USA Pulls Off the Biggest Comeback in Presidents Cup History, Beats Internationals 17-13 at Medinah
Down 10.5-7.5 entering Sunday singles — the first 36-hole deficit the Americans have ever faced in the event — the U.S. team won 9.5 of 12 points, with rookie Jacob Bridgeman clinching the Cup on the 18th hole.
Team USA completed the largest final-day comeback in Presidents Cup history on Sunday, storming back from a 10.5-7.5 deficit to beat the International Team 17-13 at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago and claim the Americans' 11th straight title in the competition.
It was the first time in Presidents Cup history the International Team had taken a lead into the final day's 12 singles matches, and they arrived at Medinah chasing their first victory since 1998 and their first ever on American soil. Instead, the U.S. won 9.5 of a possible 12 points in singles to erase the gap entirely.
How It Happened
The rally leaned on clutch long-range putting. Cameron Young opened American momentum with a win over Ryo Hisatsune, and Patrick Cantlay delivered the shot of the tournament, draining a 57-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole en route to a 2&1 win over Adam Scott that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Justin Thomas, who had entered Sunday 0-3-0 in Presidents Cup singles play, finally broke through with a 5&3 win over Corey Conners, while Scottie Scheffler beat Nico Echavarria 2&1 — pausing mid-round to confront a spectator who disrupted Echavarria's swing on the 14th hole, telling the fan "there's no place for that" before conceding his opponent's par putt.
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT.
Not every American got a win — Sam Burns remains winless in Presidents Cup singles after falling 3&1 to Sungjae Im — but rookie Jackson Koivun beat Si Woo Kim 2-up in his Cup debut, and it was fellow rookie Jacob Bridgeman who sealed the title outright, closing out Min Woo Lee 1-up on the 18th green as teammates swarmed the final fairway. Xander Schauffele added a 2&1 win over Ryan Fox, and the last match on the course, between Russell Henley and Nick Taylor, ended in a half.
The comeback capped a wild week that saw the International Team sweep Friday's foursomes 5-0 before the teams traded points the rest of the way. U.S. captain's decisions and depth ultimately proved decisive once singles play began, extending an American winning streak in the competition that now stretches back to 2003 across every edition but one.