USA strike first against Internationals at Presidents Cup

Friday features five matches of fourballs, followed by a full day of foursomes and fourballs Saturday and the decisive Sunday singles.

“I think we saw the strength of the USA team come out, but in all fairness to my guys, I don’t think they played as well as they were capable of”. Jordan Spieth has often said that playing with Bush allowed him not to get too intimidated by anything he faced in golf.

“I don’t really think much about”, Mickelson added of matching the record.

What occurred was not that.

Perhaps the only thing the Americans didn’t do well on Friday was celebrate. The ensuing birdie would get the match back to All Square with just two holes to go.

The lone bright spot for the global team was Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace, who were 5-and-4 winners against Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.

Top-ranked global team member Hideki Matsuyama acknowledged on Friday that he has not carried his weight in the first two days at the Presidents Cup.

If for no other reason, the last match on Saturday morning will be interesting to see if Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler can remain undefeated.

Hadwin and Matsuyama looked to be on course for victory after taking a two shot lead into the final four holes.

The Internationals are on the back foot after a poor start midway through the first day of the Presidents Cup in New Jersey.

We don’t need to go through the blow-by-blow of a blowout.

Price also omitted Canadian Adam Hadwin, Argentine Emiliano Grillo and South African Charl Schwartzel. “We are all capable out here but we definitely understood what [Stricker] wanted to do”. They were obviously fired up to get in and play in what is their first ever team event, Ryder or Presidents Cup.

The Americans danced because they could. “These guys are going to come out fighting over the next two days and especially tomorrow”. “Looking back at the replay, I think we kind of nailed it, ” said Mickelson, who has played all 12 Presidents Cups.

Said Jason Day: “You know, it sucks”. It was bad, hilariously bad, but a fun way to end the day.

“We hope he comes and he’ll be welcomed by us and by our players”, Monahan said. But Leishman could not hole his putt, he and Jason Day having spent a good part of the day ahead in their match against Mickelson and Kevin Kisner.

Recently-crowned FedEx Cup victor Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler overcame South African pair Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace 3 and 2, but with the three remaining contests close at that stage the global side would have harboured hopes of reducing the deficit. Hoffman and Chappell – presumably well rested – wiped the floor with Anirban Lahiri and Charl Schwartzel. That set the tone for an easy Chappell and Hoffman win that ended on the 13th green.