ÎLE BIZARD, Que. – What a day.
Corey Conners pumped his fist after rolling in a birdie on the 11th hole – likely the first time he has ever pumped his fist with such authority – and Malory Conners, his wife and eight months pregnant, exclaimed he almost put her into labour.
“Make that your headline!” she told Sportsnet.ca.
Unfortunately for Malory, well, the headline of the day belongs to her husband and the rest of the International squad who went a perfect 5-0 in the alternate-shot format. Now the 2024 Presidents Cup is tied at five. We’re back to where we started. Absolutely everything was different on Friday, and we’ve got ourselves a competition again.
“I’m just so proud of the guys, so pumped for them,” said International Team captain Mike Weir.
From the jump, it was utter dominance by the International side. For all of the (well-deserved) conversations about the depth of the American team, and their own step-on-their-neck effort from Thursday, the tide completely turned on Friday. This was the first time since 2005 that the International side has won a foursomes session.
Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im were in the opening match of the day against the powerhouse duo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and they ended their match making seven straight birdies. Hands were shook on No. 12.
The 7 & 6 drumming was tied for the most lopsided win in Presidents Cup history.
Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith followed that up with a win of 5 & 4, while the Canadian duo of Conners and Mackenzie Hughes won 6 & 5.
To Hughes’ credit, he managed his emotions well. He admitted at the beginning of the week it was going to be hard to be so high and pull himself back to earth. But with his best friend alongside, Hughes was able to do, well, exactly what he hoped to do.
“Corey is the absolute dream alternate-shot partner. You always felt like he had your back, and not just as a friend, but just his game is so solid that you always had that guy behind you,” Hughes said. “Just the most unbelievable day. We had a great feeling coming into the day, and I felt like all the guys were believing.
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-913888” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-913888” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362568649112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362568649112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/pga/video/conners-fires-up-canadian-crowd-after-winning-hole-with-birdie/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-717022” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362568649112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-717022” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362568649112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362568649112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/pga/video/conners-fires-up-canadian-crowd-after-winning-hole-with-birdie/”
});
});
“Obviously to go 5-0 is a bonus, but we knew what we were capable of and went out and did it.”
International captain Mike Weir has been leaning on data and analytics throughout the week, but with the pairing of Conners and Hughes, it seemed more of a gut feeling than anything. The hunch was correct.
“What we thought was on paper showed up,” Weir said. “There was great ball striking. There was great putting, great short games. I mean, what I thought was going to happen.”
Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jason Day won their match 1-up over Max Homa and Brian Harman, while Si Woo Kim nailed a 15-foot par saver on the 18th hole – coupled with an emphatic double-fist pump celebration – to help he and Byeong Hun An defeat Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 1-up.
A clean sweep.
And while the players were the ones who, of course, hit the shots and put the scores on the board, both sides were quick to comment on the crowds. Like the scoreboard, it was a night-and-day difference with those outside the ropes as well.
A perfect Friday afternoon versus a Thursday morning helps, along with the home team making birdies from everywhere.
“The environment […] today from yesterday, was drastically different,” said Scheffler. “I thought today the crowd did a great job, got into it, gave the guys some good energy, and they fed off of it.”
“Obviously you feel like there’s this huge rush of adrenaline running through you all day. It’s a bit of a drug. Honestly, it’s an incredible feeling. The crowds really amplified that feeling,” added Hughes from an International perspective.
“Today the fans really brought it. We felt that from the get-go. Corey mentioned that the first tee felt a lot different today than it did yesterday. Just electric all day.”
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-190256” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-190256” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362567491112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362567491112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/golf/video/kim-celebrates-after-clinching-international-sweep-at-presidents-cup/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-559838” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362567491112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-559838” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362567491112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362567491112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/golf/video/kim-celebrates-after-clinching-international-sweep-at-presidents-cup/”
});
});
The crowds were electric. The play from the International side was electric. The event has been plugged right in with a tie score heading into Saturday — an epic day with four matches in the morning and four matches in the afternoon — but it was mission accomplished for the International side.
“To play that well yesterday and not have any points on the board was disappointing. So, to see their hard work and them sticking in there and us captains and myself asking them to stick in there and believe,” Weir said, “I couldn’t be happier.”
Here are all of the match recaps from Friday.
Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im def. Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele 7 & 6
Matsuyama and Im tied the largest margin of victory in International Team history and closed out their match with seven straight birdies. This was the first career foursomes loss for Cantlay and Schauffele at the Presidents Cup.
Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith def. Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa 5 & 4
Pendrith finally recorded his first-ever point at the Presidents Cup alongside the veteran, Scott, who won his ninth foursomes match – the most by anyone in International Team history. The duo made three straight birdies at the mid-point of the front nine and didn’t look back.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day def. Max Homa/Brian Harman 1-up
Homa lost his first career match at the Presidents Cup (after going 4-0-0 in 2022). Homa and Harman staged a hearty comeback on the back nine, but couldn’t take it over the hump. Day hit as nifty a chip as you’ve ever seen (and he celebrated unlike any other time in his career) on the closing hole to finish up the match in the International Team’s favour.
Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes def. Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau 6 & 5.
Just incredible. The Canadian duo came out hot against Clark and Finau, birding the first two holes, and added five more to close things out – including a tremendous tee ball from Conners on the par-3 13th to just five feet. Conners, like Pendrith, notched his first career Presidents Cup point.
Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An def. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley 1-up
The No. 1 player in the world was held back by Henley, who couldn’t buy a putt for the pair late in the day. This match went all 18 holes and could have been a bit of a turning point for the Americans but it was not to be. And now we’ll head to Saturday with a 5-5 tie.
Source link
