It is a busy third day at the Presidents Cup with two sessions of golf on display on Saturday. After a nightmare round of fourballs on Friday the Internationals need to win both sessions quite heavily to get themselves back into the competition.
USA take an 8-2 lead into Saturday and with eight points up for grabs over the two sessions if they have another good day they could near enough sew the competition up with a day to spare. They would certainly have Sunday as little more than a procession to the title.
Unfortunately timings and scheduling issues will mean we are unable to preview the second session which will be fourballs but the pairings for the morning foursomes have been announced so we can go and attack those.
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Jordan Spieth & Patrick Reed vs Marc Leishman & Jason Day
Match tees off at 12.02 BST
Two of the better pairings for each country lead their teams out on Saturday. If the Internationals are to get anything out of this competition then this is a match that the Australian pair of Jason Day and Marc Leishman simply have to win.
They might draw comfort from the fact that there is no doubt in my mind that Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed are not at the form they have been in on previous occasions even though they have 1.5pts so far. They were handed their first foursomes match when their opponents were something stupid like five or six over par and in the fourballs Matsuyama weakened when the going got tough.
I don’t see Leishman or Day melting and with the wind expected to blow and making conditions very tricky that might just suit the Aussie pair. It will certainly please Leishman. I’m absolutely certain that Spieth and Reed are not on top form. The Internationals have to win this and I think they can.
Prediction: Internationals win
Dustin Johnson & Matt Kuchar vs Adam Hadwin & Adam Scott
Match tees off at 12.13 BST
Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar are reunited for this third session of play and they take on the two Adams – Scott and Hadwin who are paired together for the first time and need to hit the ground running.
I guess the key factor in this match will be how Adam Scott plays. He hasn’t turned up in the tournament yet. If he finds his motivation then his ball striking should be a real asset when combined with Hadwin’s good all-round game but I’m never convinced by the Australian in this competition.
Dustin Johnson is ruthlessly going about his business at the minute and Matt Kuchar is a perfect partner for him as we have seen in the past. I don’t see anything apart from an American win here unless the real Adam Scott decides to turn up and play.
Prediction: USA win
Kevin Kisner & Phil Mickelson vs Emiliano Grillo & Jhonattan Vegas
Match tees off at 12.24 BST
The third match of the morning sees Kevin Kisner and Phil Mickelson paired together once again but this time their opponents are the South American pairing of Emiliano Grillo and Jhonattan Vegas. They will be looking to bring some Latino flair to the golf course.
I find this the most interesting match of the day. Vegas has surprised me in this tournament so far and he is clearly enjoying it which is no bad thing. I fancy he and Grillo might connect nicely to really light up. Beating the American pair won’t be easy but Kisner still looks nervy to me and Mickelson is not always completely reliable in this format. I can see a half here.
Prediction: Match Halved
Rickie Fowler & Justin Thomas vs Branden Grace & Louis Oosthuizen
Match tees off at 12.35 BST
The final match of the morning sees Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas taking on Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen for the second session in a row. The American pair came out on top in the fourballs so it remains to be seen what is in store for us in the foursomes.
I think this will be the match of the morning and if the Internationals can steal this point it could have a major bearing on the day and the tournament. They lost 3&2 on Friday but Justin Thomas holed from a bunker to win a hole and nearly repeated the trick which is unlikely to happen again.
Hopefully this match will be as good as its billing and if all four play like they can it should be a great watch. These are the best pairs these two teams have right now. Quite why on earth captain Price has paired them up like this I’ve no idea but unless Thomas goes off again the South Africans can get a potentially vital half.
Prediction: Match Halved
Tips
Back J.Day & M.Leishman to beat J.Spieth & P.Reed for a 4/10 stake at 2.75 with BetVictor
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