The international team won five of eight games on Saturday to take over the lead of the US team after three days of the Presidents Cup at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club.
The US team leads 11-7 in Sunday’s single. The US team entered the four and four ball events on Saturday with an 8-2 lead. However, the international team won three of four four-ball games in the afternoon session to shave the lead.
The Americans need 4.5 points on Sunday to win the Presidents Cup.
Tom Kim and Adam Scott starred for the international team, winning both matches played on Saturday.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, paired together in both events on Saturday, won both games for the Americans.
20-year-old Kim sank a 10-foot birdie on number 18 to clinch victory for him and his partner, Si Woo Kim, in their four-ball 1-ball victory over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. The American duo were looking to improve to 3-0 on aggregate.
Kim ignited the celebration before her putt even fell into the cup, knocking the putter over and throwing her hat down.
“I mean, in tournaments, I would never scream that loud or go crazy,” said Tom Kim. “But I’m just trying to bring some energy to the team. You know, that’s all I can do. We’re a little behind. So, I’m just trying to bring positive vibes and try to get the team to go and just give momentum. to the team.
“To beat such a team today, I feel we will have a lot of momentum tomorrow.”
Sungjae Im and Sebastian Munoz beat Americans Tony Finau and Kevin Kisner 4 and 2, while Scott and Cam Davis overtook Sam Burns and Billy Horschel 1-up in the afternoon session.
Thomas and Spieth took the only afternoon victory for the US team, 4 and 3 over Hideki Matsuyama and Taylor Pendrith.
“Obviously we are disappointed with how the afternoon session ended and how it went,” said Thomas. “But I think Jordan said it best when we were coming back. It’s just that I think you can easily forget what’s going on, what’s the score, just how a day ends and how it ends.
“We are still leading the Presidents Cup and are in a great position to win tomorrow. So we just have to lower our heads and chase him,” added Thomas.
The teams split the morning session on Saturday.
Spieth and Thomas defeated Im and Corey Conners 4 and 3, Scott and Matsuyama defeated Cameron Young and Collin Morikawa 3 and 2, Tom Kim and KH Lee defeated Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler 2 and 1, and Finau and Max Homa defeated Yes Woo Kim and Cam Davis 4 and 3.
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