The Presidents Cup got started yesterday and we got to watch six matches of fourball action! For much of the beginning of the day, it was pure dominance by Team USA, leading in all six matches at one point. But after about a 90-minute weather delay, Nick Price’s Team International fought back and by day’s end, it was a 3.5 to 2.5 advantage for Team USA. Since the event started in 1994, Team USA is 7-1-1 and has won the last four Presidents Cup. The team also features six players in the top 10 world rankings, whereas Team International only has one (Masters Champion, Adam Scott). It was definitely a great fight by the Internationals today.
Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar won the first point of the event for Team USA as they beat Angel Cabrera and Marc Leishman 5-and-4. They also get bonus points for the most creative handshake after a birdie – they summoned their inner “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Jazzy Jeff” handshake, seen above! If only we can see a “Carlton dance” sometime this week! But Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen won the first points for Team International, although being down earlier in the match, as they took down Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who went undefeated together at last year’s Ryder Cup.
Muirfield Village member Jason Day and Graham DeLaet alsofought back from a 3-down deficit to beat Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker 1 up. Jason Day holed a dramatic putt at the 18th to give the win to Team International. Also on the 18th hole, Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott were able to halve their match with Webb Simpson and Bill Hass, although being down earlier as well. Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson eased past Branden Grace and Richard Sterne 5 and 3 and in the last match of the day, Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth edged Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge, winning 2 and 1.
Other news from the Presidents Cup on Thursday was the latest Team USA member, Sammy the Squirrel, who quickly became friends with Tiger Woods. Sammy was picked up by Davis Love III as it was wandering around the golf course on the second hole and it obviously grew fond of Davis – maybe even Tiger! For Friday Foursomes, the matches will be as follows:
MATCH 1:
Phil Mickelson-Keegan Bradley, U.S. vs. Jason Day-Graham DeLaet, International
MATCH 2:
Bill Haas-Hunter Mahan, U.S. vs. Ernie Els-Brendon de Jonge, International
MATCH 3:
Steve Stricker-Jordan Spieth, U.S. vs. Branden Grace-Richard Sterne, International
MATCH 4:
Webb-Simpson-Brandt Snedeker, U.S. vs. Angel Cabrera-Marc Leishman, International
MATCH 5:
Tiger Woods-Matt Kuchar, U.S. vs. Louis Oosthuizen-Charl Schwartzel, International
MATCH 6:
Jason Dufner-Zach Johnson, U.S. vs. Adam Scott-Hideki Matsuyama, International.
Source: Presidents Cup
