Montreal, Canada: Despite the best efforts of Hideki Matsuyama, the International Team slumped to its 10th consecutive defeat to the US Team at the Presidents Cup.
At Royal Montreal Golf Club, Jim Furyk’s powerful team swept to victory by 18.5 to 11.5. In the final-day singles, the US won 7.5 points from 12 to maintain their stranglehold in the biennial team competition.
Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Keegan Bradley all won their matches, with Bradley, in only his second appearance in the Presidents Cup, delivering the point for the assailable lead following a one-up victory over Kim Si-woo.
“Wow! That was incredible,” said Bradley. “I was saying all week I didn’t know if I’d ever get to do this again. To just play in this tournament and then to win the point, my goodness. If this is my last round as a player, maybe it is, I’m happy with that.”
The International Team entered the final day trailing by four points and fought gallantly for much of the session.
Schauffele, winner of two Majors this season, put the first point on the board for the US with a convincing 4&3 win over Jason Day before the International Team fought back with Korean Tom Kim overcoming a two-down deficit to tie his match with Sam Burns.
Japan’s Matsuyama then stunned world number one Scottie Scheffler with a one-up victory in the third match.
But there was to be no denying the Americans as Henley posted a 3&2 win over Im Sung-jae and Cantlay trounced Taylor Pendrith 3&1 to set Bradley up for the winning point which was secured after Kim Si-woo missed an eight-foot birdie attempt on the 18th green to force a tie.
“It was an honour (to play the first match),” said Schauffele, who won four points during week alongside Morikawa and Cantlay. “Cap (Furyk) asked if I’d be cool going out first. You look down this row of guys, and it could be any one of us that’s going to lead the charge. I took it as a special opportunity to do something great. I wanted to get some red up on the board early for the boys to look at.”
Furyk was jubilant his 12 men were able to maintain a firm domination in the Presidents Cup. “I don’t know if I could put my finger on it. I go back to Thursday, that 5-0 (where US won the fourball session), that was five tight matches.
“Friday was not that same tale of the tape (International Team won the foursomes 5-0). But really the matches come down to just some special moments. For one reason or another, these guys usually play loose in the Presidents Cup, and we’ve been able to win some crucial points, make some crucial putts.”
One of the few bright sparks for the International Team was Matsuyama’s win over Scheffler, where the 10-time PGA Tour winner produced some key moments to scalp the most dominant player of 2024.
The two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner seized a one-up lead with a stunning approach to five feet on the par-three 17th and then hung on for the win with a three-foot par putt at the last hole.
“The last putt, I was super nervous. My hands were shaking a lot. I’m really happy I was able to win this match,” said Matsuyama, who contributed two points for the International Team.
Tom Kim, with 1.5 points through the week, stood out with some wonderful golf and his fiery spirit. The 22-year-old believes it will be a matter of time before the International Team gets the better of the US Team, which has only lost once, in 1998.
“I just think we’re hungry. I’m sure the American team feels the same way. But when you lose so many times, I feel like there’s always a story where people come back. Winning doesn’t last forever.
“There’s going to be times where lip-outs are going to go our way. A few breaks, a few bounces are going to go our way, and that’s going to make a difference. We play great and keep falling short, but I’m not losing hope,” said Kim.