Internationals dominate Friday foursomes session at Presidents Cup
The International team took a 7-3 lead over the United States in Friday's foursomes at Medinah, with superior putting and better performance on short holes contributing to the win.
The International squad surged ahead with a 7-3 advantage in the Presidents Cup foursomes on Friday at Medinah, marking the second consecutive edition in which they swept the session. The United States, which has historically dominated the competition, struggled to match the Internationals' putting and short-hole play.
Eight of the nine American players with the poorest putting statistics were outperformed by their opponents, while International pairings such as Min Woo Lee and Ryan Fox converted multiple birdie putts from beyond 10 feet. The Internationals also outperformed the U.S. on non-par-4 holes, winning all six par-5 and par-3 contests and posting a collective nine-stroke advantage on those holes.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker defended his team's approach, noting that the plan remained unchanged despite the setback. He later acknowledged that pairing Justin Thomas with Cameron Young, who had not practiced together, might have been a questionable decision. Snedeker said the team would review the performance during the upcoming intermission and adjust as needed.
International captain Geoff Ogilvy highlighted the firm, fast conditions at Medinah, which he said favored his side. The United States will retain three unchanged pairings for Saturday's matches, while other lineups are set to change.
Snedeker concluded by praising his players' commitment and expressing confidence that the team will respond strongly in the remaining sessions.