Korean trio power International team to 7-3 comeback with foursomes sweep

Kim Si-woo, Kim Joo-hyung and Im Sung-jae combined for victories on the second day of the Presidents Cup, leading the International team to a stunning comeback.

The pairing of Kim Si-woo and Kim Joo-hyung defeated Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele of the United States 4&3 in the second-day foursomes match play at Medinah Country Club's Course No. 3 (par 70) near Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time).

The duo had also beaten Chris Gotterup and Cantlay 3&2 in Friday's four-ball, giving them two consecutive wins and a combined two points at the tournament.

Kim Si-woo and Kim Joo-hyung led by two holes through the 13th before pulling ahead by three with a win at the par-4 14th. They closed out the match at the par-4 15th when Schauffele missed a par putt while the Korean pair made par.

"We really know each other's distances well, and since our distances are almost the same, we can exchange ideas on club selection," Kim Si-woo said in a post-round interview. "Joo-hyung is also very good at reading greens, and he helped me a lot reading the putting lines on Saturday."

Im Sung-jae, paired with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, defeated Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 3&2. Im had lost by one hole to Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in Friday's four-ball alongside Min Woo Lee of Australia, and he earned one point on the second day.

The Im-Matsuyama pairing dropped the par-4 second hole but immediately leveled at the par-5 third and took the lead from the fourth hole onward. At the par-3 16th, they made par while the American pair missed their par putt, clinching victory by three holes with two to play.

The International team swept all five foursomes matches on the day, overturning a 2-3 deficit from the opening day's four-ball to lead 7-3.

Kim Joo-hyung credited the team's collective focus for the momentum. "Mentally, the whole team is united as one. Everyone is extremely focused and knows exactly what they need to do," he said. "We have good momentum, but we won't take the field on Sunday with a relaxed mindset."

Eight matches — four four-ball and four foursomes — are scheduled for Sunday. Kim Si-woo and Kim Joo-hyung will face Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark in the four-ball, while Im Sung-jae reunites with Min Woo Lee, his first-day partner, to take on Justin Thomas and Jacob Bridgeman.

The foursomes pairings for the third day will be determined after the four-ball matches conclude.