The biennial event between the US and global squads may see a blowout at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., as the USA opened up an 8-2 lead after a dominant four-ball session.
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The Internationals failed to a win a full point, the first time that’s happened since 1994, and the United States extended its lead to 8-2 for the largest advantage after two sessions.
There wasn’t much celebrating on the worldwide side where, once again, the team finds itself in a deep hole without a ladder.
3-down through seven holes, Virginia Beach golfer Marc Leishman and partner Jason Day clawed their way back vs. Americans Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner to halve the match on day one of the 2017 Presidents Cup.
Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner rehearsed the dance from “Three Amigos”. Or better yet, global captain Nick Price may want to suggest a revamped selection process that includes the US vs. the Rest of the World and Jupiter, Fla., which is home for a large portion of the American team. They have a knack for doing that. We believe each other is going to make it. Then the three former chief executives all stood on the tee as players from the US and global teams began their alternate-shot matches.
Nick Price, the global team’s captain, acknowledged another tough day, but insisted, “We’re not laying down”.
“I don’t think we’ve got a lot of pressure because I think a lot of people are kind of writing us off already, and we’re all solid players”. They are young, they are explosive, they have a lot of fun with one another. And in the anchor match, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler will see if they can continue the Baker’s Bay bromance and run off another blowout win. The Americans can coast through Sunday and hoist the chalice toward the majestic Manhattan skyline.
Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman – two Presidents Cup rookies – set the tone for the United States, thumping Charl Schwartzel and Anirban Lahiri 6 & 5 in the first match to finish.
Grace and Oosthuizen were undefeated together in five Presidents Cup matches before running into a buzzsaw by the name of Justin Thomas, who was paired with Rickie Fowler but did most of the damage on his own. Each match is worth one point, but if a match is tied after 18 holes, each team will recieve a half point.
The American juggernaut rolled on with Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson grabbing a win, 1 up, against Venezuala’s Jhonattan Vegas and Queensland’s Adam Scott. Even that felt like a small victory for the worldwide team because Spieth had birdie putts on the final two holes that narrowly missed.
The U.S. Team squared the match with a par on the 17th hole and almost secured a full point at the 18th, but Mickelson’s par putt from six feet slid by the hole. “I didn’t have a good Presidents Cup and it was close”.
“It just broke early, ” Leishman said.
“I think that it will be done”, Mickelson said. “We got beaten by two first-class players, so can’t be too disappointed with that”.
The latter duo were ahead through two holes thanks to a birdie at the par-five second, but their opponents won five of the next seven to lead four-up at the turn.
Moments later, both Jason Day and Mickelson tried to do the same, with Mickelson even asking his caddie brother to pull the flag because he was planning on putting it right at the hole. “They hit some great shots, made some key putts when they had to”. Hoffman’s approach shot on the 13th hole is what sealed the deal, as he dropped a four-foot birdie putt to gain a point. The deficit is too large, and the US roster too talented and deep, the momentum like a 20-foot wave down the coast on the Jersey Shore. The loopers then said “we know they got something planned”.
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He sounded like a guy whistling past a graveyard.
