Presidents Cup: US dominate in Korea

THE United States made a flying start to the defence of their Presidents Cup crown after dominating the opening day foursomes against the International team at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea.

Rickie Fowler: Biggest win alongside Jimmy Walker. Picture: AP

The USA have won the last five Presidents Cups and Jay Haas’ team put themselves well on course for another triumph after taking a 4-1 lead yesterday.

Bubba Watson and JB Holmes set the tone by dominating their opening match against Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama, taking the lead after the second hole and never relinquishing it before winning 3&2.

The South African pairing of Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace levelled up the scores in the next game, winning by the same scoreline but that was as good as it got for the Internationals as the US claimed the final three points of the day.

Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker were the biggest winners as they brushed aside Anirban Lahiri and Thongchai Jaidee 5&4. World No 1 Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson were similarly clinical in disposing of Danny Lee and Marc Leishman 4&3, back-to-back birdies on the opening two holes giving them a lead they never surrendered.

The only match to go to the 18th hole was the fourth one that pitted Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson against Jason Day and his fellow Australian Steven Bowditch.

The USA duo led for all but four holes and were two up heading to the 17th, but a 40-foot birdie putt from Day gave the International duo a chance to salvage a half on the last. However, world No 2 Day was unable to repeat his heroics with the putter on the 18th and the USA won two up.