Presidents Cup: International Team fights back to tie U.S. 5-5

Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im sparked a stunning International Team fightback with a record-tying 7 & 6 rout over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in the first match of Friday’s Foursomes session

International team member Hideki Matsuyama of Japan shakes hands with United States team members Russell Henley and Xander Schauffele during the Presidents Cup golf tournament. | Photo Credit: AP

Sahith Theegala and partner Collin Morikawa suffered a big defeat in their second match as the International Team fought back brilliantly with a 5-0 sweep to tie United States 5-5 in the Presidents Cup.

Theegala and Morikawa were outplayed 5 and 4 by Australian veteran Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith.

Scott made more history by earning his 22nd point in what was an unprecedented 11th International Team appearance.

A day after the U.S. Team won all five Four-ball matches, the International Team won all five matches, the first time in Presidents Cup history with multiple session sweeps.

Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im sparked a stunning International Team fightback with a record-tying 7 & 6 rout over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in the first match of Friday’s Foursomes session before Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An put the bow on a 5-0 reversal over the star-studded US. Team to leave the Presidents Cup all tied at 5-5 at Royal Montreal golf course on Friday.

Following the American demolition job in Thursday’s Four-ball session where the title holders won all five matches, Mike Weir’s International Team showed up in full force to put life back into the biennial team competition.

Kim, a captain’s pick, rolled in a pressure-packed 15-foot par putt on the final green of the last match in front of his team and a raucous home crowds as he and An produced a 1-up victory over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.

Canadian stars Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes also enjoyed a 6 & 5 win over Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau while Jason Day and Christiaan Bezuidenhout edged out Max Homa and Brian Harman 1-up as the International Team brilliantly bounced back from Thursday’s setback as they chase only a second Presidents Cup victory.

Matsuyama, a 10-time PGA TOUR winner, and Im dovetailed brilliantly in the alternate-shot format as they closed out Cantlay and Schauffele, who until Friday, was undefeated as a pair in Foursomes at the event.

The Asian stars didn’t allow their opponents to win a single hole, missing only two fairways and two greens through 12 holes, and brilliantly made seven straight birdies to close out their match.

Round 2 Results:

Foursomes – International 5, United States 0 Match 6: Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (INT) def. Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.), 7 and 6 Match 7: Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (INT) def. Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S.), 5 and 4 Match 8: Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day (INT) def. Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.), 1-up Match 9: Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (INT) def. Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau (U.S.), 6 and 5 Match 10: Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An (INT) def. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.), 1-up.

Overall Score: United States 5, International 5 R1 (Four-ball): United States 5, International 0 R2 (Foursomes): International 5, U.S. 0.