After two consecutive days of dominant performances — one by the United States on Thursday, the other by the International team on Friday — Saturday’s four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup showed a closer competition. The United States managed to take the lead after the morning sessions, holding an 8-6 advantage with 15 1/2 points needed to secure victory.
A fog delay halted play for over an hour and a half early Saturday, but once the action resumed, both teams showcased strong performances. The spectators, who were criticized for their lack of enthusiasm on Thursday, were lively and engaged on Friday, cheering on players from both teams, especially supporting rising International star Tom Kim.
Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa faced off against Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith, resulting in a closely contested match that was tied for 12 of the 17 holes played. The United States eventually emerged victorious with a 2&1 win, but they only held a one-hole lead for most of the match.
Highlight of the day: Adam Scott’s impressive 27-foot putt to halve a hole and stay in contention:
Next, Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim secured a convincing 4&3 victory over Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley, with the Internationals winning six holes and halving seven. The Kims never trailed in the match, setting the tone for the International team’s performance.
Si Woo Kim’s stylish hat-off gesture before sinking a crucial putt added flair to their victory:
Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele of the United States defeated Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes 3&2, taking control of the match from the sixth hole onwards and maintaining their lead until the end.
In the final match of the morning session, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns faced off against Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. Despite an early lead by the Internationals, the Americans fought back and secured a 2&1 victory after a back-and-forth battle.
The afternoon foursome matches presented an opportunity for the International team to regain momentum and potentially replicate their dominant performance from Friday.