MONTREAL (AP) — Xander Schauffele made four straight birdies to lead a wave of red scores on the board Sunday and the Americans made the outcome as inevitable as it usually is, winning the Presidents Cup for the 10th straight time.
Sam Burns completed an undefeated week, Russell Henley capped his impressive Presidents Cup debut and Keegan Bradley – next year’s Ryder Cup captain – delivered the deciding point when Si Woo Kim missed a 10 putt feet on the 18th hole.
With five matches still in play, the Americans had the 15 1/2 points needed to win.
The Internationals needed everything to go well at Royal Montreal. All they managed was good fighting, closer matches, but no cup.
Their only victory since those matches for players from anywhere but Europe came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, so long ago that Tiger Woods was making his Presidents Cup debut. The United States’ winning streak dates back to a draw against South Africa in 2003.
The Americans have made a winner out of captain Jim Furyk, who was at the helm in France five years ago when they lost to Europe in the Ryder Cup.
He dispatched Schauffele in the opener against Jason Day, and the cool Californian made five birdies in eight holes to take control early. It ended on the 15th hole.
The Internationals scored a point in the battle of the Masters champions when Hideki Matsuyama defeated Scottie Scheffler and Corey Conners scored an easy victory over Tony Finau. But they led 11-7 before the 12 singles. It was never going to be enough.
___
AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
