USA Fight Back To Keep Presidents Cup Alive At Halfway Mark
The Internationals lead after two days at the Presidents Cup for the first time since 2005


The Internationals lead after two days at the Presidents Cup for the first time since 2005
USA Fight Back To Keep Presidents Cup Alive At Halfway Mark
The USA came back from 6-1 down to get within three points of the International team after two days at the Presidents Cup.
Tiger Woods' team began the day 4-1 down after the day one fourballs and went 5-1 down after Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott beat Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar 3&2 in the foursomes.
Ernie Els' Internationals were ahead in all five games at one point but the session was eventually levelled 2.5-2.5 to take the score to 6.5-3.5 after two days.
Marc Leishman and Abraham Ancer beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed 3&2 to get their second point of the day, with the USA's first point coming from Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who beat Adam Hadwin and Joaquin Niemann 1up.
Watch: Cantlay holes winning putt
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Related: WATCH - Reed makes shovel gesture at crowd after fan shouts "miss"
USA player-captain Tiger Woods got his second point of the week with Justin Thomas after they beat Ben An and Hideki Matsuyama 1up, before the final match between Sungjae Im/Cameron Smith and Gary Woodland/Rickie Fowler was halved.
Watch - Thomas holes match-winning putt
That was Woods’ 26th victory in the competition, moving him level with Phil Mickelson for most in Presidents Cup history.
The International's halfway lead is the first time they've led at this stage since 2005.
They've not led after the third round in the Presidents Cup since 1998 - at Royal Melbourne when they won their first and only Presidents Cup.
"At one point it looked pretty bleak, but the guys turned it around," said Woods.
"They played phenomenal coming in.
"It was important for us to end the way we did and it totally changed the last hour.
"The energy has been there. These guys are all young and extremely excited about being part of this team.
"I think more than anything, it's just getting a feel for this golf course. It is fast."
"They played good at the end there," said International captain Ernie Els.
"But hey, look at the record we've had in the foursomes the last 25 years and for us to come out 2½-2½ in the session is like a win for us.
"We would have taken that at the start of the day."
Second Round (Friday) – Foursomes – International 2.5, United States 2.5
Match 6 – Louis Oosthuizen/Adam Scott (INT) def. Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (U.S.), 3 and 2 Match 7 – Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) def. Adam Hadwin/Joaquin Niemann (INT), 1-up Match 8 – Marc Leishman/Abraham Ancer (INT) def. Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed (U.S.), 3 and 2 Match 9 – Justin Thomas/Tiger Woods (U.S.) def. Byeong Hun An/Hideki Matsuyama (INT), 1-up Match 10 – Sungjae Im/Cameron Smith (INT) vs. Gary Woodland/Rickie Fowler (U.S.), tied
Day three sees eight matches with four fourball games in the morning and four foursomes matches in the afternoon.
Third Round (Saturday) – Pairings – Fourball
Match 11 (8.02pm) – Marc Leishman/Haotong Li (INT) vs. Justin Thomas/Rickie Fowler (U.S.) Match 12 (8.16pm) – Sungjae Im/Abraham Ancer (INT) vs. Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) Match 13 (8.30pm) – Hideki Matsuyama/C.T. Pan (INT) vs. Patrick Reed/Webb Simpson (U.S.) Match 14 (8.44pm) – Adam Scott/Byeong Hun An (INT) vs. Matt Kuchar/Tony Finau (U.S.)
Note: Followed by four Foursomes matches in the afternoon. Pairings will be made approximately 11pm UK time.

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
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