Members of the United States team in the Presidents Cup will covet the experiences across the four days of competition, perhaps none more than Jacob Bridgeman.
He provided the clinching moment Sunday outside Chicago.
Bridgeman wrapped up the team victory by winning the final hole against Australia’s Min Woo Lee for a 1-up result.
“Someone in the crowd yelled, ‘You’re the best putter in the world,’“ Bridgeman said of the moments before his final stroke. “And I was like, yep, I’m going to make this thing. It was the coolest moment.”
The U.S. team took control by midday and completed the largest final-day comeback in event history to win over the International team at Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 course.
The final tally was 17-13, with the U.S. prevailing in nine of 12 singles matches (with one tie) on the final day.
“I think these guys never lost faith,” U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker said. “I know what that team room is like. I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here. Medinah has a history of funny things happening.”
Jackson Koivun, just a few months into his pro career after starring collegiately for Auburn, put the U.S. on the cusp of victory with a birdie on the 18th hole to secure a 2-up triumph against South Korea’s Si Woo Kim. Then Bridgeman completed the task.
“I cannot get over what Jackson Koivun did today,” Snedeker said. “I put him in a really tough spot out there. We thought he could handle it. Sure enough, he did.”
The U.S. trailed 7-3 after Friday’s play and faced a 10 1/2-7 1/2 deficit entering Sunday, when President Donald Trump was in attendance.
“This is by far and away the most nervous, most fun, pressure-packed environment that I’ve ever been a part of,” said U.S. golfer Chris Gotterup, who won his singles match.
The International team hasn’t won the Presidents Cup since its only victory in 1998.
“The U.S. Team came out firing,” International captain Geoff Ogilvy said. “We knew they would. The crowd came out, which is great for them.”
Among the late matches, Koivun trailed by two holes until winning four in a five-hole stretch. He was the only undefeated U.S. golfer in the competition.
“I had some goals, but for it to come this quickly is definitely shocking, and I’m just thankful and grateful for the trust the captains put in me to put me out in three of the five matches,” Koivun said.
On Sunday, the U.S. side won six of the first eight matches to surge into the lead.
Cameron Young broke a tie in his match by winning three consecutive holes (Nos. 11-13) on the way to defeating Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune 3 and 2 in the day’s first match.
“Just knowing how important the points are early,” Young said. “I got off to such a strange start. I hit a bunch of really nice shots and found myself 2-down through four. Really nothing changed. Just kind of kept going, kept hitting good shots and finally got a putt to go in on 12 and then hit a nice one here on the last.”
South Korea’s Tom Kim countered for the International team, beating Wyndham Clark 3 and 2.
Justin Thomas finished a 5-and-3 victory against Canada’s Corey Conners, while Scottie Scheffler topped Colombia’s Nico Echavarria 2 and 1.
When South Korea’s Sungjae Im defeated Sam Burns 3 and 1, it pushed the International squad to a 12 1/2-10 1/2 lead. But the U.S. team was ahead in five of the remaining matches and the other two were tied.
Then Gotterup grabbed a 1-up victory against South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Patrick Cantlay followed with a 2-and-1 triumph against Australia’s Adam Scott, and Collin Morikawa completed a 1-up decision against Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
After Bridgeman’s clincher, Xander Schauffele completed a 2-and-1 victory against New Zealand’s Ryan Fox. Schauffele had a chance at providing the clinching point for the U.S. side, but his par putt on the par-3 16th hole, after his tee shot went into a bunker, was off the mark. That allowed Fox to win the hole and extend the match.
Russell Henley and Canada’s Nick Taylor completed the competition with the only tie of the day.
–Field Level Media
