The latest episode of the Golf Preview Podcast on Pregame's Network, hosted by Will Docter, delivers an in-depth analysis of Friday’s unpredictable results in the 15th Presidents Cup and offers insightful predictions for Saturday’s matches. Will's sharp take on each match provides a thorough breakdown of what went wrong for Team USA, as well as key insights into how international players seized momentum heading into the weekend. Here's a deep dive into the episode, covering Friday’s disastrous foursome sessions and what to expect for Saturday's pairings.

Friday’s Recap: The Upset Nobody Saw Coming

After a dominant Thursday, which saw Team USA sweeping all five four-ball matches, Friday's turn of events came as a shock. What looked like another easy day for the Americans ended in disaster as the international team made a massive comeback.

Match 6: Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im vs. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

• Result: Matsuyama and Im won 7 and 6.
• Key Stats: The duo was 8 under through 12 holes and birdied seven consecutive holes to close out the match.
• Analysis: Will admits to being blindsided by this performance, especially given how poorly Matsuyama and Im played on Thursday. Matsuyama, who had been in the bottom five in strokes gained on Day 1, surged back to life. “It wouldn’t have mattered who went up against them,” Will said, noting the sheer dominance of their birdie streak. Schauffele and Cantlay never stood a chance.

Match 7: Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith vs. Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa

• Result: Scott and Pendrith won 2 and 1.
• Key Stats: Pendrith was third in strokes gained for the international team, while Theegala had the second-worst day on the course.
• Analysis: Will had high hopes for Theegala after his Thursday performance but was sorely disappointed as Theegala and Morikawa both struggled, particularly with putting. Pendrith, meanwhile, continued his solid run, backed by Scott’s redemption on the greens. “Pendrith is really backing up his stellar Thursday,” Will remarked, adding that Theegala’s poor play made it hard for Morikawa’s ball-striking to make a difference.

Match 8: Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jason Day vs. Max Homa and Brian Harman

• Result: Bezuidenhout and Day won 1-up.
• Key Stats: Harman had the worst day in terms of strokes gained, effectively leaving Homa to fend for himself.
• Analysis: Homa drove and hit his irons well, but neither could make crucial putts. “Harman left Homa out to dry,” Will pointed out. Day and Bezuidenhout didn’t play exceptionally well but were good enough to eke out the win. This lackluster performance from Harman was one of the more surprising stories from Friday.

Match 9: Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes vs. Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau

• Result: Conners and Hughes won 7 and 6.
• Key Stats: Conners and Hughes made seven birdies, while Clark and Finau struggled.
• Analysis: Team Canada, powered by a home crowd, fired on all cylinders, leaving Team USA with no answers. Finau and Clark, known for their solid iron play, were shockingly off-form. Will noted, “You can’t win when your opponents are making everything they look at.”

Match 10: Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An vs. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley

• Result: Kim and An won 2 and 1.
• Key Stats: Si Woo Kim birdied three crucial holes (12, 13, and 15), including a clutch par putt on the 18th to close out the match.
• Analysis: Kim’s clutch performance in big moments has become a hallmark of his Presidents Cup play. Scheffler struggled with putting, and despite Henley rolling the ball well, it wasn’t enough. Will praised Kim, saying, “Si Woo thrives under pressure, and today was no exception.”

Saturday's Betting Insights: Key Predictions for Day 3

After Friday’s shocking results, Will shifted his focus to Saturday’s matches, offering sharp insights for bettors.

Match 11: Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith

• Odds: Scheffler and Morikawa (-205 favorites).
• Prediction: Will is banking on Scheffler’s ball striking to carry the Americans, despite both him and Morikawa struggling with putting on Friday. He predicts a narrow win for the USA, largely due to Scheffler’s world number one status.

Match 12: Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele vs. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes

• Odds: Finau and Schauffele (-170 favorites), but Will favors the underdogs at +141.
• Prediction: Will believes Conners and Hughes will ride their Friday momentum into Saturday. With Finau’s putting woes and Schauffele’s unexpected struggles on Friday, he feels the Canadians have the edge.

Match 13: Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim vs. Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark

• Odds: Kim and Kim (-117 favorites).
• Prediction: Will highlights Si Woo Kim’s stellar performance on Friday and backs the international duo to win again. “This pairing is electric,” he says, citing the synergy between the two Kims.

Match 14: Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns vs. Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im

• Odds: Even money.
• Prediction: Despite Cantlay’s impressive Thursday, Will is hesitant to back Team USA due to Burns’ weak performance on Friday. He picks Matsuyama and Im to give the internationals a lead heading into Saturday afternoon.

Closing Remarks: What to Expect on Sunday

Will wraps up by teasing Sunday’s singles matches, noting that Saturday’s results will play a crucial role in determining team morale. He promises listeners that he will return with detailed breakdowns of Sunday’s matchups, but emphasizes that Friday’s shock losses should make bettors cautious going into the weekend.

This episode of the Golf Preview Podcast highlights not just the numbers but the intangible aspects of the game—momentum, crowd influence, and clutch performances. Will’s analysis goes beyond surface-level statistics, diving deep into the psyche of players like Si Woo Kim and the surprisingly poor performances from normally reliable players like Finau. For anyone looking to place bets or gain a deeper understanding of the Presidents Cup drama, this podcast provides everything from player form to betting angles, all delivered in a concise and insightful manner.