Team USA continued their complete dominance of the Presidents Cup on Friday’s second day of action in North Carolina. By virtue of a harvest of three wins and two draws, they grabbed an 8-2 lead against the international team.
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On that day on the course at Quail Hollow Golf Club, where the “four-ball, best-ball” format was favoured, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas kicked off the American harvest by beating Adam Scott and Cam David with a lead two flags after 17 holes.
Thomas was particularly effective in birding the winners at the fourth and fifth flags, in addition to giving his side a three-hole lead at the 15th flag, thus giving no room for maneuver to his rivals. David and Scott got out of trouble for the first time, at 16ebut were unable to replicate their exploits afterwards.
For their part, Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith were paired for the international team, but lost by a pennant to Max Homa and Billy Horschel. Trailing by two at the halfway point, Maple Leaf representatives tied the game with birdies at 11e and 13e pennants, but a birdie from Homa at 17e made the difference in favor of the Americans.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele got the other victory for the Americans, who held a three-hole lead after crossing the 16th green, against Hideki Matsuyama and Tom Kim.
Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler, for their part, drew against Sungjae Im and Sebastian Munoz, as did Kevin Kisner and Cameron Young against Mito Pereira and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Day three, Saturday, will see two team sessions. The first, in the morning, will be played in “alternative shots” mode, while the afternoon session will be played in the “four-ball, best ball” format.