The Presidents Cup witnessed an unprecedented turnaround as the International team made a remarkable comeback against the USA. The Internationals, led by Mike Weir, staged a clean-sweep in the foursomes to tie the score.
- After suffering a 5-0 defeat on the first day, the International team rebounded strongly.
- Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im secured a joint-record 7&6 victory.
- The all-Canadian pair of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes delighted their home crowd with a 6&5 win.
- Two closely contested matches also saw the Internationals prevail by narrow margins.
The Presidents Cup faced an unexpected twist when the Internationals rebounded from a 5-0 opening day deficit with a 5-0 clean-sweep in the Friday foursomes. This impressive comeback tied the tournament score at 5-5. The Internationals’ resurgence was led by Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im, who achieved a joint-record 7&6 victory over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, the world number two.
The team captained by Mike Weir demonstrated resilience and determination, with Matsuyama and Im’s outstanding performance setting the tone. They quickly gained a three-up lead within the first four holes and continued to dominate, making seven consecutive birdies from the sixth hole onwards and securing their point by the 12th hole.
In another remarkable match, Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes, the Canadian duo, delighted their home supporters with a 6&5 win over Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau. Their performance was a highlight in front of the vocal and supportive Montreal crowd, who were encouraged to raise their volume following a quieter first day.
The remaining two matches were closely contested but ended in favour of the Internationals. Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jason Day finished 1 UP against Max Homa and Brian Harman. Day’s crucial chip from the back greenside rough proved pivotal in their victory. Similarly, the South Korean pair of Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An also finished 1 UP against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, with Kim’s 15-foot par putt on the 18th green confirming the clean-sweep.
Reflecting on the Internationals’ astonishing comeback, Rich Beem, 2002 PGA champion, expressed his surprise and admiration for the team’s performance. He noted the significance of their early momentum and how they capitalised on every opportunity. Looking ahead, both teams are preparing for a double session on Saturday with eight more matches. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with 12 singles matches, with the first team to reach 15.5 points being declared the winner. The USA has dominated the tournament historically, having won the last nine editions.
The Internationals’ historic comeback in the foursomes has set the stage for a thrilling continuation of the Presidents Cup.
