Usually the Saturday of a golf tournament is called ‘moving day’ and that is very much the case in the Presidents Cup, where two rounds of matches are played out with eight points available as both teams look to position themselves for the Sunday singles.
The two sides halved the foursomes session on Friday to leave the Internationals three points in front. The first session on Saturday sees four fourball matches being played with four foursomes to follow in the afternoon. Time restrictions will deny us the chance to preview the latter games but we’ll go through the earlier ones here, which are actually to be played on Friday evening UK time.
Match 11: Marc Leishman & Haotong Li vs Justin Thomas & Rickie Fowler
Match tees off at 20.02 GMT
The first match to get up and running on the third day of action sees the last man to step out onto the course this week getting his maiden taste of action this year as Haotong Li pairs up with Marc Leishman to take on Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler.
All eyes will be on the International pairing here I would suggest. Leishman has been solid enough without being spectacular but Haotong is yet to play because his form hasn’t been the best in recent times. Both men are going to have to play well though because Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas look a pretty daunting team, and both have shown their worth in the event already. I worry about the form of Li. He has a good short game but this course is firm and fiery and could catch him out if he isn’t in the fairway. This is a USA point for me.
Prediction: USA win
Match 12: Abraham Ancer & Sungjae Im vs Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay
Match tees off at 20.16 GMT
The second match of the session could turn out to be the best of them as the two star International youngsters, Abraham Ancer and Sungjae Im, pair up to take on a Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who go out alongside each other for the third time this week.
When this US pairing was devised I suspected it would be better in the foursome format than this one so I’m a little surprised that Tiger Woods has continued with it when his team are three points behind. For all their ball striking abilities, their short games can let them down so that isn’t good when birdies are of more value than pars. Im and Ancer have been birdie machines this week and I don’t see anything changing. If they gel well they win this for me.
Prediction: International win
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Match 13: Hideki Matsuyama & C-T Pan vs Webb Simpson & Patrick Reed
Match tees off at 20.30 GMT
For the second time this week already, the penultimate match in the fourballs session sees Hideki Matsuyama and C-T Pan teaming up for the Internationals to take on the Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed combination which is still in existence despite a couple of losses on the week to date.
Woods clearly believes in his pairing here but at no stage have they gelled together. I’m happy to think they are the better of the two teams in this format but that can count for little when there is no camaraderie involved. As you would expect, Matsuyama has gone nicely about his business this week, and Pan played decent enough in the opening round. That match was tight with the Internationals winning on the final hole and I wouldn’t be surprised if this goes the distance too. Halved match for me.
Prediction: Halved match
Match 14: Adam Scott & Byeong-Hun An vs Matt Kuchar & Tony Finau
Match tees off at 20.44 GMT
The final match of the session sees Ernie Els putting out his most senior player in Adam Scott, alongside Byeong-Hun An, for the second time this week in fourballs. They go up against the new American pairing of Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau.
The American pair look a good unit here. I always like a fourball team that has a solid and consistent player alongside someone who gets the ball out there and attacks the flags and that is very much the case here. That said though, Scott and An were seven under for the 16 holes they played against Finau and DeChambeau on Thursday and if they are in that sort of form then the Americans have a few issues. Finau made six birdies himself in that match though. My gut feel is with a better partner Finau gets a win here.
Prediction: USA win
Tips
WON – Back J.Thomas & R.Fowler to beat M.Leishman & H.Li for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Betway
Back them here:
WON – Back A.Ancer & S.Im to beat X.Schauffele & P.Cantlay for a 3/10 stake at 2.63 with BetVictor
Back them here:
Back M.Kuchar & T.Finau to beat A.Scott & B-H.An for a 3/10 stake at 2.50 with William Hill
Back them here:
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