Presidents Cup | The international team bounces back and ties the score 5-5

(Montreal) The word “incredible” is an often overused qualifier. However, it was the only word that came to Adam Scott’s mind to define the day he had just experienced with his international team teammates.

As the curtain rose on Thursday, the international players were trampled by the American team by losing their five duels. Given the history of the home team and the strength of their rivals, everyone thought the carrots were done.

Everyone except the international team players.

In front of a much more involved audience than the day before, Friday at the Royal Montreal club, Mike Weir’s team recovered by winning the day’s five alternating stroke clashes and thus leveling the score after the first two days of the tournament.

“It was an incredible day for us,” said Scott, much more energetic than the day before.

With his partner Taylor Pendrith, he defeated the Americans Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala by 5 and 4. Scott also became the winningest international player in the history of the Presidents Cup by recording his 22^e career point, ahead of Ernie Els.

The international duo made five birdies over the 14 holes played. His teammates scored 17 more. Each time, the crowd roared loud enough that we could hear it from one end of the immense L’Île-Bizard property to the other, no matter our location on the course. And this atmosphere carried the local favorites from the first tee shot to the last putt of the day.

A fiery atmosphere

At the end of the bloody defeat of the international players on the first day, Tom Kim sent a warning to the fans, warning them that they should be more vocal to help their favorites and intimidate their opponents.

And the spectators responded. Kim even got his hands dirty by enlivening the crowd before the start of hostilities. He even almost gave in to the temptation of moving his pool to the sound of Gangnam Stylea hit from his native Korea.

“They were exceptional,” Kim said. It played a decisive role, that’s for sure. »

Even the usually icy Hideki Matsuyama warmed up the crowd by asking them to make some noise just before teammate Sungjae Im’s tee shot in this alternating shot format.

The noise of the crowd buried that of the planes which regularly pass in the airway located above the property.

This intensity paid off, as Matsuyama and Im made short work of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who were accustomed to playing together in international competitions. Their victory by 7 and 6 constitutes the largest gap in the history of the Presidents Cup.

With their iron game in hand, the two Asians were merciless. This allowed them to put themselves in birdie position on numerous occasions. Meanwhile, the Americans seemed to be doing everything they could to avoid the cut. The match ended at the par-5 end of the 12th^e hole.

This duo, like the first bustards heading south at this time of year, guided the troops. With this tandem in the lead, the international team had the wind in their sails until sunset.

“Momentum spread quickly,” said Mackenzie Hughes. When you see that all your teammates are leading, you want to do the same. »

Canadians in charge

However, the decibels reached their peak when the Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes entered the arena on the first tee.

“I jokingly asked Corey at the tee of the second hole how many times we were going to hear theO Canada throughout the day,” Hughes said.

After two holes, the Canadians were ahead by two against Tony Finau and Wyndham Clark, courtesy of Hughes. Left out on the first day of competition, the 33-year-old Ontarian set the tone on the second green with a long, delicate putt for birdie. With his fist in the air, this success had the effect of an electric shock on the crowd gathered around the action. And it also galvanized Hughes, without complexes on the greens, he who made birdies on two other occasions to increase his team’s lead, at 8^e and at 13^e.

Conners and Hughes were uncompromising for the rest of the round. They played quality golf at short distances, leaving no room for maneuver to their opponents. The Canadians destroyed all the Americans’ chances on the ninth hole, thanks to a long downhill putt from Conners. The ball spun almost 360 degrees around the hole before giving the home side a five-point lead.

A few meters from Conners, a fan wearing a straw hat with the international team flags poured his still-filled $12 can of beer like a bottle of champagne.

Until the end

The day ended on the 18th^e hole, just as the sun was beginning to rest from its day’s work, with the most hotly contested duel.

With a tie on this hole, Si Woo Kim and Beyong Hun An offered a fifth victory to international players. With one stroke less, Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley snatched half a point from their opponents. But with his long putter, Kim formalized a historic shutout for the international team, the team’s second since this classic was held. The first took place in 2003.

When the ball entered the bottom of the cup, An, Kim, Im, Scott and Hughes rushed towards the star of the moment, who was asking for more.

The spectators sang “olé, olé”, shouting and waving their caps. On the way to the players’ chalet, the Americans were booed, while the internationals were cheered in complete delirium. Mike Weir even started a television interview late because fans were repeating “We love Weir” at the top of their lungs.

As they left the field, acclaimed like war heroes returning from overseas, the international players high-fived all the fans. To close the parade, Weir’s wife threw her jacket into the stands and the fans were tearing it off as if Ringo Starr had just thrown one of his drumsticks.

And it was only the second day.