Brandt Snedeker knows he messed up. The U.S. captain is taking full blame for his team’s deficit heading into the final day at Medinah. While the Internationals sit three points ahead with a 10.5-7.5 score, Snedeker says the problem is on his shoulders, not the players’. Reporters were informed that he worked his tail off to place these guys in the best situation possible, yet delivery failed. The American side has won the last 10 editions of this event, yet they face a genuine threat of losing on home soil for the first time since 2003.
The Scheffler Gamble Backfires
Resting world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for Saturday afternoon’s foursomes is where the biggest controversy centers. Snedeker claimed he wanted to give the top player some energy for Sunday’s singles, but the move looks like a miscalculation now. Scheffler had already beaten Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune 2 and 1 in the morning session. Snedeker stated that Scheffler carries the world on his shoulders and takes a lot on, meaning a break was needed. The captain confessed sitting out the best player in the world was a tough decision, though timing feels wrong while the team trails. Scheffler found out about the benching during a TV interview, yet he took it like a champ, according to reports.
Pairings That Missed The Mark
Snedeker also waited too long to pair Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young together. He admitted they had circled this alternate-shot duo early in the process but only played them Saturday. The delay cost the team valuable points on Friday when Justin Thomas played Young in a 3-and-2 loss. The International team dominated the par-threes at Medinah, holding a massive 25-6 advantage on those specific holes. Snedeker noted that the golf course was tough and the guys really hung in pretty well, but the strategy gaps are clear. He told Golf Monthly that he feels like a team reflects their captain and he hasn’t held up his end of the bargain.
The US needs a miracle on Sunday to avoid an embarrassing defeat. The Internationals need just five points from the 12 singles matches to win their first title since 1998.
