Team USA In Trouble After First Day Of Presidents Cup

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The first day for Team USA did not go to plan. They lost four of the five matches and find themselves down four to one ahead of day two.

Utah native, Tony Finau, was unfortunately on the losing end during his rookie Presidents Cup campaign.

Finau, who was paired with fellow American Bryson Dechambeau lost to Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An on hole 17 after the International Team found themselves up by two holes with one to play.

They are locked in and it's getting louder 🗣️

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 12, 2019

The only USA team to claim victory was the opening pairing of captain Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas who beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann and led from the very first hole before closing the match on hole 15 being four holes the better of the International pair.

What Happened On Day One?

Golf fans from around the world are stunned by the events that took place on day one. Prior to the tournament starting, Team USA was odds on favorite to obliterate the International Team.

Many things may be blamed for the day one collapse, including questioning the timing of Team USA’s arrival date into Melbourne, Australia. The majority of Team USA played in the Hero World Challenge, which took place in The Bahamas last weekend. Not a single player from the International Team competed in that event, instead, they were already in Melbourne preparing and practicing ahead of the Presidents Cup. Team USA jumped on a jet plane the Monday prior to the Presidents Cup and flew 27 hours before arriving into Australia.

Jetlag can play a big factor in any professional athletes playing ability. Did the USA Team not think about the effects jetlag has on the human body? Or were they underestimating the ability of the International Team? Considering they have won 12 of the 13 Presidents Cup.

JT go get that! @TigerWoods is always doing the unimaginable. #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/8S2aZCK5Nl

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 11, 2019

Day Two Pairings

Day two will hopefully bring more victories for the Americans, they will be playing in the foursome format. Meaning that every team of two will play one ball, alternating shots until the ball finds the bottom of the cup.

Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen will tee off first against Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson.

Joaquin Niemann and Adam Hadwin will take on Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.

Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman will rely on the home crowds’ sledging of Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson.

Hideki Matsuyama and Byeong Hun An will have the biggest task at hand as they will take on the only American team to win on day one, Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas.

Finally, the day will end when Cameron Smith and Sungjae Im go up against Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland.

Tony Finau was not selected by Woods and will have to watch and hope that the American Team can claw their way back from the comfort of the greenside turf.

Finau’s day one teammate, Bryson Dechambeau, was also left off the day two pairings for Team USA.

Expect to see Finau back in action on day three.

Fortunately, the United States holds a 69-37-18 all-time record in the Presidents Cup foursome matches. If History were to repeat itself and the USA are going to claw their way back into contention, day two would be a great day to do it.

Two hours until Day Two. Take a look at today's #PresidentsCup matchups and give us your best predictions!

📺: 7pm ET on Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/8ZzLKpV2m1

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 12, 2019