The International team’s shocking five-match sweep on Friday was an afterthought after two sessions at Medinah on Saturday, but the U.S. could well see its winning streak in the Presidents Cup come to an end after Sunday’s 12 singles matches.
A U.S. loss would be huge for the Internationals, a team that won the Cup for the only time and that was 28 years ago. Both teams need 15 ½ points to win the Cup. The Internationals lead 10 ½ to 7 1/2 so the U.S. needs to win eight of the 12 matches to retain the Cup. Each match is worth one point.
At least the U.S. has received a solid Saturday showing from Chris Gotterup, who won the John Deere Classic in downstate Silvis, IL., in July. After sitting out on Friday he paired with Cameron Young for a 2&1 win in the morning best ball session and then the two exploded in the alternate shot afternoon session.
“We needed to get off to a good start and get the crowd involved,’’ said Gotteruup. “We’ll have to do that again on Sunday.’’
“The team events bring out something different in all of us,’’ said Young. “You’re nervous every day. Everybody feels the same way.’’
The U.S., swept in five matches for the second straight year in the Friday session, threatened to cut into a 7-3 deficit in the early holes for Saturday’s best-ball matches. The 7-3 margin was created an eerie feeling on the U.S. side. That was the margin in 1998, the only time the Internationals won the Presidents Cup.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker wasn’t panicking yet.
“We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, a long day on Sunday,’’ said Snedeker. “If we see some putts go in we’ll have some fun. We have high quality, high character guys. Their fierce competitors.’’
Snedeker, though, didn’t hesitate to alter his lineup at the start of the only two-session day in this Presidents Cup.
Gotterup returned to the lineup and was paired with Young. Both New Englanders, they won the first four holes against Nick Taylor and Corey Conners, the Canadian duo that took down world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in a Friday stunner. and never trailed in winning 2&1.
Jackson Koivun, the 21-year old sensation, played with Justin Thomas again. They were winners on opening day and managed a tie–the first of the week — with the Internationals’ best team, Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im, after being reunited.
The U.S. managed to win the morning session 2 ½-1 1/2 but still trailed 8 ½-5 1/2 heading into the afternoon alternate shot matches. Snedeker made a surprise lineup change in that one, sitting Scheffler and making Burns the partner for Wyndham Clark.
Gotterup and Young were in the spotlight again in the alternate shot. They raced out to a 5-up lead after seven holes and had it easy after that, winning 6&4. They other three matches were tense, however.
In the first of the session Tom Kim putted off the green in a crucial moment on the 17th hole, leading to long-time partners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele gaining a 2-1 win for the U.S.
The last match on the schedule, Burns and Clark against Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee, was all square with six holes to go. Then the Internationals won three straight holes and clinched the 3&2 victory by tying the next one.
There’s was one match left on the course, and it went to the 18th with Canadians Conner and Taylor holding a 1-up lead. They protected it with a par to halve the hole and earn a 1-up win.