Internationals Sweep Foursomes to Build 7-3 Presidents Cup Lead as U.S. Putting Falters
Updated
Updated · golfchannel.com · Sep 26
Internationals Sweep Foursomes to Build 7-3 Presidents Cup Lead as U.S. Putting Falters
3 articles · Updated · golfchannel.com · Sep 26
Summary
A second straight Presidents Cup foursomes sweep pushed the Internationals to a 7-3 lead Friday at Medinah, putting the Americans under early pressure in an event they have dominated 13-1-1.
More than six strokes gained with the putter drove the surge: eight of the nine worst putters Friday were Americans, while International pairs repeatedly holed birdie chances from beyond 10 feet.
The U.S. also lost the non-par-4 battle badly, getting shut out 6-0 on par-5 holes won and outscored 5-1 on par-3s as firmer, faster conditions exposed short-game struggles.
Brandt Snedeker also faced scrutiny over pairings after sending out Justin Thomas with Cameron Young despite no practice round together; Thomas lost more than four strokes overall.
Saturday now becomes a test of U.S. adjustments, with Young and Chris Gotterup finally paired and the Americans entering as slight underdogs despite Snedeker's insistence that "there's a lot of golf left."