It was a great day for the United States on the opening day of the Presidents Cup, with the U.S. taking a 3.5-1.5 lead following the Foursome competition.
Friday brings the first Four-Ball matches where the players will play their own ball, taking the better score of the two on each hole. There are some great matches to look forward to!
8:35 a.m. Spieth/Reed (USA) vs. Matsuyama/Hadwin (INT)
A good one right out of the gate as the USA sends out one of its super teams and winners from Thursday. On this might seem somewhat one-sided, but with Matsuyama you get one of the top players in the world and Hadwin, the Canadian, has shown he can go low.
Prediction: Might turn out to be better than it looks, but the United States still gets it done 3 and 2.
8:50 a.m. Fowler/Thomas (USA) vs. Oosthuizen/Grace (INT)
The lone International team to win Thursday is back together Friday, bringing a 5-0 mark as teammates in Presidents Cup play. A formidable duo, but the Fowler/Thomas duo were the stars on Thursday and thereās no arguing how hot the two are right now.
I think this is a match the International team needs to win or it could be an anit-climactic weekend.
Prediction: I canāt go against the Dynamic U.S. Duo. The hot play continues and the U.S. takes another, this one 2 and 1.
9:05 a.m. Mickelson/Kisner (USA) vs. Day/Leishman (INT)
This one comes down to how well Jason Day plays. Leishman will play his usual consistent game as will Kisner, and probably Mickelson. Day is the one player in the group that can catch fire and turn the match in the Internationalās direction
Prediction: As much as it pains me to go against Lefty, I have to lean with the Internationals in the closest match of the round. Internationals 1-up.
9:20 a.m. Chappell/Hoffman (USA) vs. Schwartzel/Lahiri (INT)
The swing match of the session. The two Americanās sat out Thursday and itās tough to get a read on how they will perform. Hoffman is a pretty laid-back dude and itās hard to imagine him getting flustered. Chappell is another Californian, but heās never been on a stage this big so we will have to wait and see.
Schwartzel is a known commodity in these competitions and that could make the difference. Lahiri is one of those players that could explode onto the scene with a big weekend.
Prediction: International team 2 and 1 to make it even for the day.
9:35 a.m. Johnson/Koepka (USA) vs. Scott/Vegas (INT)
Easily the most interesting match of the first two days. Four long-ball hitters will be having at it in what promises to be the most entertaining match of the first 10 matches.
Johnson and Koepka will be crushing it from the first tee, with the luxury of one player hitting a 3-wood off the tee on the shot par 4ās (and still be longer than most players with their drivers) and allowing the other player to tighten his shoelaces and go for broke.
Scott and Vegas can both go deep, but at this point, both seem a notch behind the two Americans.
Prediction: Itās going to be exciting but also one sided, as the U.S. wins 5 and 4 after a birdie assault.
United States ends day two with a 6.5-3.5 lead!
By Dennis Miller