Final hour proves costly to International side
The US team appear to have done enough – image Getty Images.
The final hour of play on day three of the 2024 Presidents Cup encounter at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec is likely to determine the outcome of what had been to that point an increasingly intense battle, with the International side fighting their way back from a morning loss in the Fourball matches to potentially draw level with the Americans.
What had been a roller coaster of an event throughout the opening two days threatened more of the same when the Internationals appeared to be building the sort of momentum that might well have had them heading into tomorrow’s 12 singles matches if not sharing the lead, within close enough proximity of their opponents to make Sunday one of the epic Presidents Cup final days.
After Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith had taken out the opening foursome match of the afternoon following a 3-1 win by the Americans in the morning Fourball, the score was 8 -7 to the Americans with the remaining matches on the course so close that the lead or share of it heading into Sunday could go either way.
With play delayed by fog early on Saturday, the last few matches fought not only the outcome of their respective contests but a light that would see the day’s final match completed in near darkness.
The last hour of play would however all but determine the fate of the contest. The Americans picked up all three of the final three matches to extend their lead to four. With a margin of that extent before the single match-ups surely the outcome of what has already been a fascinating Presidents Cup encounter has been determined.
Or has it? The Internationals must win 8.5 of their twelve singles matches and, while the task is an almost possible one, the door is perhaps not yet closed.
A stronger finish by the Internationals over the closing hour would have created potentially one of the great final days but it would seem that the task might be just too great for an International side which has surprised many with the closeness of the contest.
Is there yet one more surprise tomorrow? Let’s hope so, for the sake of the Presidents Cup.
