The International Team kept alive its hopes of a historic Presidents Cup upset on Saturday, taking a three-point lead over the United States into Sunday's singles at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, as it chases its first outright victory at the biennial event since 1998.
The Internationals, made up of players from outside the US and Europe, will carry a 10.5–7.5 advantage into the final day and need five of the 12 available singles points to end a title drought against an American side that has won the last 10 Presidents Cups.
Saturday's fightback
The US struck first in the morning, trimming the Internationals' overnight 7–3 lead. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns won each of the final three holes to defeat Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune 2 and 1 in the last fourball match.
But the Internationals held firm in the afternoon foursomes, battling to a 2–2 split. The comeback was powered by the Canadian pair of Nick Taylor and Corey Conners, who were three down through 10 holes before rallying to beat Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 1-up.
"There was no giving up," Conners said. "We knew it was going to be a battle. We gave them a few holes early on and I think we were both motivated to try to get back on the right side of things."
A historic opportunity
The 2026 edition marks the first time the Internationals have led on foreign soil heading into Sunday in the event's history. A victory would end nearly three decades of American dominance in the team competition.
US captain Brandt Snedeker made the surprise decision to sit world number one Scheffler for the afternoon session at the difficult Medinah No. 3 course, saying he wanted to take pressure off the four-time major champion.
"I challenged the guys this afternoon to go out there and be that team that we needed to be," Snedeker said. "We got Scottie some much needed rest so he can go out there tomorrow and be the Scottie Scheffler we know that he is."
Scheffler has struggled in team golf competitions in the past, and Sunday's singles will put him at the centre of the American fightback.
Sources: Reuters — Internationals keep upset hopes alive at Presidents Cup — https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/internationals-keep-upset-hopes-alive-presidents-cup-2026-09-27/
The Internationals, made up of players from outside the US and Europe, will carry a 10.5–7.5 advantage into the final day and need five of the 12 available singles points to end a title drought against an American side that has won the last 10 Presidents Cups.
Saturday's fightback
The US struck first in the morning, trimming the Internationals' overnight 7–3 lead. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns won each of the final three holes to defeat Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune 2 and 1 in the last fourball match.
But the Internationals held firm in the afternoon foursomes, battling to a 2–2 split. The comeback was powered by the Canadian pair of Nick Taylor and Corey Conners, who were three down through 10 holes before rallying to beat Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 1-up.
"There was no giving up," Conners said. "We knew it was going to be a battle. We gave them a few holes early on and I think we were both motivated to try to get back on the right side of things."
A historic opportunity
The 2026 edition marks the first time the Internationals have led on foreign soil heading into Sunday in the event's history. A victory would end nearly three decades of American dominance in the team competition.
US captain Brandt Snedeker made the surprise decision to sit world number one Scheffler for the afternoon session at the difficult Medinah No. 3 course, saying he wanted to take pressure off the four-time major champion.
"I challenged the guys this afternoon to go out there and be that team that we needed to be," Snedeker said. "We got Scottie some much needed rest so he can go out there tomorrow and be the Scottie Scheffler we know that he is."
Scheffler has struggled in team golf competitions in the past, and Sunday's singles will put him at the centre of the American fightback.
Sources: Reuters — Internationals keep upset hopes alive at Presidents Cup — https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/internationals-keep-upset-hopes-alive-presidents-cup-2026-09-27/