Saturday’s opener was a close match and another clear sign that both Furyk and Weir would rely on their best golfers all weekend.

Xander Schauffele, the world’s No. 2 golfer, teamed with Tony Finau to battle Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes in Saturday’s second match. Schauffele and Finau achieved a 3&2 victory.

Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns secured a 2&1 victory over Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im in the final four-ball match to ensure the US would go into the afternoon with a lead. It was an interesting turnaround after Cantlay and Schauffele were defeated by Matsuyama and Im 7&6 in Friday’s foursome.

Cantlay’s Eagle at No. 12 played a big role in giving the advantage to Team USA. It also ruined a five-birdie performance by Im.

However, there would be no cleaning in the morning. In the third match, Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim got the international team back on the board with a 4&3 victory over Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark.

Kim and Kim played a great match, keeping the energy and momentum going for the international team.

Kim and Kim were paired up again in the afternoon, when the action turned into a four-way match. Weir even decided to keep all four pairs from Round 3 for Round 4.

It was certainly an unexpected decision after losing three out of four matches in the morning. However, he may have been counting on the success his team had with the foursome on Friday.

Things didn’t go quite as Weir had imagined.

Scott and Pendrith got the international team off to a good start in the afternoon, winning their match against Brian Harman and Max Homa by two holes. Another impressive lap from Scott helped offset Pendrith’s less than stellar performance.

Late in the second game, however, the momentum shifted towards the Americans. Conners and Hughes were tied with Morikawa and Burns entering the final hole. A draw in the match would have given each team half a point, but the stalemate did not last.

Conners fell just short on a par putt attempt, ultimately costing his team the hole and the match.

It wasn’t all bad for the international team. With Kim and Kim one hole behind Schauffele and Cantlay, Si Woo Kim hit an unlikely shot on a mound to earn a birdie and level the score.

However, a clutch birdie putt by Cantlay on No. 18 turned a potential tie into another victory for Team USA.

The excitement from the entire American team after Cantlay’s putt was palpable. For them it was an exciting end to another strong day.

Just before Cantlay sank the final putt of the evening, Scheffler and Russell Henley made an epic comeback, eventually pulling away from Matsuyama and Im to earn a 3&2 victory.

Matsuyama and Im were near the tree after six holes, but something clicked for Scheffler and Henley, who were in complete control from then on. Their victory ensured that Team USA would enter Sunday with a lead.

Cantlay’s putt ensured it would be a big one.

With an 11-7 lead, Team USA is in prime position to claim its 10th consecutive Presidents Cup. With four of the six best golfers, the Americans should have an advantage in the head-to-head singles, according to the World Golf Rankings.

The American team also needs only 4.5 points to reach the tournament. Four wins and a draw from twelve games will do it, although the skill and drive we’ve seen from the international team suggests it will be another series of battles on Sunday.