Sept 29 (Askume) – Keegan Bradley scored a point against international Kim Si-woo in Montreal on Sunday to help the United States defend its Presidents Cup title with a 15-1/2 victory.
This was Team USA’s 10th consecutive victory in the Presidents Cup, bringing them to a 13–1–1 all-time record in the biennial match play event against international players outside of Europe.
“He made the captain’s job a lot easier,” said U.S. captain Jim Furyk. “He worked hard this week and he played well on the back nine.”
The Americans needed 4-1/2 points and won 12 singles games, but King outscored them in the other 5 games to 1.
Bradley, playing in the team event for the first time in 10 years this week, missed putts on his final two holes to win the Presidents Cup but came away with the decisive win when King holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the par 4. One point.
“It’s a fairy tale; it’s almost like a movie,” Bradley said. “I can’t believe it. If you work hard like I do, great things will happen.”
While the Internationals went 5–5 in Friday’s games, Team USA went 11–7 in Saturday’s games, holding their opponents to 8-1/2 in their remaining 12 games to win the trophy, something no other team has ever achieved.
A dominant team made up of the world’s top 25 players, including five from the top 10, they were in control from the start and never wavered despite late pressure in several matches.
Furyk knocked out Schauffele in his first match, and the world number two birdied five holes on the front nine to beat Australia’s Jason Day 4-3 and take Team USA’s first point of the day.
“My goal was just to make a splash and get my name on the board as quickly as possible, and I was able to do that,” Schauffele said.
Burns and South Korea’s Tom Kim were tied for the first time this week before Henry beat Im Sungjae 3 & 2 in a game in which the American never trailed.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan birdied three of his last five holes to beat Scottie Scheffler by one stroke and earn his first international points of the season.
Although Canada’s Corey Connors added another point with a 5–3 win over Tony Finau, it was too little, too late as Cantlay beat Taylor Penrith 3–1 and Bradley is already ahead in the race.
