Kiwi Ryan Fox and Australian Min Woo Lee have gained a vital point for the International team on the penultimate day of the Presidents Cup contest against the United States at Medinah, Chicago.
For the second day running, Fox and Lee were winners, this time steaming past Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark in their foursomes contest with a 3 and 2 victory that finished on the 16th hole.
The Internationals take a 10-1/2 to 7-1/2 lead into the final day of singles matches. They need five of the 12 points on offer to gain a rare win over the US, who have won the last 10 of their biennial clashes.
Today’s win was easier, despite Morikawa and Clark taking an early 2-up lead. Fox nailed a birdie on the seventh to even up the score and it stayed close, until Fox and Lee won three consecutive holes from 13 to 15.
Fox said he and Lee were surprised team captain Geoff Ogilvy had paired them in the foursomes, but it worked well.
“We’ve had a lot of fun the last couple of days and hit a lot of good shots when it mattered,” Fox told the Sky Sport broadcast. “Playing with one of your best mates is brilliant and I felt like it showed the last couple of days.”
Lee said he began badly today and his teammate was a big help.
“I felt I started terribly, but he was right there on my back, cheering me on, and it’s OK and we turned it round, which is awesome.”
The US team managed to claw back a point over the day. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns claimed the last holes to beat Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune 2 and 1 in the last fourball match of the morning.
US team captain Brandt Snedeker surprisingly stood down world No.1 Scheffler from the afternoon action. The session’s four matches were split 2-2, with Fox and Lee’s win being the final match.