After two straight days of defeats – one on Thursday against the United States, the other on Friday against the international team – Saturday’s four-ball games at the Presidents Cup got off to a slightly tighter start. But in the end, the United States took control of the morning and launched an afternoon attack to move closer to winning the title at Royal Montreal in Quebec.

After Saturday’s morning sessions, the United States took an 8-6 lead with 15 1/2 points needed to win the Presidents Cup.

A fog delay halted play for more than an hour and a half early Saturday, but once the fairways cleared, both teams came out firing. The gallery, angered by its passivity on Thursday, kept the fire going from Friday by interacting with both teams and particularly cheering on rising International icon Tom Kim.

Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa began the day against Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith in a match that ended in a draw on 12 of the 17 holes. The United States won 2-1, but never had a lead of more than one hole until the 17th hole.

Best putt of the day: Adam Scott’s 27-footer manages to stay alive and save a hole:

Next to conclude: The devastating duo of Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, who scored a 4&3 victory over Wyndham Clark and future Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. The international duo won the first hole and never trailed, winning six of the 15 holes and drawing seven.

Si Woo Kim ended the game with a classic hat-off-before-the-putt-drop move:

Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele of the United States defeated Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes 3&2. Neither team won a hole until the sixth of 16, when the United States took the lead and never wanted to relinquish the lead.

The final match pitted Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns against Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. The Internationals took an early lead and won the second hole, but the Americans quickly fought back, forcing a tie two holes later and taking the lead two holes later. On the 10th the Internationals managed to bring the game back to a draw, but on the 11th the USA immediately took back the lead and didn’t relinquish it, eventually winning 2&1.

The afternoon foursome would be the international team’s best chance to regain momentum and try to repeat Friday’s defeat.