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On the Course Internationals must deliver big on Saturday or it's over
By Gary Van Sickle, Sports Illustrated GAINESVILLE, Va. -- Here's something we never say in golf: It all comes down to Saturday. That's the situation in the Presidents Cup. The International team faces an early end to the suspense unless it manages a major rally against the Americans in Saturday afternoon's four-ball matches. The Internationals trail by five, 10-5, and probably need to win four of five matches to stay within realistic striking distance of the Americans, who are always heavily favored in closing 12 singles matches. "We've got to get within three points, I should say," International captain Peter Thomson said after his team's disastrous Friday afternoon performance in the foursomes (alternate-shot) format. If the Internationals win just three of five Saturday, they'll trail 12-8, and be forced to win eight of 12 singles matches Sunday, a formidable task. It would require a Herculean comeback, although the U.S. team pulled off a rally that big in last year's Ryder Cup, so it is possible. If the Internationals win two or fewer matches Saturday, it's likely this event will turn into a rout. The Americans are way ahead by virtue of their play in alternate shot, where they are 9-1 so far. "It's a bloody English invention," Thomson joked about the format. "It's for old ladies in golf clubs. I'm not a fan of foursomes. I think it's outdated and it's history, gone. I don't think it allows players to perform at their best because they've got to play only half of the action and I don't think the spectators get it, either. It's sort of half a round. It's a very uncommon thing." Only Canadian Mike Weir, the Internationals' early candidate for team MVP, and Nick Price won in foursomes Friday afternoon, crushing Phil Mickelson and David Duval 5 and 4 in the final match to avoid another sweep. The afternoon wiped out the team's morning rally. The Internationals won four-of- five matches to close within two points but then the Americans, led by Paul Azinger, Tiger Woods, Notah Begay and the hot new team of Stewart Cink and Kirk Triplett (the rookies are 2-0 so far) steamrolled them with a slew of birdies. The Americans had a 26-20 edge in birdies in the five afternoon matches and were a cumulative 23 under par to the Internationals' 12 under. Those scores, by the way, are remarkably low for alternate shot, especially on the tough Robert Trent Jones Golf Club course. "I saw some amazing golf from the U.S. team," Thomson said. "I think it was a magnificent performance." The Internationals need something like that Saturday. Otherwise, this thing may be over early on Sunday.
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