Internationals Take Historic Lead Into Presidents Cup Sunday

MEDINAH, Ill. — The Internationals will take a 10.5-7.5 lead into Sunday singles at the Presidents Cup, the first time in the competition's history they have entered the final day ahead while the matches are played on U.S. soil.

How did Saturday's foursomes session play out?

Saturday afternoon's foursomes finished 2-2 at Medinah Country Club, splitting the session after the Internationals had already trimmed a bigger deficit in the morning four-balls. Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup opened the U.S. account, going out in 30 to beat Adam Scott and Sungjae Im 6&4. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele added a second American point, closing out Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim 2&1.

The Internationals answered by taking the final two matches. Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee rallied past Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark 3&2, and Corey Conners and Nick Taylor overturned a three-hole deficit through 10 holes to beat Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 1 up, with Conners closing it out on a five-foot par putt on the 18th green.

The split followed a back-and-forth Saturday for the Americans, who had won the morning four-ball session 2.5-1.5 to cut into a 7-3 deficit built during Friday's foursomes sweep. Snedeker had downplayed that early gap after Friday's session, noting the competition was barely more than a third finished.

Why does the deficit matter?

The Internationals had trailed into a Sunday only once before, in 2019 at Royal Melbourne, when they held a 10-8 lead. The Americans rallied to win that singles session 8-4 and retain the Cup. This is the first occasion the Internationals have carried any lead into the final day while the matches were played in the United States. Of the 30 points available, 15.5 secure the Cup; the Internationals need five more from Sunday's 12 singles matches, while the Americans must win eight to keep it.

What is Snedeker saying about his captaincy?

U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker has repeatedly taken responsibility for his team's position through the week's television interviews and press conferences. Asked about Sunday's matchups, he said he does not think he has "held up my end of the bargain" for his players. The remarks drew criticism from Golf Channel analyst Paul McGinley, the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, who said Snedeker had been too open with his players still watching and the competition unresolved.

What is Snedeker's history at Medinah?

Snedeker's captaincy carries an added layer at Medinah Country Club, site of the 2012 Ryder Cup's "Miracle at Medinah," when the U.S. blew a 10-6 lead to Europe. Snedeker played on that American team and lost his singles match to Paul Lawrie. He has said he still thinks about that Sunday and what the loss cost then-captain Davis Love III.

The Americans have never before had to rally from an International lead in a Presidents Cup on their own soil.