PRESIDENTS CUP: Underdog Internationals rally against U.S might

BY BRENDAN JAMES

Less than 24 hours after some members of the American press started labeling these Presidents Cup matches a “waste of time”, a “mismatch” and “a blowout waiting to happen”, the International team clawed its way back into contention.

Hammered 4-1 in the opening day foursomes, captain Nick Price’s Internationals slowly, but surely, edged closer to the Americans in the five fourball matches. Of the five matches, Price’s charges grabbed three-and-a-half points to one-and-a-half to trail the United States 5.5 to 4.5 heading into the eight fourball and foursomes matches tomorrow.

Bae Sang-Moon and Danny Lee celebrate their win on the 18th hole. PHOTO: Jung Yeon-Ye/AFP. Getty Images.

On Thursday, Price sat before the media offering a brave front, saying his men had to “keep their chin up”. Most of the American press weren’t buying it and, for them, the writing was on the wall – the Cup was heading the same way it had done for eight of the past ten meetings.

The Zimbabwean knew better. He knew his team could produce better.

"I had to take care of business last night after what I saw on the golf course yesterday," Price said after the final match of the second session was halved, leaving just a single point separating the teams.

"I had to address it with the team members last night, which I did. The difference between Tuesday in the practice round, how well they played, and yesterday – the mood was just not there. I to go to those guys and say, relax, try and play golf, and just go out there and do what you did so well throughout the year to get you to this team.

"I'm really proud of the way my team played today. It was a big turnaround, and I think all the youngsters on the team learnt an awful lot."

The Internationals had not won a team session since the Saturday afternoon fourballs at Royal Melbourne in 2011. After the 4-1 drubbing on Thursday, there was never a more critical time in the history of event for the Internationals’ than the Friday fourballs. A heavy session loss to the Americans would spell the end of the Internationals, and quite possibly the Presidents Cup with growing concerns in the land of apple pies that the event is becoming irrelevant. No one wants to see the Americans thrashing underdogs every two years, not even the American golf fan.

They needn’t worry, this Cup will be a lot closer than many might have expected a few days ago.

ALSO: Presidents Cup scoreboard | Saturday morning foursomes

Adam Scott, who is representing the Internationals for a seventh time and has never experienced a Cup win, said the second session win would lift the Internationals in more ways than just on the scoreboard.

Sang-Moon Bae celebrates his putt to win his match with team mates Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. PHOTO: Harry How/Getty Images

“I think it's going to be big for our team spirit going forward," Scott said. "To win a session is big."

The heroes of the International resurgence were the South African pair of Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. After winning the sole point for the Internationals on day one, the duo were paired together again by Price to take on World No.1 Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson. They didn’t let him down, coming back from 1 down through eight holes to clinch the match 4 & 3, which narrowed the gap between the two teams to two points.

“If you play against guys like Dustin and Jordan, you need to think they re going to make everything all the time, and that was our mind-set. We never let the foot off the accelerator. We were pushing the whole time and we played really good,” Oosthuizen said after the victory.

Branden Grace (right) and Louis Oosthuizen claimed a major scalp in beating Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, to remain unbeaten in these matches. PHOTO: Harry How/Getty Images.

When the first winning point of the session was placed next to the Internationals on leaderboards across the course, it seemed to put a spring in the step of the underdogs wbo were all involved in tight tussles with the Americans.

Undoubtedly the biggest cheer of the day came from the largest assembled gallery cheering for their local favourite Sang-moon Bae.

Paired with Korean born New Zealander Danny Lee, the two never led during their match with Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker. That is, until the final hole when Bae rolled in a birdie putt from 12 feet to snatch the point from the US, and edge the Internationals to within two points. It not only put the Internationals back in the hunt, but it probably gave Bae the biggest moment in his career thus far – a career that will be put on hold for 21 months next week when he starts 21 months of compulsory military service.

"I knew that it was going to be a very important putt,” Bae said. “I actually did not think about my military service issue at that time. I concentrated on the shot and it went in, so it was a good result."

The enormous roar from the predominantly Korean gallery could be heard across the course as Bae, Lee and their caddies celebrated.

The third point of the session also went to the Internationals as the unlikely pairing of South African Charl Schwartzel and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee took on Bill Haas and Chris Kirk, who both sat out the Thursday foursomes. Schwartzel was also making his first appearance in this Cup after coming down with the flu a few days ago.

ALSO: Presidents Cup photo gallery | Day Two video highlights

The Internationals were well in control through 13 holes, going 3 up on he Americans. But Haas rallied with birdies at the 15^th and 16 holes. As he had done on the 3^rd hole to grab the lead in the match, Schwartzel closed out the win with a birdie on the 17^th hole for a 2 & 1 victory.

Price played his four Australians together – Scott and Jason Day took on Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson, while Marc Leishman and Steve Bowditch were pitted against the big-bombers JB Holmes and Bubba Watson.

Holmes and Watson continued their success from day one by winning 2 & 1 in a match the Aussies never looked like winning but they would not give up either. Twice they edged their way back into the match but when Holmes birdied the 12^th hole, Leishman and Bowditch had no answer to come back a third time. The Aussies were just 1 down, playing the 18^th and they hoped to gain a half point. But Holmes put the result beyond doubt when he holed a 32-foot eagle putt at the final hole to dash any chance of a half point.

Adam Scott and Jason Day shake hands after gaining a valuable half point from their match. PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images.

Scott and Day had an arm wrestle of their own with Mickelson and the reigning Open Champion. The Aussie pair was 2 up through seven holes, after Mickelson was penalised on the 7^th hole for switching to a firmer golf ball to help him reach the par-5 in two shots.

US captain Jay Haas apparently told Mickelson – a five-time major champion – that players have to use the same model of golf ball for the entire match.

The penalty for a fourballs match is called a one-hole adjustment in the match.

Compounding the issue was a blunder from the rules committee, which ruled Mickelson was disqualified from the hole, so he picked up his ball from the 7^th fairway. The correct procedure should have seen Mickelson finish the hole because the one-hole adjustment was already in effect. Day won the hole with a birdie, so along with the adjustment, the International team went quickly from all-square to 2 up.

The US fought back as Mickelson holed a fairway bunker shot on the 12^th to win the hole and move ahead of the Internationals’ two top guns, 1 up. A birdie to Day at the 15^th saw the match back to square, where it remained, even when Day made another birdie on the 18^th, as Johnson grabbed a birdie of his own to halve the match.

Phil Mickelson confers with his caddie Jim Mackay as rules official Gary Young looks on during the four-ball matches. PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images.

The big talking point after the match was the penalty dished out to Mickelson, who took he decision on the chin.

"I used a firmer Callaway that would go a little bit longer and try to get there in two," he said. "Didn't really think much about it. But I was talking with Jay (Haas, US captain), and I just thought, 'Gosh, I'm going to ask. I'm sure it's not an issue'.

"Turned out it was an issue. Obviously as a player, you need to know that. You need to know the rules.”

Mark Russell, vice-president of rules and competition for the PGA Tour, explained the unusual penalty.

"He breached the 'One-Ball Condition'," Russell said. "In this situation, the penalty for breach of this condition is a one-hole adjustment to the state of the match.

"The USA side lost the 7^th hole, making the International side one up. At this point, the adjustment penalty of one hole is applied, resulting in the International side being two up through seven holes."

In simple terms, the US 'lost' the 7^th hole not once, but twice.