Ho-hum.
Jordan Spieth wasn’t kidding when he declared that the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea set up well for the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
It was business as usual for the American side as the U.S. team emerged from the alternate shot (Foursomes) matches with a 4-1 lead.
Spieth, who asked to play with Dustin Johnson, showed why he made that request. The American duo easily rolled over Danny Lee and Marc Leishman, 4-and-3 in the day’s final match.
Bombers Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes started fast and never trailed in their 3-and-2 victory over Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama. Scott and Matsuyama both putted poorly all day and were never a threat to Watson and Holmes. “The first day is the first day but we are obviously headed in the right direction,” Watson observed after the win.
Rickie Fowler wielded a hot putter and teamed perfectly with Jimmy Walker. They crushed Anirhan Lahiri and Thonchai Jaidee, 5-and-4.
U.S. veterans Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson were the talk of the team as they took down the shining star of the International squad — Jason Day and his partner Steve Bowditch. The Americans won 2-up but it may have been the most interesting match of the five.
The Aussie hit back-to-back shots in the water to the right of the 423-yard 11th hole to give the Americans an easy win. Mickelson and Johnson were 1-up heading the par five 18th. Mickelson crushed a perfect 327-yard drive that left Johnson with only a six-iron into the green. Johnson responded with a shot that stopped seven feet from the hole for eagle.
The Internationals missed their 30-foot eagle putt and conceded the match.
The only International point came from Louie Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. The South Africans beat Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed, 3-and-2. That matched turned for good when Oosthuizen holed a 25-foot birdie putt at the 10th then at the 11th, Kuchar’s drive found the water, giving the Internationals a 2-up lead.
In day two’s best ball (Four Ball) matches, Spieth and Johnson will lead off the day against the only winning International team — Oosthuizen and Grace.
Bill Haas and Chris Kirk will se their first action against Thongchai Jaidee and Charl Schwartzel. Schwartzel has been sidelined with flu-like symptoms.
The losing Americans — Kuchar and Reed — go to the bench.
Day Two Matches (Four-Ball):
Jordan Spieth/Dustin Johnson vs. Louie Oosthuizen/Branden Grace.
Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker vs. Danny Lee/Sang Moon Bae.
Zach Johnson/Phil Mickelson vs. Adam Scott/Jason Day.
J.B. Holmes/Bubba Watson vs. Marc Leishman/Steven Bowditch
Bill Haas/Chris Kirk vs. Thongchai Jaidee/Charl Schwartzel
