In one of the greatest fightbacks in Presidents Cup history, International pair Marc Leishman and Abraham Ancer fought back from five holes down to claim a vital half point after making a pact to never say die. Recap all the action.
A never-say-die attitude and a pact between teammates to not lay down lifted Australian Marc Leishman to an epic fightback for the most valuable half-point he could have imagined.
Leishman, who landed a crucial putt on the 16th before a blistering approach shot on 18 to set up what felt like a victory to the Royal Melbourne crowd, said the pair had rallied together from “getting our butts kicked” to near glory.
“Me and Abe were talking when we were five down, and we said, ‘Let’s keep fighting and see what happens,’” Leishman said.
“That’s a good thing; neither of us say die. It would have been easy to, I guess, lay down today and take it easy, but we’re not like that.
“We’re fighters.”After a dismal first 10 holes that saw the Americans sink two birdies and win five holes, Leishman said the prospect of clawing back the result had not seemed realistic until the pair walked to the 17th tee, two shots down with two holes to play.
The 36-year-old said the tie had felt like “a lot more than a half point”.
He said team captain Ernie Els came to him on the 12th hole and told him “get as far as you can”, but Leishman was adamant to “not talk about losing yet … we’re going to fight this out”.
“That’s probably as good as I’ve felt on a golf course, and I only halved the match,” he said.
“We’ve all won up here. We’ve won tournaments, but we don’t get chances to play with a teammate very often.
“To be successful with a teammate would be pretty cool.
“We had a taste of that today, but I think if we can play well and do our jobs tomorrow, what we felt today is going to probably be pushed aside for what we may feel tomorrow. So it ranks pretty high for me.”
Leishman has never lost in Presidents Cup singles, notching two wins and a half in his previous three outings.
But he said that record would count for little today.
“I’ve had a good run in the singles in my three Presidents Cups previous, but that means nothing now,” he said.
“We’ve got a lead and it’s definitely going to matter (today).
“I’ve got to draw on those experiences and draw on the tournaments I’ve played well in, pull some energy from this crowd, and hope I play well and make some birdies.”
Leishman said the result — which was matched by teammates Byeong Hun An and Joaquin Niemann, who tied with Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau in the final match of the day — would prove a “big momentum-gainer” for the International outfit after a day that had looked like panning out very differently.
But to turn the tables had lifted the spirits of a team he said was now full of belief.
“It looks like we’re going to have a lead going into Sunday. We haven’t done that for a long time,” he said.
“Hopefully we can bring this energy, play some good golf, get the crowds into it, do what we need and get six more points.
“It would be nice.”
RECAP THE ACTION BELOW
First match is at 10.02am
Match 19: Abraham Ancer v Tiger Woods
Match 20: Hideki Matsuyama v Tony Finau
Match 21: C.T. Pan v Patrick Reed
Match 22: Haotong Li v Dustin Johnson
Match 23: Adam Hadwin v Bryson DeChambeau
Match 24: Sungjae Im v Gary Woodland
Match 25: Joaquin Niemann v Patrick Cantlay
Match 26: Adam Scott v Xander Schauffele
Match 27: Byeong Hun An v Webb Simpson
Match 28: Cameron Smith v Justin Thomas
Match 29: Louis Oosthuizen v Matt Kuchar
Match 30: Marc Leishman v Rickie Fowler
auren Wood reports:
In a statement, the PGA Tour confirmed that Karain has been stood down from tomorrow's singles.
"Following an incident that took place on Saturday at the Presidents Cup involving Kessler Karain and a spectator, Karain will not return to caddie for Sunday's final round singles matches," it said.
Reed said he accepted the decision.
"I respect the Tour's decision," He said.
"We are all focused on winning the Presidents Cup tomorrow."
auren Wood reports:
In a statement, the PGA Tour confirmed that Karain has been stood down from tomorrow's singles.
"Following an incident that took place on Saturday at the Presidents Cup involving Kessler Karain and a spectator, Karain will not return to caddie for Sunday's final round singles matches," it said.
Reed said he accepted the decision.
"I respect the Tour's decision," He said.
"We are all focused on winning the Presidents Cup tomorrow."
Tied.
Byeong Hun An missed the chance to win the tie after his putt drifted left of the hole.
It followed an unbelievable recovery shot by partner Joaquin Niemann in the long grass.
Considering how the Internationals were positioned earlier, they'd be happy taking a two-point lead into the final day.
Internationals lead 10 – 8.
Team USA has conceded the 18th hole and the point is split.
What an incredible comeback by the Internationals pair Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman after they were 5 down at the 10th hole.
Internationals lead 9½ – 6½.
Delivering for his home crowd. 💪
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 14, 2019
Australian Marc Leishman sticks it on the final hole to help secure half a point for the International team.pic.twitter.com/1WVStoS2by
Tied.
Byeong Hun An missed the chance to win the tie after his putt drifted left of the hole.
It followed an unbelievable recovery shot by partner Joaquin Niemann in the long grass.
Considering how the Internationals were positioned earlier, they'd be happy taking a two-point lead into the final day.
Internationals lead 10 – 8.
Team USA secures another point with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele winning 2&1 after a topsy-turvy contest with Adam Scott and Sungjae Im.
Internationals lead 9½ – 7½.
Team USA has conceded the 18th hole and the point is split.
What an incredible comeback by the Internationals pair Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman after they were 5 down at the 10th hole.
Internationals lead 9½ – 6½.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsDelivering for his home crowd. 💪
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 14, 2019
Australian Marc Leishman sticks it on the final hole to help secure half a point for the International team.pic.twitter.com/1WVStoS2by
Excellent recovery shot by Rickie Fowler crouching between the trees.
But Leishman's approach shot has given the Internationals a chance for birdie.
Wow.
It's all falling apart for the Americans in the second group.
Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman secured another hole on the 17th to keep the tie going.
Then Justin Thomas has smashed his tee shot on the 18th into the trees.