The U.S. Team won the Presidents Cup for a 10th consecutive time on Sunday after dominating the Singles session for an 18.5 – 11.5 triumph over the International Team at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
The powerful Americans, led by captain Jim Furyk, won 7.5 points from out of 12 to maintain their stranglehold in the biennial team competition. Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Keegan Bradley won their matches, with Bradley, in only his second appearance in the Presidents Cup, delivering the point for the assailable lead following a 1-up victory over Si Woo Kim.
“Geez. Wow, that was incredible,” said an emotional Bradley. “I was saying all week I didn’t know if I’d ever get to do this again. To just play in this tournament and then to win the point, my goodness … If this is my last round as a player, maybe it is, I’m happy with that.”
The International Team entered the final day trailing by four points and fought gallantly for much of the session. Xander Schauffele, winner of two majors this season, put the first point on the board for the U.S. with a convincing 4 & 3 win over Jason Day before the International Team fought back momentarily with Korean star Tom Kim overcoming a 2-down deficit to tie his match with Sam Burns.
Hideki Matsuyama of the International Team reacts after making a putt on the 14th hole during Singles Matches. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama then stunned World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler with a 1-up victory in the third match but there was to be no denying the Americans as Russell Henley posted a 3 & 2 win over Sungjae Im and Patrick Cantlay trounced Taylor Pendrith 3 & 1 to set Bradley up for the winning point which was secured after Si Woo Kim missed an eight-foot birdie attempt on the 18th green to force a tie.
“It was an honour (to play the first match),” said Schauffele, who won four points this week alongside Morikawa and Cantlay. “Cap (Furyk) came up to me and asked if I’d be cool going out first. You look down this row of guys, and it could be any one of us that’s going to lead the charge. I took it as a special opportunity to do something great. I wanted to get some red up on the board early for the boys to look at.”
Furyk was jubilant his 12 men were able to maintain a firm domination in the Presidents Cup. “I don’t know if I could put my finger on it. I go back to just this week, Thursday, that 5-0 (where U.S. won the Four-ball session), that was five tight matches. Friday was not that same tale of the tape (International Team won the Foursomes 5-0). But really the matches come down to just some special moments. For one reason or another, these guys usually play loose in the Presidents Cup, and we’ve been able to win some crucial points, make some crucial putts.”
One of the few bright sparks for the International Team was Matsuyama’s win over Scheffler, where the 10-time PGA Tour winner produced some key moments to scalp the most dominant player of 2024. The Japanese star seized a 1-up lead with a stunning approach to five feet on the par-3 17th hole and then hung on for the win with a three-foot par putt at the last hole.
“The last putt right there, I was super nervous. My hands were shaking a lot. I’m really happy I was able to win this match,” said Matsuyama, who contributed 2 points for the International Team this week. “This win means a lot. Really happy with the result. I had a few mistakes on the course, but really happy with how I played.”
Sam Burns of the U.S. Team and Tom Kim of the International Team shake hands on the 18th hole green after their match during Singles Matches. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Korea’s Tom Kim, with 1.5 points all week, stood out once more with some wonderful golf and his fiery spirit. The 22-year-old believes it will be a matter of time before the International Team gets the better of the U.S. Team, which has only lost once in 1998.
“I just think we’re hungry. I’m sure the American team feels the same way. But when you lose so many times, I feel like there’s always a story where people come back. Winning doesn’t last forever. There’s going to be times where lip-outs are going to go our way. A few breaks, a few bounces are going to go our way, and that’s going to make a difference. We play great and we keep falling short sometimes, but I’m not losing hope,” said Kim.
2024 Presidents Cup: Round Five Results
Overall Score: United States 18 ½, International 11 ½
R1 (Four-ball): United States 5, International 0
R2 (Foursomes): International 5, United States 0
R3 (Four-ball): United States 3, International 1
R4 (Foursomes): United States 3, International 1
R5 (Singles): United States 7 ½, 4 ½
Round Five (Sunday) – Singles – United States 7.5, International 4.5
Match 19: Xander Schauffele (U.S.) def. Jason Day (INT), 4 and 3
Match 20: Sam Burns (U.S.) vs. Tom Kim (INT), Tied
Match 21: Hideki Matsuyama (INT) def. Scottie Scheffler (U.S.), 1-up
Match 22: Russell Henley (U.S.) def. Sungjae Im (INT), 3 and 2
Match 23: Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) def. Taylor Pendrith (INT), 3 and 1
Match 24: Keegan Bradley (U.S.) def. Si Woo Kim (INT), 1-up
Match 25: Corey Conners (INT) def. Tony Finau (U.S.), 5 and 3
Match 26: Wyndham Clark (U.S.) vs. Min Woo Lee (INT), Tied
Match 27: Sahith Theegala (U.S.) vs. Byeong Hun An (INT), Tied
Match 28: Collin Morikawa (U.S.) def. Adam Scott (INT), 2 and 1
Match 29: Christiaan Bezuidenhout (INT) def. Brian Harman (U.S.), 2 and 1
Match 30: Max Homa (U.S.) def. Mackenzie Hughes (INT), 2 and 1
Previous Rounds
Round One (Thursday) – Four-ball – United States 5, International 0
Match 1: Xander Schauffele/Tony Finau (U.S.) def. Jason Day/Byeong Hun An (INT), 1-up
Match 2: Collin Morikawa/Sahith Theegala (U.S.) def. Adam Scott/Min Woo Lee (INT), 1-up
Match 3: Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.) def. Sungjae Im/Tom Kim (INT), 3 and 2
Match 4: Wyndham Clark/Keegan Bradley (U.S.) def. Taylor Pendrith/Christiaan Bezuidenhout (INT), 1-up
Match 5: Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns (U.S.) def. Hideki Matsuyama/Corey Conners (INT), 2 and 1
Round Two (Friday) – Foursomes – International 5, United States 0
Match 6: Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (INT) def. Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.), 7 and 6
Match 7: Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (INT) def. Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S.), 5 and 4
Match 8: Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day (INT) def. Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.), 1-up
Match 9: Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (INT) def. Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau (U.S.), 6 and 5
Match 10: Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An (INT) def. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.), 1-up
Round Three (Saturday a.m.) – Four-ball – United States 3, International 1
Match 11: Scottie Scheffler/Collin Morikawa (U.S.) def. Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (INT), 2 and 1
Match 12: Tony Finau/Xander Schauffele (U.S.) def. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (INT), 3 and 2
Match 13: Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim (INT) def. Keegan Bradley/Wyndham Clark (U.S.), 4 and 3
Match 14: Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns (U.S.) def. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (INT), 2 and 1
Round Four (Saturday p.m.) – Foursomes – United States 3, International 1
Match 15: Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.) def. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (INT), 3 and 2
Match 16: Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (INT) def. Brian Harman/Max Homa (U.S.), 2-up
Match 17: Collin Morikawa/Sam Burns (U.S.) def. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (INT), 1-up
Match 18: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.) def. Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim (INT), 1-up
