Presidents Cup: Day 4 match recaps

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Presidents Cup first-timer Daniel Berger provided the clinching half-point for the U.S. team Sunday at Liberty National, giving the Americans their 10th win in 12 meetings against the International Team. Berger, playing in the fourth Singles match of the day, went dormie against THE PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim on the 15th hole of their match, a guaranteed half-point. Earlier, Kevin Chappell halved his match against Marc Leishman for the first half-point of the day. Chappell was informed by U.S. Captain Steve Stricker on the 16th hole that he had provided the clincher. When he finally finished his match, he was sprayed with champagne by fellow first-timer Charley Hoffman, and then celebrated with other members of the U.S. squad. “What a feeling,” he said after closing out Kim 2 and 1 for the full point. “I’m speechless right now.” The Americans needed just one point coming into Sunday’s 12 Singles matches to clinch the Presidents Cup, having taken a commanding 14.5 to 3.5 lead after the first three days at Liberty National. The Americans are now 10-1-1 in this event. Recaps for all completed matches are below. SINGLES Marc Leishman (International) vs. Kevin Chappell (U.S.), Halved Chappell made an early eagle and birdie to take control early, but Leishman battled back and led after 16 holes. He bogeyed the 17th to square the match, and both players missed birdie attempts inside 20 feet on the final hole. Jason Day (International) def. Charley Hoffman (U.S.), 2 and 1 Day won for the first time in his last 10 Presidents Cup matches. Trailing at the turn, Day won the first three holes on the back nine to go 2 up, then played steady golf the rest of the way. Hideki Matsuyama (International) def. Justin Thomas (U.S.), 3 and 1 Matsuyama struggled for most of the week, but he woke up against the FedExCup champ, making eight birdies and an eagle in the first 12 holes. Thomas played nearly as well, making seven birdies in that stretch. But Matsuyama never provided an opening for Thomas to pounce. Daniel Berger (U.S.) def. Si Woo Kim (International), 2 and 1 Berger clinched the Presidents Cup on the 15th hole when he went dormie for a guaranteed half-point, then closed out Kim two holes later in a well-played match, particular between holes 8 and 12 when the two combined for seven birdies. Berger took the lead on the second hole and never gave it up. Charl Schwartzel (International) def. Matt Kuchar (U.S.), 1 up The South African won the first two holes and maintained the lead for the entire match. Schwartzel had four birdies in his first seven holes and was 5 up through seven, then cruised from there. The loss continued Kuchar’s drought in Presidents Cup Singles, as he’s now 0-4-0.  Louis Oosthuizen (International) def. Patrick Reed (U.S.), 1 up On three separate stretches during the match, Reed held the lead, including after the 16th hole when he was 1 up. But Oosthuizen’s 14-foot birdie putt at the 17th squared it, then his 12-footer at the 18th won it. It’s Oosthuizen’s first Singles win in three attempts in the Presidents Cup. Branden Grace (International) vs. Dustin Johnson (U.S.), Halved The South African, who won all five of his matches two years ago in Korea, denied Johnson the same result with a late rally to halve the match. Johnson led for 13 of the first 16 holes, but he found trouble off the tee at 17 and conceded the hole to square the match. With 4.5 points, Johnson led all players. Adam Scott (International) def. Brooks Koepka (U.S.), 3 and 2 Scott won his first point of the week against the U.S. Open champ while running his Singles record to 5-3-0. Koepka led for most of the match, but Scott won four consecutive holes on the back nine to flip the match in his favor.

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