PRESIDENTS CUP: Can the Internationals end a 17-year drought?

The United States holds a one point lead heading into the final day singles matches, while the Internationals are trying to break a 17-year Cup drought.

BY BRENDAN JAMES

IT is 17 years since any golfer, who is not American, has held the Presidents Cup in their hands and raised it above their head in triumph.

Back in 1998, the darling of the International team was Shigeki Maruyama, whose infectious smile belied his killer instinct to beat the Americans at Royal Melbourne. He nailed his iron approaches, he chipped in a few times and his putting was outrageously good. Playing alongside Craig Parry, the Japanese star followed his teammate’s advice on where to hit and he finished the matches unbeaten. His reward was being offered a moment by Captain Peter Thomson to place the Presidents Cup on his head like a crown during the presentation ceremony.

Louis Oosthuizen plays his second shot on the 18th hole in close to complete darkness.
PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.

Tomorrow, Nick Price’s Internationals have the rare opportunity to crown themselves by upsetting the American team, which has been beating up on them every two years since the turn of the century.

After an intense day of four foursomes matches and four fourball matches, the United States continues to lead by one point, 9.5 to 8.5. The teams finished the day as they started with the two teams splitting the eight points on offer for day three at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea.

As Price predicted with the change of format to less matches, the Presidents Cup is going down to the wire with 12 Sunday singles matches left to play and the undefeated South African Louis Oosthuizen will lead the Internationals out, against the sometimes fiery Patrick Reed.

ALSO: Presidents Cup scoreboard | Day 3 Highlights

Oosthuizen, who almost withdrew from competing this week because of a knee injury, has been superb alongside fellow South African Branden Grace, with the pair winning all four matches they have competed in.

Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen celebrate after another birdie during the fourball session.
PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images.

“I’m a very positive guy. I like cheering him up,” Grace said. “I’ll give him a smile every now and then, just try to get the mood up. We’ve been playing nicely.”

On Saturday Grace and Oosthuizen were brilliant. They accounted for Reed and Rickie Fowler 3 & 2 before lunch, and squeezed past J.B Holmes and Bubba Watson 1 up as they finished in almost complete darkness.

“I wasn't sharp this afternoon,” Oosthuizen said. “I had a few good shots but Branden was unbelievable. He started with three birdies in a row that got us going. I think we were about 10- or 11-under the two of us. He played great, just hats off to him today.”

Sadly, the Internationals could be leading heading into the final day if the form of the four Australians in the team was better.

Jason Day shows his frustration after a missed putt during the fourball matches. PHOTO: Harry How/Getty Images.

Over three days of competition thus far, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Steven Bowditch have yet to register a winning point. Oosthuizen and Grace have won nearly half of the International’s points, with local hero Sang-moon Bae winning two points with different partners.

The Aussies have, however, failed to fire. Scott is the best of our players having managed one point from two halved matches. Day looked like he might grab a point in the morning foursomes playing with Charl Schwartzel, but the Spieth-Dustin Johnson combination closed stronger, coming from three holes down to win on the final hole with a clutch seven-foot birdie putt converted by Spieth.

Scott still needs to find some confidence with the short putter as he takes on World No.4 Rickie Fowler in the second singles match. He’ll be closely followed by Korean-born Kiwi Danny Lee, who goes head-to-head with Dustin Johnson.

Sang-Moon Bae celebrates a 6 & 5 victory with the Fanatics.
PHOTO: Harry How/Getty Images.

Before the event, captain Price said Lee was his secret weapon but a long season might know be starting to take its toll.

Lee was sidelined for both of Saturday's matches after some putting dramas on day two, and his performance against Watson will be pivotal to the International team’s chances.

As will the work of Sang-moon Bae, who has been sensational after being benched for the opening foursomes matches on Thursday. In the afternoon matches, the captain's pick made birdie putts at the 7th, 8th and 9th holes to put he and partner Hideki Matsuyama four up over Jimmy Walker and Chris Kirk. The duo claimed them a few holes later, 6 & 5.

In the morning, Bae and Matsuyama grabbed a vital half with Bill Haas and Matt Kuchar with the 18^th hole was won with a closing birdie. Bae will be the last man out for the Internationals, taking on former Tour Champion Bill Haas.

THE SUNDAY SINGLES LINE UPS

Internationals v United States