International analysis: Steady. Efficient. And facing America's best twosome once again. They've led off for the International side in three of the four sessions, which tells you how confident Captain Gary Player is with these guys. They don't say much, but their games speak volumes.
Key statistic: Scott is currently ranked third on PGA TOUR in par-3 birdie percentage while Goosen is second in par-5 birdie or better percentage. Watch for Goosen on the inward nine -- he ranks fifth in back-nine scoring average in 2005.
U.S. analysis: This isn't anything new. They play together all the time, they wanted to be paired together and, considering the way they're playing, Captain Jack Nicklaus isn't going to break them up. They wanted a chance at the best the Internationals had to offer and they got a halve in the morning Foursomes.
Key statistic: Do not be deceived by the lack of length on this team, the Americans will be a tough Four-ball team to overcome. Both are putting well. Verplank ranks 12th in par-5 birdie or better percentage, and Leonard is ninth on TOUR in par-4 scoring.
Outlook: Another slugfest. What else would you expect from the two best teams in the event? Both teams probably felt they let their morning match slip away and neither was happy with a halve. Could be the best match of the afternoon.
Projected Outcome: Halved.
Retief Goosen (2-0-1)
Adam Scott (2-0-1)
Match 2
United States Team
Insight and Analysis
International Team
Chris DiMarco (3-0-0)
Phil Mickelson (3-0-0)
International analysis: Player returns to a pairing that beat Love and Perry 3 and 2 in Friday's Four-balls. Rookie O'Hern is straight off the tee, Lonard solid to the green. Neither one was outstanding in their opening Foursomes matches with other partners, but they jelled together in Four-ball.
Key statistic: Accuracy is the key to this pairing. O'Hern is the most accurate driver on TOUR, while Lonard is extremely precise on his approaches -- ranking 10th in proximity to the hole from 50-125 yards and seventh when over 200 yards. The problem this team will have is scoring, as they are both are ranked higher than 90th on TOUR in par-breaker percentage. They won their first Four-ball match as a team, but face a much hotter team in today's match.
U.S. analysis: After halving their Four-ball match Friday afternoon, the other heavyweight American duo rocked and rolled to a 5 and 3 Foursomes win over Campbell and Cabrera. How does 8 under for 15 holes -- and they had one bogey in there -- grab you? These guys love playing with each other and it shows. A great short game, a putter on a roll.
Key statistic: Mickelson ranks no worse than seventh in birdie percentage on par 3s, 4s and 5s; and both he and DiMarco are in the top-10 in scrambling. DiMarco is excellent on the greens, ranking fourth in three-putt avoidance and ninth in one-putt percentage. If these two play as they have been so far this week, this is the best pairing of the day.
Outlook: Look out. The way Mickelson and DiMarco blitzed through the morning match, they show no signs of slowing down. The Internationals need some major magic in their bags to hang in on this one.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins.
Peter Lonard (1-1-0)
Nick O'Hern (2-0-1)
Match 3
United States Team
Insight and Analysis
International Team
Davis Love III (1-2-0)
Fred Couples (0-2-0)
International analysis: Another inseparable partnership. They've gone 1-1-1 so far and are coming off a blitz-loss to Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco. Three-under just doesn't get it done in foursomes. Cabrera is long and Campbell remains on the roll that started when he won the U.S. Open.
Key statistic: Both players seemed comfortable with their pairing in the Foursomes. While neither player has enough starts on the TOUR for official statistics, both players are long off the tee and can obviously handle the excitement. Cabrera made a few key putts in the first match, but will have to keep it up for this team to be successful.
U.S. analysis: Couples sat out the morning Foursomes, presumably to rest his back. Now he teams with one of his best buddies -- and favorite partners -- in a key Four-ball match. Couples has gone 0-fer this week, so you have to figure the man whose shots put the Presidents Cup on the map the first few years, has something left in his bag. Love, who struggled with Kenny Perry in the first two matches, found something with Stewart Cink Saturday morning.
Key statistic: Love will have to be a little more accurate off the tee to help out his familiar partner. He hits 80.2 percent of the greens in regulation when he finds the fairway and less than half when he does not. Couples ranks currently 19th in greens in regulation and is 18th in par-breaker Percentage, but needs to find his putting stroke for this team to be successful.
Outlook: Interesting. Both U.S. players have struggled with other partners, but the good-buddy thing might be what they need to get back on track. Internationals need to have a snack, take a deep breath and put the morning behind them. We like the U.S. here.
Projected Outcome: International Team wins.
Michael Campbell (1-1-1)
Angel Cabrera (1-1-1)
Match 4
United States Team
Insight and Analysis
International Team
Kenny Perry (0-2-0)
Stewart Cink (1-1-1)
International analysis: Hensby sat out in the morning while Clark teamed with O'Hern to beat Fred Funk and David Toms 2 and 1. Both are quiet grinders -- and Hensby has had a somewhat overlooked, but solid season.
Key statistic: This team can score. On the TOUR in 2005, Clark is tied for ninth in birdie or better conversion percentage (32.7 percent) and tied for eighth in par-5 birdie or better leaders (47.9 percent). Hensby is eighth in total eagles and at 32.2 percent is tied for 14th in birdie or better conversion percentage. Both are good putters which should be the difference in this match.
U.S. analysis: Perry sat out the morning matches, while Cink has a relatively quick turnaround. He was last in Saturday morning when he and Love beat Immelman and Weir 1 up. Neither one is having a good week, so Nicklaus is giving this a chance.
Key statistic: The Americans can score, as well. Cink is tied for sixth in par-3 scoring while Perry is tied for sixth in par-4 scoring and fourth in par-4 birdie average. Cink has the longest streak without a three-putt on TOUR in 2005 at 351 holes, and Perry ranks first in ball-striking on TOUR. He will need to regain his stroke on the green for this team to have any success.
Outlook: Tossup. Clark and Cink faced each other Friday in Four-balls with different partners (Fred Funk and Vijay Singh) and halved. This one could play out the same way.
Projected Outcome: International team wins.
Mark Hensby (0-1-1)
Tim Clark (1-1-1)
Match 5
United States Team
Insight and Analysis
International Team
Tiger Woods (1-1-1)
Jim Furyk (1-0-2)
International analysis: There but for a few inches. Singh had his chance to close out the other heavyweight team, but just missed. Looks like Player has finally hit on an excellent partnership with these guys. They're both long off the tee and both hate to lose. And Appleby's putting touch right now -- a couple of bombs early in foursomes -- is a plus.
Key statistic: Appleby and Singh have very similar games off the tee, ranking just behind Cabrera on the International Team in average driving distance. Singh will need to match Woods in scoring on par-4s to keep this match close. These players will need to take advantage of their length and give themselves a couple of legitimate eagle opportunities on the par 5s to win this match.
U.S. analysis: Team injury to team comeback. In 18 holes -- and they needed all of them. It was only a halve, but they gutted it out in the morning Foursomes. Furyk made a huge putt at No. 17 to pull them within one, then stiffed his approach to 5 feet at the 18th. Tiger did the rest. Maybe the old adage is right -- beware the wounded golfers. Furyk (right ribcage) and Tiger (spasms, left trapezius) are now best friends with trainer and ice packs. Funny, they're not playing like they're hurting, though.
Key statistic: Woods ranks fifth in greens in regulation while Furyk stands ninth, and they rank 17th and 18th in putts per green in regulation, respectively. They were a tough draw in Four-ball competition on Friday and both appear to be healthy. Furyk's putting will be the key to this match.
Outlook: Just be there at the 18th hole. Another well-matched rematch of teams from the morning Four-ball. They don't get tired of seeing each other. They thrive on it. This is one where you can feel the intensity.
Projected Outcome: United States Team wins.
Vijay Singh (0-0-3)
Stuart Appleby (0-2-1)
From Head to Toe
and Tee to Green. Get great deals on golf gear
and apparel. Shop PGA TOUR
United States Team
International Team
