CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Internationals earned two major points on Saturday morning after splitting the foursomes session on Day 3 of the 2022 Presidents Cup. That said, they still trail by six.
The Americans hold a commanding 10-4 lead entering Saturday afternoon’s four-ball session and have their best two pairings in the first two slots with Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth-Justin Thomas leading the charge.
Golfweek’s Adam Schupak and Adam Woodard are on the scene this week at Quail Hollow Club and made picks for Saturday afternoon’s matches (after calling it pretty close on both Thursday and Friday but admittedly whiffed on Saturday morning).
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12:10 p.m. ET: Si Woo Kim-Tom Kim (Intl.) vs. Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele (U.S.)
AS: Tom Kim has more energy than the Energizer Bunny but Cantlay-Schauffele duo is electric and rested after the morning session off and will continue to light it up for Team USA.
AW: Tom Kim walking in putts and screaming his way to a morning win was exactly the kind of juice the Internationals needed this morning. That said, Cantlay and Schauffele are given us no reason to believe they won’t win. It pains me to say this, but the Americans roll.
12:25 p.m. ET: Hideki Matsuyama-Taylor Pendrith (Intl.) vs. Justin Thomas-Jordan Spieth (U.S.)
AS: Intriguing pairing for the International side but JT and Jordan look unbeatable.
AW: Thomas is a perfect 5-0-0 in his Presidents Cup four-ball career and there’s nothing this International pairing can do to stop that. The pairing of American pals will remain undefeated this week and earn a fourth point.
12:40 p.m. ET: Sungjae Im-Sebastian Munoz (Intl.) vs. Tony Finau-Kevin Kisner (U.S.)
AS: Im got saddled with Conners, who has had a cold putter all week, in a morning defeat but otherwise he’s been a bright spot for the International side. Munoz is capable of making plenty of birdies and he and Im eked out a half point together on Friday. This time, I’m marking them down for a full point.
AW: Kisner didn’t look great yesterday when paired with Cameron Young in Friday’s four-ball session, but the 38-year-old didn’t come to Quail Hollow to lose. That said, he’ll have to wait till his Sunday singles match because Im and Munoz make up for their tie yesterday and win today.
12:55 p.m. ET: Adam Scott-Cam Davis (Intl.) vs. Billy Horschel-Sam Burns (U.S.)
AS: Well, the Burns-Scheffler pairing looked to be deadly on paper but it didn’t produce the goods, so it’s time to move on and see if Billy Ho and Burns can work some of their Zurich Classic magic together. I like the pairing a lot and am backing them to win big.
AW: Scott got off the schneid with a big win alongside Matsuyama Saturday morning, and I expect the man in tan to pair well with his Aussie teammate Davis. Sure, they lost 2-and-1 on Friday together, but they went against the American buzzsaw of Spieth and Thomas. Gimme the Aussies.
Schupak: USA wins, 3-1 | Woodard: USA and Internationals tie, 2-2-
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