Saturday at Medinah wrapped with the International Team up 10.5–7.5 heading into Sunday singles — their best position through three sessions since 1998, the last time they actually won this thing. The morning four-ball went the U.S.'s way, 2.5 to 1.5, with Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns grinding out a 2&1 win and rookie Jackson Koivun looking nothing like a rookie in his debut. But Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim are a perfect 3-0 as a pair, and that's the kind of form that swings a week.
Our two Canadians were in the thick of it. Nick Taylor and Corey Conners ran into a red-hot Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young in four-ball and came up 2&1 short — the one blemish on an otherwise big day for the International side. That's golf. You can play well and still lose a match to two guys who can't miss.
Here's the good part: singles is where this event gets won or lost, and both Taylor and Conners are in the lineup for it — Conners draws Justin Thomas, Taylor gets Russell Henley. Twelve matches, no partners to lean on, nowhere to hide. The Internationals need five points out of twelve to close it out; the U.S. needs a mountain-sized comeback that's been done before and will be tried again.
Whatever side you're pulling for, Sunday singles is the purest format in the sport — one guy, one ball, eighteen holes, no excuses. That's why we love this game. Tune in.