Tour Confidential: Can the Internationals actually pull off the Presidents Cup upset?
The International Presidents Cup team celebrates Tom Kim's match-winning putt on Saturday.
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Check in each day of this week’s Presidents Cup for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topic at Quail Hollow Club, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
The 14th Presidents Cup comes down to 12 singles matches on Sunday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. The U.S. holds an 11-7 lead, but anything can happen on Sunday. Who comes out on top?
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): The International team showed a whole lotta fight late in the day on Saturday, but I fear it’ll be too little, too late. As long as something really wacky doesn’t happen, Sunday will be a coronation for the U.S. in an 18-12 win.
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Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): I suspect even a lot of American fans are rooting for the Internationals at this point. A very likable team. But it’s not going to happen. Singles matches tend to tilt even further in favor of the stronger team. And as much as I’d like to see Tom Kim play all 12 matches for his side and win each of them 6 and 5, nothing close to that is going to happen. My pre-Cup prediction was 17-13. But Zephyr’s call seems more like it. 18-12.
James Colgan, assistant editor (@jamescolgan26): Well lookie here! Do we have a battle on our hands? The U.S. is going to come out angry Sunday (“pissed,” in their own words), and those early matches are going to be a birdiefest. I think the Internationals brave the early storm and make it close, but fall just short down the stretch, 15.5-14.5.
Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): My U.S. wins 16.5-13.5 prediction stands. I expect Tom Kim to win his singles match by the 10th hole (sorry Max). That rally late Saturday afternoon was impressive and I think the Internationals will carry the momentum into singles, but not enough to overcome the four-point deficit. The Internationals have the spunk, but probably not the firepower and depth to pull off a “Miracle at Medinah”-level comeback.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I’m glad the Internationals won the last session on Saturday to make Sunday more exciting, but you can’t hide the players who have been struggling in singles play. The U.S. has just too much depth and it will show. 19.5-10.5.
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