Captain Brandt Snedeker orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the United States at the Presidents Cup, leading his squad to a commanding Sunday victory that marked their 11th consecutive tournament title. After trailing by three points entering the final day, the American side overcame their deficit by securing nine of the 12 singles matches, finishing with a 17-13 total victory. And it was a rush of red scores at the end.
The momentum shifted decisively on the back nine at Medinah as the Americans capitalized on a surge of strong performances, notably from two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun. Koivun, who helped Auburn capture an NCAA title earlier this year, turned a 2-down deficit against Si Woo Kim into a 2-up victory by winning three consecutive holes late in the match. His composure under pressure earned high praise from Snedeker, who remarked on the rookie’s special talent during the final moments of play. So did Cameron Young and Justin Thomas and Chris Gotterup as the deficit shrunk and soon turned into another comfortable victory.
President Donald Trump, the honorary chairman of the event, was present at the first tee to witness the opening of the singles matches. Before the competition began, he delivered a brief address to the participants, noting that it was going to be an interesting day of golf. Trump remained at the course through the conclusion of play to preside over the trophy presentation, consistent with his involvement in the 2017 victory at Liberty National.
The atmosphere at Medinah was defined by an enthusiastic home crowd, though the intensity briefly drew concerns when a spectator interfered with Nico Echavarria’s backswing. Scottie Scheffler, who ultimately won his match against the Colombian, addressed the fan before demonstrating sportsmanship by conceding a 30-foot par putt to Echavarria after missing his own birdie attempt. Causing him to drop the driver as his ball sailed to the right, someone yelled in the backswing of Nico Echavarria. “I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here.
As the day progressed, the U.S. squad maintained a relentless pace. Veteran Patrick Cantlay added a highlight with a 60-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole against Adam Scott. The clinching point was delivered by Jacob Bridgeman, who overcame a one-hole deficit with three to play by sinking a 3-foot par putt to defeat Min Woo Lee, guaranteeing the 15.5 points required to win the cup. The U.S. rally wasn’t on edge the way it was in 2012 when Europe stormed from a 10-6 deficit at Medinah to win the Ryder Cup.
Internationals captain Geoff Ogilvy acknowledged the difficulty of competing against the Americans on home soil. He noted that the outcome remained on a knife’s edge for much of the day and that small changes in the margins of several matches could have significantly altered the momentum. Despite the narrow margins, the U.S. team’s depth and crowd support proved insurmountable. That it was, even if the outcome was all to familiar.
Looking toward the future, the Internationals aim to regroup for the next installment of the tournament, scheduled to take place in two years at Kingston Heath in Australia. The Internationals have historically struggled to overcome the American side, with their only outright victory occurring at Royal Melbourne in 1998, in addition to a tie in South Africa in 2003.
