International team stun US to draw level in Presidents Cup

1 month ago 12

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The International team staged a remarkable comeback by dominating Friday's foursomes to draw level at 5-5 against the United States in the Presidents Cup in Montreal.

Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im led the way, reeling off seven straight birdies to go eight under after 12 holes as they equalled the largest victory of all time in the competition, by defeating Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 7&6.

That set the tone for Mike Weir's side to reverse the score from Thursday's fourballs in stunning fashion.

It was the first time the US failed to win a single point in a session since 2003 - the last year they did not triumph in the event.

Australia's Adam Scott and Canada's Taylor Pendrith put a second point on the board for Weir's side, wrapping up a 5&4 win against Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa.

Scott now has 22 points in the Presidents Cup, an International team record. He is making his 11th consecutive appearance in the contest but has never played on a winning team in an event that the Americans have dominated since its inception in 1994.

Corey Conners almost holed his tee shot on the 13th as he and fellow home favourite Mackenzie Hughes closed out a 6&5 win against Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau.

And Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jason Day held on to beat Max Homa and Brian Harman in the first match of the day to go down the 18th hole.

Si Woo Kim's 15-foot par putt on the 18th ensured he and his partner Byeong-Hun An defeated world number one Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.

"I saw the first four groups winning points and I knew I needed the point," Kim said. "We're game on."

Until Friday, there had also never been sweeps in back-to-back sessions at either a Presidents or Ryder Cup.

"Every great comeback story starts with a deficit," said Internationals captain Weir.

"That was the message and the guys were very motivated.

"We responded incredibly. I believed in the guys. We just wanted to get ourselves back in this and 5-0 was a bonus. The guys just played unbelievable."

There are 20 points available over Saturday and Sunday with a total of 15½ needed to win outright.

Thursday fourballs (US lead 5-0)

Schauffele/Finau beat Day/An 1 up

Morika/Theegala beat Scott/Lee 1 up

Scheffler/Henley beat Im/Kim 3&2

Clark/Bradley beat Pendrith/Bexuidenhout 1 up

Cantlay/Burns beat Matsuyama/Conners 2&1

Friday foursomes (US 5-5 International)

Matsuyama/Im beat Cantlay/Schauffele 7&6

Scott/Pendrith beat Theegala/Morikawa 5&4

Bezuidenhout/Day beat Homa/Harman 1 up

Conners/ Hughes beat Clark/Finau 6&5