Presidents Cup 2019: Inside the USA's momentum-changing charge

Dejan Kalinic

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Presidents Cup 2019: Inside the USA's momentum-changing charge image

The United States was staring at a huge deficit at the Presidents Cup before a momentum-changing final 90 minutes in Melbourne.

The Internationals led all five foursomes matches not long after 14:00 local time (03:00 GMT) at Royal Melbourne Golf Club on Friday.

That would have sent the USA into the weekend trailing 9-1, but instead they rallied and finished the day behind 6.5-3.5.

The turnaround could be what Tiger Woods' team needed in its bid for an eighth straight Presidents Cup title.

Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele and Woods-Justin Thomas grabbed wins, while Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland halved a match they trailed for almost the entire day.

We take a look at how the USA's fightback unfolded:

Cantlay clutch to lift the USA

Cantlay and Schauffele trailed through 14 holes against Joaquin Niemann and Adam Hadwin, but they produced the first late rally.

A birdie at the par-5 15th brought the USA level after Schauffele put an approach to 3 feet.

But the big moment came at 18, where Cantlay holed a 14-footer for birdie and a key point.

Tiger, Thomas fight back

Woods and Thomas were 1down through 12 in what had been a tight battle with Hideki Matsuyama and Byeong Hun An.

Thomas' approach and Woods' 10-footer for birdie tied the match before the 2017 US PGA Championship winner stepped up big time on the last.

The world number four sunk a 17-foot birdie putt to get the USA another victory.

Fowler, Woodland respond for a half

Fowler and Woodland had trailed from the opening hole against Cameron Smith and Im Sung-jae and were still behind through 16.

However, a birdie at the 17th tied the match as Fowler holed a 4-footer after Woodland's superb approach, denying the Internationals a victory they looked certain to secure all day.

Dejan Kalinic