Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay played significant roles in securing an 8-6 lead for the United States in the Presidents Cup. After being shut out in the previous matches, the American team staged a comeback with strong performances on Saturday. The day was marked by a delay due to thick fog at Royal Montreal, leading to four delayed foursomes matches that the International team hoped to use to minimize their deficit.
International captain Mike Weir fielded the same teams from the fourballs, causing some players like Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Byeong Hun An to sit out the entirety of Saturday. The International team found a ray of success with Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim securing the lone fourballs win in the morning session against their American opponents.
In another match, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele claimed victory over the Canadian duo Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes with a 3-and-2 win. The US team’s lead widened as Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler battled Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith extensively, eventually securing a crucial point for their team with some impressive play on the back nine.
The anchor match saw Sungjae Im trying to hold off Cantlay and Sam Burns, with Cantlay’s standout performance, including a chip-in for eagle on the 12th hole, ensuring a lead for the American team. Im and Hideki Matsuyama fought back but were unable to overtake their opponents, ultimately falling short in their match.
The Presidents Cup witnessed an unprecedented seesaw battle between the two teams, with both experiencing shutout sessions before bouncing back to claim victories. The unique circumstances of the week, including the weather delay due to fog, added an extra layer of unpredictability to the tournament. As the competition nears its culmination and with the singles matches scheduled for Sunday, both teams are gearing up for a thrilling finish to the prestigious event.
