The International team swept Friday’s foursomes session at Medinah Country Club, claiming all five matches to seize a commanding 7-3 lead over the United States at the 2026 Presidents Cup heading into the weekend.
The U.S. team faces a steep climb after a display of putting from the International squad on September 25, 2026. Captain Brandt Snedeker’s side watched a narrow overnight lead evaporate as the Internationals matched their historic foursomes sweep from 2024, replicating a whitewash that ties the largest two-session lead in tournament history.
Putting Discrepancy and Flatstick Woes at Medinah
The starkest difference during Friday’s second session played out on the greens. Eight of the nine worst putters in terms of strokes gained were American players, while the Internationals gained over six strokes on their opponents with the flatstick alone.
Min Woo Lee and Ryan Fox converted multiple birdie putts from outside 10 feet to edge Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa 1-up. Adam Scott and Christiaan Bezuidenhout capitalized on early momentum, while Sungjae Im hooped putts even when playing from off the green.
“They went out there and played great. They made a ton of putts.”
Brandt Snedeker, U.S. captain
Snedeker acknowledged the disparity while defending his pairings, noting that his squad simply could not find the bottom of the cup despite giving maximum effort on the course.
International Dominance on Par-3s and Par-5s
Beyond the greens, the Americans struggled immensely on the golf course’s non-par-4 holes. The U.S. side captured just a dozen holes overall on Friday, with all but one win coming on par-4s.
The Internationals secured a 6-0 advantage on the three-shot par-5s, outscoring the home side 9 under to 3 under on Nos. 3 and 6. On the four par-3s, the visiting team posted a collective 4 under to outscore the U.S. 5-1.
Captain Snedeker pointed to course conditions after a rainy lead-up week, observing that the course firmed up significantly, creating difficult chipping and unpredictable ball bounce around the greens.
Match Breakdowns and the Road Ahead for the U.S. Team
The clean sweep leaves the Americans needing a major turnaround over the weekend to avoid dropping the cup for the first time in nearly two decades. The four-point deficit matches the largest lead the International team has held after two sessions, echoing the 1998 event.
Saturday’s schedule features a demanding doubleheader with morning four-ball matches followed by afternoon foursomes, leading up to Sunday’s 24 singles matches.
“This thing is 35, 40 percent over. It’s not even halftime of a football game. There’s a lot of golf left. … I’m fortunate to have these guys in the team room because I know what they’re made of.”
Brandt Snedeker, U.S. captain
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