The International team celebrate a point during Saturday’s foursomes matches at the Medinah Country Club in Chicago. Image courtesy PGA Tour.
By Rahul Banerji
Looking for a first-ever win on US soil, Geoff Ogilvy’s Internationals led the USA by three points headed into Sunday’s decisive Presidents Cup singles at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.
After Saturday afternoon’s foursomes, the Internationals were 10.5 to 7.5, needing five points to seal only their second win over the USA after 1998, and a first-ever on American soil.
The 2003 fixture ended in a cliff-hanger 17-17 tie.
In Saturday’s four-balls and foursomes, the visiting team trailed in every match but staged a stirring recovery to end the day ahead of a strong US squad led by world number 1 Scottie Scheffler.
In the morning session, the US made something of a comeback after being wiped out 0-4 in Friday’s foursomes by winning two matches and tying one in the four-balls.
The Internationals, however, refused to roll over, splitting the afternoon’s foursomes to restore their three-point lead.
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“We were down in every match, and to come back and get one and a half points out of this morning, we felt that was a little victory because we were down everywhere,” Ogilvy said later.
“In the afternoon, the same thing happened. Team USA played so well all day. They played some really high-level foursomes, especially this afternoon.
Amazing comeback
“For the boys to somehow come back and pinch two points out of that and split the session was amazing.”
After Thursday’s opening four-ball session, the US led 3-2 but could not put a point on the board at Medinah on Friday, losing all five foursomes to set out on Saturday 7-3 down.
The Internationals found their heroes when needed most.
Canadians Corey Connors and Nick Taylor, Australian veteran Adam Scott and Koreans Si Woo Kim and Joohyung ‘Tom’ Kim all chipped in at crucial points over the last three days.
While both the Kims have won thrice against one loss and no ties at Medinah, Connors is 2-2-0, Taylor is 2-1-0 and Scott is 1-2-0.
US captain Brandt Snedekar has struggled to put effective combinations together but finally hit on a solid pairing in Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young, who have won both their matches together and look good to play long roles in the Ryder Cup.
Tight security
Meanwhile, enhanced security will be in place at Medinah on Sunday with US president Donald Trump’s scheduled visit.
“Gates will open at 8 a.m. Spectators should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum,” a statement on the event website said.
“Spectators are encouraged to arrive as early as possible and should anticipate extra travel time to Medinah Country Club as they plan their day.
“In addition to the regular event entrances, spectators will be subjected to TSA-style screening checkpoints around the 1st Tee Grandstand and surrounding areas. If spectators leave these secure areas, they will need to be screened again prior to re-entering that area.
“Spectators should also anticipate temporary delays when moving through publicly accessible areas on the property. Certain areas may briefly become restricted or paused before, during, or after the event to support security operations.”
The presidential incursion will probably be a side-show anyway.
In 16 previous editions, the Internationals have cashed in on a Sunday’s singles lead only once, in 1998, incidentally also the year current team members Sungjae Im and Min Woo Lee were born.
Only win
It was also the only time the Internationals have managed to get their hands on the trophy.
Seven years ago at Royal Melbourne, the Internationals led 10-8 but could not withstand a Tiger Woods-led rally, and Medinah this time begs the question, can they get over the line with five points needed to seal the deal.
“We’re just trying to be disciplined,” Min Woo Lee (2-1-1) said. “We know what our job is to do.”
Lee, Open champion Ryan Fox, Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama, the two Kims and Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa could well play key roles in a few hours from now.
For his part, US captain Brandt Snedeker has been under fire event before the first tee-off, mainly for team selection, especially picking Jacob Bridgeman over J.J. Spaun.
The 2025 US Open champion promptly underlined his exclusion by winning last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth ahead of Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Adam Scott.
“I don’t think I’ve held up my end of the bargain,” Snedeker admitted after watching the initiative slip away time and again on Saturday.
The singles will determine whether Ogilvy’s squad will be remembered as a historic one.
The Internationals have a rare upper hand, and the USA are in an unfamiliar position of finding themselves on the ropes. If they do manage to do so, it will be the largest Sunday comeback in the competition — and an 11th straight title win.
Also read: Snedeker, Ogilvy named Presidents Cup captains for 2026 edition
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