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The 2022 Presidents Cup is effectively over, and it has been for a while. And yet, even with the U.S. leading the International team 8-2 after two days of play, Friday afternoon's four-ball action at Quail Hollow Golf Club was about as much fun as golf gets.
That's the power of team golf, and nowhere was it more obvious than in the final match on the course. Max Homa and Billy Horschel beat Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners 1 UP to shut down Friday's matches, and Homa hit the Canadians with a one-two cross that none of them will forget for a long, long time.
With four matches in the books and the Presidents Cup nowhere near in doubt (the U.S. is now a -10,000 favorite to win its ninth in a row), Homa sent the engraver to work with the 3-3 closing kick of his life and two emphatic fist pumps in front of -- as he noted afterward -- 10 of the best golfers he's ever seen in his life.
What makes team golf so special, and why does even a rout engender drama? Why do I have chills on the Friday afternoon of a blowout? It's a million-dollar (or hundred-million-dollar) question that doesn't have a specific or clear-cut answer. The short response: Because players so rarely get to celebrate with anyone other than their caddies, a red, white and blue enveloping feels less like the small circle it is and more like a ticker tape parade in front of a lot of people you care about immensely.
The longer answer is probably a lot deeper and more complicated.
Regardless, Homa and Co. aren't reflecting on any of that right now as the Americans take an 8-2 lead (tied for their biggest ever after two days) into Saturday's eight matches and then on into Sunday singles. Davis Love III's team will try and eclipse its record of 19 points scored back in 2017 after the matches moved from 34 total points to 30. Though that number is up in the air, whether the United States wins is not.
Nevertheless, there will be a handful more moments just like the one Homa experienced on the 18th green at Quail Hollow on Friday, and it will be a subtle reminder that team golf -- at this level and in this way -- has always been undefeated. It's hard to imagine that ever changing.
MAX HOMA FOR THE WIN! What a moment from @MaxHoma23 to secure the final match of the day @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/bihHgY2M2P
Here is a breakdown of each match from Day 2 at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas
Adam Scott & Cameron Davis
Scottie Scheffler & Sam Burns
Sungjae Im & Sebastian Munoz
Cameron Young & Kevin Kisner
Mito Pereira & C. Bezuidenhout
Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele
Hideki Matsuyama & Tom Kim
A slow start was ultimately the demise of the Australian partnership. With only one birdie between the two of them through eight holes, the International team found themselves 3 Down early. Around the turn, the quality of golf got ratcheted up as birdie after birdie was made.
Scott trimmed to lead to 2 Down with a par breaker on the par-4 ninth and then the two teams traded birdies on the next three holes -- drawing no blood. The Americans found themselves 7 under on their own ball through 13 and added to the total when Thomas hit one of the shots of the week when he nearly aced the par-3 14th.
Inches away from perfection 🎯 @JustinThomas34 with a beauty and a twirl @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/dFijHqGYwQ
Extending their lead to 3 UP, a gutsy par from Spieth on the 15th put this match dormie before an emphatic birdie from his blade closed the match out on the 17th. With the win, Thomas became the first player in Presidents Cup history to begin his fourball career 5-0-0.
This was easily the match of the afternoon as birdies were flying. Burns got the party started when he connected from 80 feet for eagle on the par-5 seventh. He added a birdie on the ninth and then another on the 10th to command a 2 UP lead as he and Scheffler played their first 10 holes in 5 under.
It was only then that the real fireworks began. Im and Munoz tried their damnedest to draw even but were met at every turn by the American duo. The internationals played Nos. 11-16 in 6 under -- chipping in and pulling all the rabbits out of their hats -- but were only able to pick up one hole.
The very next hole. What a sequence from Sungjae Im and @SamBurns66!#PresidentsCup https://t.co/tNM54gIpKA pic.twitter.com/27RHsefTUg
The tides finally turned when both Burns and Scheffler found trouble on the 17th and allowed the internationals to tie the match. With pars from Scheffler and Im on the closing hole, the second match ended in a tie.
Neither team commanded a lead greater than 1 UP throughout the afternoon. Feeling each other out, consecutive birdies from the internationals around the turn saw them grab the lead heading into the back nine. They held onto it before a bogey on the par-3 14th allowed the U.S. to tie the match. Despite some late drama, it remained this way until the end and resulted in the second tie of Day 2.
Cameron Young’s putt for the win just slips by the cup. Match 3 ends in a tie @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/CRebVGLP1N
Kim's American name may be a reference to a train, but the only one in this match was the runaway version of Cantlay and Schauffele. After throttling Scott and Matsuyama on Day 1, the two were at it again in four-ball. A perfect recipe of ham and egg, Schauffele connected on a pair of birdies before giving way to Cantlay.
Highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 seventh, the U.S. once again led 4 UP through seven as they did on Thursday. This time, they left no doubt as another birdie on the eighth suffocated Kim and Matsuyama before the quartet even made the turn. The International side caught a breath late in the back nine with wins on Nos. 14-15 but delayed their inevitable defeat.
The dynamic Cantlay/Schauffele duo takes a 4-up lead over the #IntlTeam with an eagle make on the 7th. 📺: Golf Channel and @peacock 💻: https://t.co/edCLeeZUBd pic.twitter.com/UiBNjhsWiu
After going 0-2-0 in four-ball at Royal Melbourne, Cantlay and Schauffele notched their first victory together in this format in the Presidents Cup.
The television broadcast called this match a "pillow fight" and I have no qualms with that assessment for the front nine. The Americans made six straight pars out of the gate, and it was enough to garner a 2 UP lead early. They took that exact margin into the back half where it disappeared courtesy of Conners' birdies on the par-4 11th and par-4 13th.
After exchanging birdies on the par-5 16th, the first big moment of the match occurred on the 17th green. With Pendrith's birdie bid lipping out, Homa stepped up and converted his look from 13 feet with Horschel cheering on.
Huge fist pump from @MaxHoma23 🔥 Homa/Horschel go 1-up with one to play @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/nkcQtFx2j2
It felt as if that alone would be good enough to secure a U.S. full point, but Pendrith had other ideas. With the spotlight on the final match on the 18th green, the big Canadian delivered a rare birdie, only to be matched moments later by Homa. The California kid finished birdie-birdie to secure a second consecutive 4-1 session victory and an 8-2 lead for the Americans -- matching the largest margin through two sessions in the history of the Presidents Cup.
FOR THE WIN! 🇺🇸@maxhoma23 is FIRED. UP.#PresidentsCup || #USTeam pic.twitter.com/jrIIL0VBzD
WHAT A MOMENT 🔥 The #USTeam was lit for @MaxHoma23 and @BillyHo_Golf! https://t.co/7YFUQsE53R pic.twitter.com/6rzWqunpsy
Punters are people, too. @Panthers punter @JHekker joined us for Round 2! #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/AegVG9HQKG
MAX HOMA FOR THE WIN! What a moment from @MaxHoma23 to secure the final match of the day @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/bihHgY2M2P
United States leads 8-2, tying the largest lead after 2 sessions at the #PresidentsCup under the current format (2017; USA went on to win 19-11).
Watch for the shot, stay for the twirl 🔥 Clutch approach from @MaxHoma23 on 18 @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/WdsS5nvnbt
Nice little 5-day stretch for Max Homa
Calm and collected. @MaxHoma23 finds the fairway on 18 @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/tS14qnmrZz
At the turn so far this week: USA 3 Up USA 1 Up USA 2 Up USA 2 Up USA 1 Up USA 2 Up USA 1 Up Tied USA 5 Up USA 2 Up#PresidentsCup
The @IntlTeam and #USTeam come away with a half point to conclude Match 7.#PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/5TIwb4XgeI
Huge fist pump from @MaxHoma23 🔥 Homa/Horschel go 1-up with one to play @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/nkcQtFx2j2
Cameron Young’s putt for the win just slips by the cup. Match 3 ends in a tie @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/CRebVGLP1N
Clutch putt from @BillyHo_Golf 😤 The final match of the day is tied with 2 to play @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/6OoV9kzx4b
Scottie Scheffler: first time reigning world number 1 did not win either of his first 2 matches in a #PresidentsCup since Greg Norman in 1996
It's a game of inches. Scheffler/Burns and Im/Munoz finish the match in a tie @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/h52qdxACaD
Match 2 saw Burns/Scheffler battle Im/Munoz and it felt right that it ended with a tie. After trading blows, a bogey on No. 17 from the U.S. allowed the internationals to finally tie the match. With closing pars, the internationals picked up their first points of the day. The U.S. leads 6.5-1.5 with two matches still tied on the course.
.@XSchauffele and @patrick_cantlay move to 2-0 this week. #PresidentsCup || #USTeam pic.twitter.com/pSL2qQoN6M
Another win for the #USTeam@XSchauffele and @Patrick_Cantlay earn their second point together @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/eJrLDhRuyW
Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele at 2021 Ryder Cup and 2022 Presidents Cup: 4-0-0 match record 26 holes won, 10 holes lost Led after 48 holes Trailed after 2 holes
Another win for the #USTeam@XSchauffele and @Patrick_Cantlay earn another point together @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/G7T0AMRqPG
This duo 💯#PresidentsCup || #USTeam https://t.co/76HIIksm6W pic.twitter.com/kGMMt48Mdq
The momentum has shifted for @IntlTeam 👀 3 of the 4 remaining matches are now tied @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/032312z7XA
For the win 💪 @JordanSpieth is CLUTCH @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/ZwxgyaZjjr
With the victory over Adam Scott and Cam Davis, Justin Thomas becomes the first man to start his Presidents Cup fourball career 5-0-0. They ham-and-egged it around Quail Hollow perfectly on Friday with Spieth putting the finishing touches on the match with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th. U.S. leads 5-1.
A fiery finish from @JordanSpieth and @JustinThomas34 to close out Match 6!#PresidentsCup || #USTeam pic.twitter.com/5zMNe681QQ
A fiery finish from @JordanSpieth and @JustinThomas34 to close out Match 8!#PresidentsCup || #USTeam pic.twitter.com/x6Z4rmv0I6
Front nine holes won through 2 sessions this week: USA - 33 INT - 14#PresidentsCup
Another win for this duo 💪 @JordanSpieth and @JustinThomas34 earn the first point of the day for the U.S. Team @PresidentsCup. pic.twitter.com/DXA1sywFBy
Justin Thomas improves to 5-0-0 in #PresidentsCup four-ball in his career. 2 players have a perfect record (no losses, no ties) in a specific format in Presidents Cup history with at least 5 matches played Thomas, 5-0-0 in four-ball Spieth, 6-0-0 in foursomes
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