The U.S. Staff received the Presidents Cup for a tenth consecutive time on Sunday after dominating the Singles session for an 18.5 – 11.5 overcome the Worldwide Staff at Royal Montreal Golf Membership.
The highly effective Individuals, led by captain Jim Furyk, received 7.5 factors from out of 12 to keep up their stranglehold within the biennial staff competitors. Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Keegan Bradley received their matches, with Bradley, in solely his second look within the Presidents Cup, delivering the purpose for the assailable lead following a 1-up victory over Si Woo Kim.
“Geez. Wow, that was unbelievable,” mentioned an emotional Bradley. “I used to be saying all week I did not know if I would ever get to do that once more. To only play on this event after which to win the purpose, my goodness … If that is my final spherical as a participant, possibly it’s, I am proud of that.”
The Worldwide Staff entered the ultimate day trailing by 4 factors and fought gallantly for a lot of the session. Xander Schauffele, winner of two majors this season, put the primary level on the board for the U.S. with a convincing 4 & 3 win over Jason Day earlier than the Worldwide Staff fought again momentarily with Korean star Tom Kim overcoming a 2-down deficit to tie his match with Sam Burns.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama then shocked World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler with a 1-up victory within the third match however there was to be no denying the Individuals as Russell Henley posted a 3 & 2 win over Sungjae Im and Patrick Cantlay trounced Taylor Pendrith 3 & 1 to set Bradley up for the successful level which was secured after Si Woo Kim missed an eight-foot birdie try on the 18th inexperienced to drive a tie.
“It was an honour (to play the primary match),” mentioned Schauffele, who received 4 factors this week alongside Morikawa and Cantlay. “Cap (Furyk) got here as much as me and requested if I would be cool going out first. You look down this row of men, and it may very well be any one in all us that is going to steer the cost. I took it as a particular alternative to do one thing nice. I wished to get some purple up on the board early for the boys to have a look at.”
Furyk was jubilant his 12 males had been in a position to preserve a agency domination within the Presidents Cup. “I do not know if I might put my finger on it. I am going again to simply this week, Thursday, that 5-0 (the place U.S. received the 4-ball session), that was 5 tight matches. Friday was not that very same story of the tape (Worldwide Staff received the Foursomes 5-0). However actually the matches come down to simply some particular moments. For one purpose or one other, these guys often play free within the Presidents Cup, and we have been in a position to win some essential factors, make some essential putts.”
One of many few vibrant sparks for the Worldwide Staff was Matsuyama’s win over Scheffler, the place the 10-time PGA TOUR winner produced some key moments to scalp essentially the most dominant participant of 2024. The Japanese star seized a 1-up lead with a shocking method to 5 toes on the par-3 seventeenth gap after which held on for the win with a three-foot par putt on the final gap.
“The final putt proper there, I used to be tremendous nervous. My fingers had been shaking loads. I am actually blissful I used to be in a position to win this match,” mentioned Matsuyama, who contributed 2 factors for the Worldwide Staff this week. “This win means loads. Actually proud of the consequence. I had just a few errors on the course, however actually proud of how I performed.”
Korea’s Tom Kim, with 1.5 factors all week, stood out as soon as extra with some fantastic golf and his fiery spirit. The 22-year-old believes will probably be a matter of time earlier than the Worldwide Staff will get the higher of the U.S. Staff, which has solely misplaced as soon as in 1998.
“I simply assume we’re hungry. I am certain the American staff feels the identical manner. However if you lose so many instances, I really feel like there’s at all times a narrative the place folks come again. Successful does not final perpetually. There’s going to be instances the place lip-outs are going to go our manner. A couple of breaks, just a few bounces are going to go our manner, and that is going to make a distinction. We play nice and we preserve falling brief typically, however I am not dropping hope,” mentioned Kim.
