But the International team (the rest of the world excluding Europe) performed brilliantly in the five fourball matches on Friday to narrow the score gap to just 4.5-5.5. Specifically, on the second day of this week's tournament, the International golf pairs won three matches, drew one, and lost only one. 22

Oosthuizen's International team strives to close the gap and is only one point behind defending champions USA before the final matchday. Photo: Reuters.

On Saturday, the two teams played four foursome matches in the morning and four fourball matches in the afternoon. Each side also gained four points in unfavorable weather conditions at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club (wet and windy). Thus, the US only led by one point, 9.5-8.5, when the two teams entered the 12 singles matches on Sunday.

The American golfers were not only highly rated; They are superior in both talent and experience in team competitions. The average world ranking of the 12 American golfers participating in this tournament is 14.8, while that of the International team is 33.8. But the reality of the past two days of competition shows that anything can happen on the decisive day of the championship. In the last ten years, this is the smallest margin the International team has created before playing on Sunday in the Presidents Cup. That is exactly what the International team hopes for. What needs to be achieved in the last three days will increase the chances of ending a 17-year wait for a second Presidents Cup. In the previous ten Presidents Cup tournaments, the US team won eight times, while the International team only won once in 1998, with the 2003 tournament ending in a draw. Since the 2003 draw, the US team has won the Cup five times in a row, each time by at least three points. “We need to win. This title means…” "It means a great deal to us," said Louis Oosthuizen, the famous South African golfer on the International team.

The Presidents Cup has witnessed the dominance of the US team for the past 17 years. But with just one point less before the final day of this year's tournament, the International team (left) could change that. Photo: Golf Channel.

South African golf pair Oosthuizen – Grace is the main source of strength for the International team this week. They have won all four of their matches so far, becoming the first pair in the history of the International team to achieve a 4-0 record in team matches against the USA (foursome and fourball). In the history of the US team's participation in the Presidents Cup, only the Tiger Woods - Steve Stricker pair has achieved something similar in the 2009 tournament. Even Jordan Spieth, the current world number one golfer, could only bring the US three wins with his partner this week. Jordan Spieth - Dustin Johnson lost to the Louis Oosthuizen - Branden Grace pair on Friday, but this Saturday Spieth helped the US win two games (morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs). Phil Mickelson - Zach Johnson The American pair were not scheduled to play in the morning session, but they won the four-ball match on Saturday afternoon against the Internationals.

Bae Sang-moon (Korea) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) helped the Internationals to a tie and a crucial half-point in the morning foursome session, and then added another point by defeating Jimmy Walker and Chris Kirk in the afternoon four-ball session. The only Korean golfer in the tournament, Bae was scheduled by the International captain to play his final singles match on Sunday against Bill Haas (son of U.S. captain Jay Haas).

The Internationals played well and kept pace with the U.S. after the first three days, thanks in part to a clever matchup by captain Nick Price.

The decision not to separate the Oosthuizen - Grace pair became pivotal in helping the International team achieve a series of important victories. Photo: Sporting Life.

After winning the only match for the International team on the opening day, Thursday, along with his compatriot Grace, South African golfer Oosthuizen met with the captain and suggested splitting up, thinking that they both played well and could split up to take on another golfer. But Price decided to keep the South African pair, and together they won three more crucial matches for the International team. "They are “Our team stars this week,” captain Price praised.

History is still on the U.S. side, as no team has ever won the Cup after trailing in Sunday singles play.

12 singles matches (one-on-one) on Sunday, October 11.

Match 1: Louis Oosthuizen (International) - Patrick Reed (USA). Predictions from two experts on the official Presidents Cup website: one believes Oosthuizen will win, the other believes Reed will win.

Match 2: Adam Scott (International) - Rickie Fowler (USA). Prediction: Fowler wins.

Match 3: Danny Lee (International) - Dustin Johnson (USA). Prediction: Johnson wins.

Match 4: Hideki Matsuyama (International) - J.B. Holmes (USA). Prediction: Matsuyama wins.

Match 5: Thongchai Jaidee (International) - Bubba Watson (USA). Prediction: Watson wins.

Match 6: Steven Bowditch (International) - Jimmy Walker (USA). Prediction: Walker wins, or draws.

Match 7: Charl Schwartzel (International) - Phil Mickelson (USA). Prediction: Mickelson wins.

Match 8: Anirban Lahiri (International) - Chris Kirk (USA). Prediction: Lahiri wins.

Match 9: Marc Leishman (International) - Jordan Spieth (USA, world number one). Prediction: Spieth wins.

Match 10: Jason Day (International, world number two) - Zach Johnson (USA). Prediction: Johnson wins.

Match 11: Branden Grace (International) - Matt Kuchar (USA). Prediction: Grace wins. Match 12: Sangmoon Bae (International) - Bill Haas (USA). Prediction: Bae wins. The USA team is currently leading the International team 9.5-8.5. Whichever team reaches 15.5 points first will win the Cup, as the total points are 30. If the prediction is correct, the USA team will advance for the sixth consecutive time. enemy.

Nguyen Phat