The International squad edged ever closer to an unprecedented Presidents Cup triumph on American soil, entering Sunday’s singles matches with a 10.5‑7.5 advantage over Team USA. After a dominant opening two days at Medinah Country Club, Geoff Ogilvy’s contingent turned a four‑point cushion into a seemingly unassailable lead, thanks to a flawless foursomes performance on Friday and a solid 1.5‑point haul from a tightly contested four‑ball session on Saturday.
Saturday’s four‑ball round was a roller‑coaster. Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker made the controversial decision to sit world number one Scottie Scheffler for the afternoon foursomes, a move that sparked debate when the Americans surged early, taking the lead in each of the four matches. Nonetheless, the International side kept their composure. Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup dismantled Adam Scott and Sungjae Im with a decisive 6&4 victory, while Patrick Cantlay paired with Xander Schauffele edged out Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim 2&1, further narrowing the gap.
The bottom match of the day delivered perhaps the most dramatic swing. Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee, after falling behind early, rallied to beat Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark 3&2, cementing the Internationals’ lead and marking only the fourth occasion in the event’s history that they would head into the final singles session with a margin. Their lead swelled again when Canadian teammates Corey Conners and Nick Taylor clawed back from a three‑hole deficit, turning a 0‑3 start into a 1‑up win over Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman. With a 10.5‑7.5 scoreline, the International team now faces a modest task: secure five more points from the twelve singles matches on Sunday to clinch a historic victory.
For the United States, the challenge is steeper; they must capture at least 7.5 points to avoid a humiliating home defeat, or eight points to pull off a comeback win. Snedeker, reflecting on his decision to rest Scheffler, said, "I thought our guys battled hard. It was a tough day out there.
This golf course got really tough this afternoon. There's such a fine line between good shots and bad shots and I was proud of the way the guys hung in there and battled. I challenged the guys this afternoon to go out there and be that team that we need them to be and got Scottie some much‑needed rest, so he can go out there tomorrow and be the Scheffler that we know he is.
It's going to be a long, hard day tomorrow. I've got the right guys in that team room. They're going to compete. So proud of how they've kind of hung in there this week, despite all of my mistakes.
Can't wait to see them go out there tomorrow and compete." Ogilvy echoed the sentiment, noting the resilience of his side: "What a day! They (Team USA) came out firing, as we knew they would. They were up in all four in the morning and we thought we stole a point and a half a little bit, to get out of that with only 2.5‑1.5. This afternoon, same thing.
The United States came out playing well, which we know they're going to. They're some of the best players in the world, but the boys hung tough and sort of weathered the storm if you like and started making a few putts.
It's tough when there's all red on the board, but to get 2‑2 out of that afternoon session and to go into tomorrow with a lead, which was the goal at the start of the week, I'm very proud of them." The bottom‑match drama continued as Min Woo Lee and Im rallied from two down with four to play to force a tie against the American duo of Jackson Koivun and Justin Thomas. Thomas later admitted he felt he had let his rookie partner down after the match. Meanwhile, the International pair of Kim and Kim overturned a two‑down deficit after eight holes to defeat Collin Morikawa and Clark 2&1, silencing the crowd with a quiet celebration. In the opening match, Gotterup and Young surged ahead, winning the first four holes against Conners and Taylor.
The Canadians managed to halve the match at the turn, but Gotterup’s three long birdies from the 13th onward secured a 2&1 win for the Internationals. On the opposite side of the leaderboard, Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune clawed back from one down to take the lead in their match, only for Scheffler to respond with a 20‑foot birdie on the 15th, shifting momentum. Scheffler later watched as Burns captured consecutive holes to close out a 2&1 victory, trimming the International lead.
Scheffler commented on his pivotal 15th‑hole birdie: "The hole felt small for a while, but it opened up there on 15. It was an important one there, because Ryo [Hisatsune] was on basically the same line as me. It was nice to be able to hole that one and put some pressure on them." Looking ahead, the final day promises a tense showdown. Golf fans can tune in to Sky Sports Golf at 4.30 pm on Sunday for live coverage, or stream the action via Sky Sports’ contract‑free service.
The outcome will determine whether the International team finally breaks their decade‑long Presidents Cup drought – their first triumph since 1998 – or whether Team USA rallies to defend their home turf. Beyond the competition, the event highlighted several memorable moments: a fan’s quick reflexes volleyed Corey Conners’ approach shot back into play, Lauren Coughlin shattered the LPGA Tour record for the lowest front‑nine ever, and Brandt Snedeker amusingly forgot the name of one of his own players during a live interview. These anecdotes added color to an already electric atmosphere.
In summary, the International squad stands on the brink of a historic achievement, needing just five points from the twelve singles matches to seal the deal. The United States, meanwhile, faces a steep climb, requiring at least 7.5 points to stave off defeat. As the final day dawns, both captains have expressed confidence in their rosters, and the world will be watching to see which side can claim the coveted Presidents Cup.