Presidents Cup: USA takes big lead into singles play
DUBLIN, Ohio — The USA will take a commanding lead into the final session of the Presidents Cup, the Sunday singles.
The USA leads 14-8 and will need 4 points in singles to win the cup outright. The USA leads the series 7-1-1.
Singles matches are played out until a team winner is determined.
After a relatively close affair through two days — and long rain delays — the Americans blew it open in Saturday's two sessions. Americans won seven of the 10 matches and halved another.
"They have still got a lot of fight in them," International captain Nick Price said. "But this is a pretty tall order. And I just hope the golfing gods are on our side this afternoon."
Phil Mickelson hit 7-iron around a tree and onto the 18th green that gave the Americans a shot at birdie that Keegan Bradley made for a half-point in a foursomes match the U.S. team once trailed by three holes.
Bill Haas and Steve Stricker cruised past Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama 4 and 3.
Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel 1 up. They rallied from 3 down with six to play to earn the full point. Oosthuizen and Schwartzel, made with three bogeys and a double bogey down the stretch.
Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson managed to finish their 4-and-3 victory against Richard Sterne and Marc Leishman on Saturday night.
Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge handed Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar their first loss of the week with a 1-up victory.
Now it's down to singles.
If there is one consolation for the Internationals, it might be this: Many of these American players were on the wrong end of a huge comeback (from 10-6 down) by the Europeans in the 2012 Ryder Cup.
It's something anyway.
This is where the matches stood when play was suspended by darkness Saturday night:
•Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) all square with Jason Day/Graham DeLaet through 13 holes.
•Bill Haas/Steve Stricker (USA) 2-up on Adam Scott/Hideki Matsuyama through 10 holes.
•Ernie Els/Brendon de Jonge (International) 2-up on Woods/Kuchar through nine holes.
•Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel 3-up on Webb Simpson/Brandt Snedeker through 12 holes.
Sunday's singles
(Internationals listed first)
9:30 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama vs. Hunter Mahan
9:41: Jason Day vs. Brandt Snedeker
9:52: Graham DeLaet vs. Jordan Spieth
10:03: Ernie Els vs. Steve Stricker
10:14: Brendon de Jonge vs. Jason Dufner
10:25: Adam Scott vs. Bill Haas
10:36: Branden Grace vs. Zach Johnson
10:47: Marc Leishman vs. Matt Kuchar
10:58: Richard Sterne vs. Tiger Woods
11:09: Charl Schwartzel vs. Keegan Bradley
11:20: Louis Oosthuizen vs. Webb Simpson
11:31: Angel Cabrera vs. Phil Mickelson
Contributing: The Associated Press