Despite unleashing an early scoring barrage, the U.S. found securing its 10th straight victory in the Presidents Cup an arduous task on Sunday but got it done with a result that seemed like destiny. The Americans eventually put away a stubborn International team at Royal Montreal Golf Club when Keegan Bradley, the U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2025, registered the winning point by holding off Si Woo Kim, 1 up.
Scottie Scheffler slam-dunked a bunker shot for birdie on the first hole and Max Homa holed out for eagle to begin the last game as the Americans seized a series of early leads in singles only to watch the International squad claw back repeatedly throughout the sunny and calm afternoon in Quebec.
In the end, however, the Americans, who began the day with an 11-7 lead, were able to close out the contest by winning the necessary 4½ points in the first six matches from its top-heavy lineup, leaving the International team without a victory since its lone triumph in 1998 in Australia. It last avoided a loss in 2003 with a tie in South Africa.
Five matches had yet to be completed when the U.S. locked up the victory to improve to 13-1-1 in the series that began in 1994. The Internationals get their next shot to end their losing streak in 2026 at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.
Bradley, who originally was asked to be an assistant to captain Jim Furyk, instead became one of Furyk’s wild-card picks and delivered the deciding point after trailing Kim at the turn. He flipped the match with wins on four of the first five holes on the inward nine but had to hang on when Kim won the 16th and 17th to extend the proceedings to the par-four home hole. The two halved the last with pars but only after Kim missed a birdie try from eight feet. Bradley celebrated more with relief than excitement and enjoyed an extended hug with Furyk.
“Wow, that was incredible,” a smiling Bradley said. “I’m just so proud of the team and proud of being here. I learned I can still do this. It’s always hard. It always is. That was really uncomfortable at the end, but I’m proud of how everyone played today.”
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Xander Schauffele, who won the clinching point two years ago at Quail Hollow Club, converted seven birdies in his first 13 holes and closed out Jason Day in the opening match, 4 and 3. That restored the five-point lead the Americans forged when it swept the opening four-ball session on Thursday.
Little else seemed to come easy for the visitors, however.
In the second game, Tom Kim made a late push to erase a two-hole deficit to Sam Burns, but Burns held on to earn a half-point to complete a 3-0-1 performance and finish the week as the only unbeaten player on either team. Russell Henley then closed out Sungjae Im, 3 and 2 and Patrick Cantlay subdued Canada’s Taylor Pendrith 3 and 1.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama stopped Scheffler, 1 up, in a match that featured 13 birdies. It was one of the few highlights for the International team. Another was Canada’s Corey Conners blitzing Tony Finau, 5 and 3, after losing two of the first three holes.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com