USA leads Internationals entering Saturday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The usual suspects for the Americans got the job done in convincing fashion on Friday at the 2022 Presidents Cup, but the Internationals didn’t go down without a fight.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas continued their impressive partnership with a 2-and-1 win over Australians Adam Scott and Cam Davis to give the Americans the first point of the day at Quail Hollow Club. And speaking of unbeatable duos, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele won yet again on Friday, taking down Hideki Matsuyama and Tom Kim, 3 and 2.

They weren’t wins, but the International pairings of Sungjae Im-Sebastian Munoz and Mito Pereira-Christiaan Bezuidenhout picked up a clutch point with a pair of ties in the second and third matches of the day, while Max Homa and Billy Horschel sealed the deal on the 18th for the Americans to win the session, 4-1, and extend their overall lead to 8-2.

Here’s a breakdown of each match on Day 2 at the 2022 Presidents Cup.

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Jordan Spieth-Justin Thomas (U.S.) def. Adam Scott-Cam Davis (Intl.), 2 and 1

Spieth and Thomas love playing together, and it showed once again on Friday. Matched up against the International Aussie duo of veteran Adam Scott and rookie Cam Davis, the Americans tied the first three holes before a back-and-forth birdie best in the middle of the round. Thomas picked up a pair of wins with birdies on Nos. 4 and 5, then Spieth followed suit on Nos. 7 and 8. The Internationals won the ninth to cut the U.S. lead to 2 up at the turn and matched their birdie efforts over the next three holes to keep the match close.

Thomas, who struggled on the back nine, got back on track with a clutch birdie on the par-3 14th to take a 3-up lead with four to play. Davis hit a 378-yard drive on the par-5 16th to earn birdie and briefly bring the match back to 2-up before Spieth closed the door on the 17th to win, 2 and 1. — Woodard

Team USA golfer Jordan Spieth celebrates after making his putt on the 12th green during the four-ball match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

Scottie Scheffler-Sam Burns (U.S.) tie Sungjae Im-Sebastian Munoz (Intl.)

Scheffler and Burns were the lone American team to lose on Thursday (2 down to Si Woo Kim and Davis) after blowing a 2-up lead through 14 holes. It looked like more of the same was destined on Friday….