken down Collin MorikawaAnd Cameron YoungScott and Davis were a great Australian duo in morning.
Scott stated, Any win against the U.S. has to be really hard-fought. So this feels good.
Max Homais still enjoying the week he has ever experienced. After his night of heroics, he teamed up with Tony FinauIn a 4-and-3 win over Si Woo Kim, Davis. Homa was absent from the afternoon session. He is now 3-0 in his first cup playing.
Cantlay and Schauffele lost their first match in three weeks. They were tied at 2 up after 10 holes. They were 3 under the rest. Schauffele hit a 40-foot birdie from short of 15th green for a 1-up advantage that looked to carry them to another round.
Si Woo Kim instead made a 4-foot birdie to tie the match on 16th and a 5-foot par to keep it tied on 17th. Tom Kim was so nervous that he covered his face and was looking through his fingers as if he was nervous.
The 20-year-old Korean won the final round. We will see what one putt — one points — can do for an International Team that still has a deficit of four points.
