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Internationals take 4-1 lead after stunning first day of action at the Presidents Cup
The Internationals hold a 4-1 advantage after the opening day of the Presidents Cup but they know Team USA will come out fighting in the foursomes format as Tiger Woods keeps faith in his pairings. Recap the action and see who will play on Friday.
A record opening day win for the Internationals was enough to ease the heaving nerves of first-time skipper Ernie Els.
But it was a long way short of the Presidents Cup dagger Els team has to drive through the heart of Team USA to end two decades of complete domination.
Tiger Woods, Els opposing skipper, scored his team’s only point in the opening match and was showing little signs of concern at the 4-1 deficit as he laughed and smiled watching the rest of his players lose.
Maybe Woods knows that the foursomes format, which was moved to the second session for this incarnation of the event, is clearly the Internationals team’s worst, opening the door for a day two American comeback.
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Woods stuck with three of his day one teams for day two, including paring himself with Justin Thomas again, and the 15-time major champion was a long way off panic mode despite worst day one in US history.
“Well, this is a long four days. I mean, we have to go earn this Cup. Just because we lost the session doesn't mean the Cup's over,” he said.
“There's a long way to go. A lot of points available. The guys will regroup and we'll come out ready to go.”
Despite yellow and black numbers dominating the scoreboard for nearly the entire opening day Els, so cool and calm as a player, likened his nerves as captain to those his wife must have felt watching him for so many years.
“There were a lot of tight matches and a lot of crucial putts,” Els said.
“As a captain not playing, yeah, it's nerve-racking. I can see what my wife's gone through for many years and people that care for you.”
Els said there was no way he could have predicted the near-perfect start, which was just the third time in Presidents Cup history that the Internationals finished in front after the opening day.
But he remained all business, even creating five entirely new pairings for day two’s matches, sticking to the plan of attack he had coming in to an event in which he knew demanded a different approach after seven-straight defeats.
“I didn't envision 4-1, no. So it's a nice start. You know, we haven't had a start like this for many, many years,” he said.
“We've gone this route (with the pairings), and we keep going. I mean, the guys played well today in their respective pairings, and tomorrow we've got whatever pairings we have.
“We feel comfortable with them. The guys have practised this way, so going with that process.”
Woods opted to keep three of his opening day pairs together for day two, including himself, and said he wasn’t just playing again because he was his team’s best Thursday performer.
“Yeah, we have a couple different options rolling into this entire Cup,” Woods, the second-ever playing captain said.
“The guys have known the game plan, different possible options, and this is one of the scenarios.”
“We're excited about getting out there tomorrow and winning some matches, and turning this thing around.”
DAY TWO MATCHES:
Dustin Johnson / Matt Kuchar V Adam Scott / Louis Oosthuizen
Adam Hadwin / Joaquín Niemann V Patrick Cantlay / Xander Schauffele
Webb Simpson/ Patrick Reed vs Marc Leishman/ Abraham Ancer
Justin Thomas/Tiger Woods v Ben An/Hideki Matsuyama
Gary Woodland/Rickie Fowler v Sungjae Im/Cameron Smith
Updates
LAUREN WOOD
He reckons he was "shaky" early, but Australian Adam Scott's relief to get a point on the board was palpable.
The star and teammate Byeong-Hun An defeated Americans Tony Finau and Bryson DeChambeau 2&1 on the opening day of the Presidents Cup on a dominant day for the International outfit.
And while he said it was "almost impossible" not to carry the pressure of experience and a home event, he said the pairing had done "a nice job".
"Ben had me covered early while I was shaky," Scott said.
"After a couple holes, I settled down and hit some shots. It was good fun."
Team captain Ernie Els was a fixture on the course, buzzing between holes on his designated buggy and joining Scott on the green on several occasions.
Scott said the South African had the International team absolutely humming as it hunts its first Presidents Cup since 1998.
"It's special for me," Scott said of playing for Els.
"Certainly he's been a great mentor to me my entire career. He's put his heart and soul into this behind the scenes. Of course we are playing hard for the team. We are playing hard for Ernie. It would be really special if we could get a win in this Cup and turn this thing around with Ernie leading us."
Scott: I was a little ‘shaky’ early
LAUREN WOOD
He reckons he was "shaky" early, but Australian Adam Scott's relief to get a point on the board was palpable.
The star and teammate Byeong-Hun An defeated Americans Tony Finau and Bryson DeChambeau 2&1 on the opening day of the Presidents Cup on a dominant day for the International outfit.
And while he said it was "almost impossible" not to carry the pressure of experience and a home event, he said the pairing had done "a nice job".
"Ben had me covered early while I was shaky," Scott said.
"After a couple holes, I settled down and hit some shots. It was good fun."
Team captain Ernie Els was a fixture on the course, buzzing between holes on his designated buggy and joining Scott on the green on several occasions.
Scott said the South African had the International team absolutely humming as it hunts its first Presidents Cup since 1998.
"It's special for me," Scott said of playing for Els.
"Certainly he's been a great mentor to me my entire career. He's put his heart and soul into this behind the scenes. Of course we are playing hard for the team. We are playing hard for Ernie. It would be really special if we could get a win in this Cup and turn this thing around with Ernie leading us."
Matsuyama Pan win, Internationals lead 4-1
The Internationals have capped off a stunning day at the Presidents Cup, winning four of a possible five matches.
Matsuyama and Pan are the latest to join the party, defeating Simpson and Reed.
The key moment came when Matsuyama drained a monster birdie putt on the 17th to give his pair a one shot lead.
The US pair was unable to birdie the last.
Marc Leishman speaks after loss to Woods, Thomas
Q. A tough start, you got Tiger with five birdies, and he got off to a brilliant start, birdie on 1 it and 2.
MARC LEISHMAN: They got off to a really hot start. I don't think either of us played our best golf. Like I said at the start of the week, we have to play good golf to beat these guys. Unfortunately we didn't, but hopefully the other guys can get a few wins and you know finish the day ahead.
Q. When you look back at the round and the conditions, can you talk us through those moments for you?
MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I mean, the conditions were testing, but the pin positions weren't too bad. They were gettable. I mean, I didn't drive the ball as well as I would have liked.
The base of my 2-iron actually caved in on the range, so I had 13 clubs today, which is pretty frustrating, so I'll get that sorted tomorrow and hopefully come out and win some points.
Q. What about playing with the debutante out there today?
MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, it's good. He's got a lot of game. We didn't quite have it today, but I think certainly got some points in us for later in the week.
Even bigger!
It could be another point for the Internationals, with Matsuyama sinking a bomb on 17 to put the hosts one up with one to play.
This day keeps getting better.
To go 1 UP heading to the final hole …
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 12, 2019
… Hideki Matsuyama is CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/Zwk3dlxWMM
Even bigger!
It could be another point for the Internationals, with Matsuyama sinking a bomb on 17 to put the hosts one up with one to play.
This day keeps getting better.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsTo go 1 UP heading to the final hole …
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 12, 2019
… Hideki Matsuyama is CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/Zwk3dlxWMM
Hadwin, Im win, Internationals lead 3-1
It is raining points here for the Internationals.
The lead is now 3-1 following Hadwin, Im securing a win over Schauffele and Cantlay.
What a day one this has been for the hosts. And there is still one point out there.
Match four is all tied with two to play. This is a dream start.
Watch: Patrick Reed's clutch putt
Patrick, the stage is yours. Bang! #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/nD2bahy1rd
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 12, 2019
LAUREN WOOD
Mark another win in the books for Team International.
Aussie Adam Scott and Korea’s Byeong-Hun An have closed out a 2&1 victory over American duo Tony Finau and Bryson DeChambeau.
The win gives the Internationals the upper hand in the Presidents Cup.
It was a stellar showing by Scott, whose experience in the teams event shone.
The win elicited some uncharacteristic emotion from Scott, who pumped the air and yelled “come on” to the crowd.