The United States team took control by midday and completed the largest final-day comeback in event history to win the Presidents Cup over the International team on Sunday outside Chicago.
The final tally was 17-13, with the U.S. prevailing in nine of 12 singles matches (with one tie) on the final day.
Jackson Koivun, just a few months into his pro career after starring collegiately for Auburn, put the U.S. on the cusp of victory with a birdie on the 18th hole to secure a 2-up triumph against South Korea’s Si Woo Kim.
Jacob Bridgeman wrapped up the team victory by winning the final hole against Australia’s Min Woo Lee for a 1-up result at Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 course.
The U.S. trailed 7-3 after Friday’s play and faced a 10 1/2-7 1/2 hole entering Sunday, when President Donald Trump was in attendance.
The International team hasn’t won the Presidents Cup since its only victory in 1998.
Among the late matches, Koivun trailed by two holes until winning four in a five-hole stretch.
The U.S. side won six of the first eight matches to surge into the lead.
Cameron Young broke a tie in his match by winning three consecutive holes (Nos. 11-13) on the way to defeating Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune 3 and 2 in the day’s first match.
South Korea’s Tom Kim countered for the International team, beating Wyndham Clark 3 and 2.
Justin Thomas finished a 5-and-3 victory against Canada’s Corey Conners, while Scottie Scheffler topped Colombia’s Nico Echavarria 2 and 1.
When South Korea’s Sungjae Im defeated Sam Burns 3 and 1, it pushed the International squad to a 12 1/2-10 1/2 lead. But the U.S. team was ahead in five of the remaining matches and the other two were tied.
Then Chris Gotterup grabbed a 1-up victory against South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Patrick Cantlay followed with a 2-and-1 triumph against Australia’s Adam Scott, and Collin Morikawa completed a 1-up decision against Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
After Bridgeman’s clincher, Xander Schauffele completed a 2-and-1 victory against New Zealand’s Ryan Fox. Schauffele had a chance at providing the clinching point for the U.S. side, but his par putt on the par-3 16th hole, after his tee shot went into a bunker, was off the mark. That allowed Fox to win the hole and extend the match.
Russell Henley and Canada’s Nick Taylor completed the competition with the only tie of the day.
