Jordan Spieth showed why he is the No. 1 golfer in the world.
The 22-year-old holed clutch winning putts on the last two holes to team with Dustin Johnson for a 1-up foursome victory over Jason Day of Australia and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, giving the United States a 7 1/2 to 6 1/2 lead over the International team in the 11th Presidents Cup at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club-Korea in Incheon, South Korea.
“I just wanted to make good, solid strokes,” said Spieth, who sank a seven-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and a five-footer for par on the last hole to complete a comeback from 3 down after nine holes. “I just wanted to get over the tension in my hands an stay down on the putt.
“Man, what a comeback and that was a huge point here in the Presidents Cup.”
South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grade claimed their third straight victory by beating Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler, 3 and 2, to give the Internationals the first point of the day and square the match.
Sangmoon Bae of South Korea and Hideki Matsuyama carded a two-putt birdie on the final hole to halve their match with Matt Kuchar and Bill Haas, who were 1 up for much of the back nine.
Marc Leishman of Australia sank an eight-foot par putt to win the 18th and team with fellow Aussie Adam Scott for a halve with Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes, who were 2 up after 12 holes.
“(Spieth’s putts) were a great lift for our team,” U.S. Captain Jay Haas said. “I was just happy they got to that hole after being 3 down. That was a tremendous comeback and a great lift for our team.”
In Saturday afternoon’s fourball matches, Oosthuizen and Grace played Holmes and Watson, Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson faced Scott and Anirban Lahiri of India, Bae and Matsuyma took on Jimmy Walker and Chris Kirk, while Spieth and Reed took on Day and Schwartzel.
The Presidents Cup will conclude with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
