PGA TOUR
Presidents Cup
USA Continues Domination of Presidents Cup
The USA Team went into the Presidents Cup huge favourites. And, the star-studded line up didn’t disappoint its home fans. Staged at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the USA Team comfortably accounted for the International Team 17.5 to 12.5. It was the 12th victory for the USA Team from 14 Presidents Cup contests.
Captained by Davis Love III, the USA Team jumped to a 4-1 lead after Thursday’s Foursomes matches. On Friday, the home team moved to a seemingly unassailable position with an 8-2 advantage. The USA Team won seven of the ten contests. There were two tied matches. Only Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Australia’s Cam Davis gained a victory for the International Team before the Presidents Cup reached the weekend.
Led by South Africa’s Trevor Immelman, the International Team needed a strong result from the eight matches on Saturday. The four morning Foursomes duels were shared with two wins each. Saturday afternoon went in favour of the away side with the International Team winning the Fourball session with three wins from the four matches. The USA Team took a healthy 11 to 7 lead into Sunday’s 12 Singles duels and only required 4.5 points on the final day to retain the Presidents Cup. They went on to collect 6.5 points during the final session to reach 17.5 points giving the USA Team victory by five points. With five matches still to be decided, Xander Schauffele had the honor of holing the Presidents Cup winning putt when he edged Corey Conners 1 up after saving par at the final green.
America’s Jordan Spieth was the standout performer. The 29-year-old former world No. 1 was flawless winning all five matches. Spieth became just the sixth player in the event’s history to produce a 5-0-0 result joining Branden Grace (2015), Jim Furyk (2011), Tiger Woods (2009), Shigeki Maruyama (1998) and Mark O’Meara (1995). Spieth teamed up with good friend Justin Thomas to go undefeated in their four pairs matches. He then outplayed Australia’s Cam Davis on Sunday 4&3. It was the Texan’s first victory in a Single’s match in eight Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup starts.
Max Homa enjoyed a dream week at his rookie Presidents Cup. The 31-year-old American, who won last week’s Fortinet Championship, scored a stunning unbeaten record from his four contests. Thomas earned four points. His only blemish came on Sunday losing narrowly to Si Woo Kim on the 18th hole. Kim was the best of the International Team winning three points. Scottie Scheffler was a notable who was out of sorts in Charlotte. The world No. 1 went winless from four matches managing just one tied result. Canadian duo Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners were the only players in the field who didn’t hit the scoreboard. Both players lost all four of their matches.
The 15th Presidents Cup will be staged at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Canada in 2024.
The PGA Tour heads to Jackson for the Sanderson Farms Championship staged at The Country Club of Jackson. America’s Sam Burns is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Presidents Cup
USA Team 17.5 defeated International Team 12.5
Photo credit: Warren Little/Getty Images
