Presidents Cup: Day 1 match recaps
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Its 4-1 lead is the largest it has ever held after the opening session. The previous best was its 3 ½- 1 ½ advantage in 1998. That was the only time it won the Cup. And that also was at Royal Melbourne.
This is just the fourth time the International Team has won the opening session, as well. Here’s a closer look at how it happened.
DAY 1 FOUR-BALL
Holes won: U.S. 8, International 4
Holes led: U.S. 15, International 0
Recap: Recap: The Captain led by example, giving his team the early lead with birdies on three of the first five holes. That included a tap-in on No. 1 and a chip-in on the par-3 fifth hole. Niemann recovered from his early struggles to win Nos. 6 and 7, but the Internationals lost the ninth hole to fall 2 down at the turn. They never got any closer. This was Woods’ first win in five Four-Balls matches at Royal Melbourne (1-4). Woods made six birdies, including on the last two holes. “Tiger was working so well between the two of us today. He played great,” Thomas said. “I mean, I just didn't really take advantage of the opportunities, but that's what you have a partner for. It was awesome. It's nice knowing when I step up on a par 3 or a par 4 that I feel free just because I know he's playing well, and he did.”
Holes won: International 3, U.S. 2
Holes led: International 8, U.S. 2
Recap: Recap: Thirteen holes were halved in this tight match. It started with some dramatics, as Im pitched in for eagle on the opening hole. The reigning Rookie of the Year led the TOUR in eagles last season, making 18. The U.S. won Nos. 6 and 7 to take a 1-up lead, though. Im squared the match with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 ninth hole, but every hole on the back nine was halved until Hadwin holed an 11-footer for birdie. Im is the youngest International player in Presidents Cup history to win his first match. “It was a lot of fun,” Hadwin said. “My first winning match in The Presidents Cup. It was so much fun. Sungjae makes it so easy to play with. He's so solid tee-to-green and relaxes me quite a bit.”
Holes won: International 4, U.S. 2
Holes led: International 14, U.S. 0
Recap: Scott got his team on the board by holing a 6-foot birdie putt on the third hole. The match was all square when Finau made birdie two holes later. An responded with a birdie on the sixth hole, and the International Team never trailed after that. Scott made birdie at the ninth hole to give the team a 2-up lead at the turn, and he responded with another birdie on 13 after Finau birdied the previous hole to pull within 1 up. The teams halved the remaining four holes One of those was a 15-footer for Scott to keep his team 2 up with three holes remaining. “This is the start we needed,” Scott said. “We haven't seen this for a while. We've got to try to keep this lead now as long as possible and hopefully the week runs out.”
Holes won: International 4, U.S. 3
Holes led: International 15, U.S. 0
Recap: Matsuyama got the International Team on the board with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 3 and 4. His team never trailed after that. Their point was in danger, though, after Reed authored some of his trademark dramatics. It looked like Captain America may don his cape after he holed an 11-foot birdie putt on 16 to tie the match. Matsuyama responded by holing a 27-foot birdie putt on the next hole to guarantee at least a halve for the International Team. The Internationals won the full point from the final match on the course when No. 18 was halved with pars.
Holes won: International 5, U.S. 1
Holes led: International 14, U.S. 0
Recap: The first hole was halved with birdies. That was the closest it got. The International Team followed with four consecutive birdies – three by Oosthuizen – to take a 4-up lead. Dustin Johnson won the eighth hole with a birdie, but it was the only hole the U.S. won in this match. Johnson, who hasn’t played a tournament since the TOUR Championship, had a chance to cut further into the Internationals’ lead after driving the par-4 11th, but he missed a 4-foot eagle putt. Woodland, a Presidents Cup rookie after winning the U.S. Open, didn’t make a birdie. “My man just made everything,” Oosthuizen said about Ancer. “He hit it good. He hit fairways, greens, and it's all on him today. It was unreal.”