The national players respond to the USA with a 5-0 win

Day 2 of the 2024 Presidents Cup is upon us and the Internationals and Americans are tied at 5-5 after a surprising 5-0 win at the Internationals during Friday’s session. We call them as we see them here. They are:

The Presidents Cup: The exhale can be heard from Ponte Vedra to NBC headquarters as this weekend’s games transformed from a loss to something worth watching. An international victory – there has only been one in 14 previous editions, and that was 26 years ago –is crucial to the legitimacy of this event And there is now an opportunity that didn’t seem possible after the opening session.

Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im: If someone had told you on Thursday night that there would be a record-breaking 7 and 6 victory in the Presidents Cup on Friday, wouldn’t you have said, “Which US team?” But instead it was the opening pair from Japan Star and the stable South Korean, who won the first two holes and made 8 of 12 birds. A stunning result that set the tone for the day.

Adam Scott: He won his 22nd point in a 5 and 4 win alongside Taylor Pendrith, overtaking Ernie Els as the all-time Internationals record holder. All that’s missing is a team win in his 11th (!) appearance; Regardless of whether that happens this week, he is secured for the 2028 captaincy at Kingston Heath in his home country of Australia.

Canada: The home crowd let it rip with “O Canada” on the opening tee, then Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners went out and defeated Tony Finau and Wyndham Clark 6 and 5. The third Canadian in the Internationals, Pendrith, won a point alongside Adam Scott . An outstanding day for the Maple Leafs.

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele: The U.S. strategy appeared sound as, after a 5-0 opening session, an American duo entered Friday with a history of success in four-way Cup competition. Instead, the Friends suffered such a decisive defeat, 7 and 6, that captain Jim Furyk can’t send them out again on Saturday afternoon… can he?

Americans in four: After going 1-7 in the alternate toss at last year’s disastrous Ryder Cup, the USA posted an 0-5 performance on Friday – and it’s certain they’ll have a losing week in the format, as there were only four four-a-side games on Saturday .

Jim Furyk: He didn’t miss any fairways or mess up any putts. but exactly as we explained on ThursdayIf your team is defeated in a session, the captain must take some responsibility.

Tom Brady: He will serve as lead analyst on FOX during Sunday’s Eagles-Bucs game, but who will watch a mundane NFL matchup in Week 4 as the Presidents Cup heads toward a gigantic conclusion?