Mike Weir’s International team is rolling on Friday at the Presidents Cup in Montreal.
It’s safe to say the 2024 Presidents Cup is back up for grabs, and so far through Day 2 it’s been nothing short of a stunning reversal from the underdog home team.
The first match of the day took just two-and-a-half hours as Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im blew out Team U.S.A.’s most powerful duo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 7&6, tying the record for largest victory in a Presidents Cup match.
“Our vibe was vibing,” said Matsuyama through a translator following the match.
Matsuyama and Im ended the match on just the 12th hole, finishing with seven consecutive birdies in the difficult alternate-shot format.
Taylor Pendrith made six birdies on Thursday in a losing cause, but on Friday the big-hitting Canuck and partner Adam Scott dominated the American pair of Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala, winning 5&4.
The Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes kept the good times rolling, taking out Tony Finau and Wyndham Clark 6&5.
“This is one of the highlights of my life,” Hughes said. “This was one of the funnest days I’ve ever had on the golf course.
One day after the Canadian fans were called “too quiet” by International sparkplug Tom Kim, the Montreal fans have responded with a complete turnaround of their own, creating a great, rowdy atmosphere for Day 2.
As of 4:40 p.m. there was only yellow scoreboard as the Internationals had three matches won, a 2-up lead in one match, with one match tied.
At the beginning of the day, the much-awaited Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal looked to be all but over for Weir’s squad after dropping all five matches in Thursday’s opening session. It was only the third time in the event’s hostory that a team swept the opening round, and both other instances ended in blowouts.
But Weir and the Internationals look on the way to keeping hope alive for a dramatic upset.
MORE TO COME…