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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Trevor Immelman served South American food to his team in the twilight at Quail Hollow Club.
The South African has, by any measure, been a model captain for the International team. For three years, he’s checked every box and turned over every rock – from the gifts he brought to the Presidents Cup for his team (Rolex watches) to the food (each meal is an ode to the culture of one of his players, including rice and kimchi for breakfast).
Immelman had a plan. It was a good plan, thoroughly thought out and researched – play free, play with abandon, play without fear. And then he and his team were punched in the mouth, just like Mike Tyson once warned.
Math requires the disclaimer that this is not over with 20 points still up for grabs over the next two days of team and singles play. Common sense, however, leaves precious little room for that kind of misplaced optimism.
With another 4-1 advantage on Friday, the U.S. team is now pacing Immelman’s side by six points, with an 8-2 lead. For context, the last time the American team took an 8-2 edge into the weekend at the Presidents Cup was in 2017 at Liberty National. The final margin of victory was eight points for the U.S. team, but the more concerning reminder from that match was that the Americans were a single point away from closing the Internationals out on Saturday, rolling to a 14 1/2-to-3 1/2 three-day advantage.
Full match scoring from the Presidents Cup
Logic would suggest there’s always room for complacency from the high-flying Americans, but when pressed for the plan going forward Jordan Spieth offered an ominous mission statement for the U.S. team, “Get to 15 ½ [points] as quickly as you can.”
What started to feel like a fightback Friday, with the final three matches all tied late, quickly unraveled into another rout in the making with the U.S. team holding on for two ties and a clutch victory when rookie Max Homa charged in an 11-footer for birdie on the final hole.
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Source : yahoo
