It’s singles time at the Presidents Cup, and somehow the Americans still have a pulse.
The International Team will take a 10.5-7.5 lead into Sunday after the U.S. finally showed some fight on Saturday. The Americans had multiple chances to cut the deficit even further, but Corey Conners and Nick Taylor closed the day with a huge 1-up win over Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman to keep the gap at three points.
Three points is a lot, but it is not impossible.
Presidents Cup Sunday Bet: Justin Thomas to Beat Corey Conners
There are 12 singles matches on Sunday, and the United States should be favored in a majority of them. If the Americans can get some early red on the board, this thing could get uncomfortable very quickly.
That brings me to Justin Thomas.
Thomas will go out in the third singles match against Corey Conners, and this is exactly the type of spot where I want JT.
Thomas was left out of the Saturday afternoon foursomes session after playing the morning four-ball with Jackson Koivun. That morning match ended in a tie after Thomas and Koivun had been 2-up through 14.
Anytime there is a little fire in JT’s belly, he has scorched-earth golf in him.
And if there is one thing Thomas has proven throughout his career, it is that he is an absolute weapon in team golf.
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Thomas entered this Presidents Cup as one of the most accomplished players on the U.S. roster in this format. After Thursday’s opening win with Koivun, his Presidents Cup record improved to 11-3-2 overall, including a perfect 7-0-0 four-ball record at that point.
That kind of résumé matters on Sunday.
Justin Thomas vs. Corey Conners
Conners is obviously not an easy draw.
He is one of the best pure ball-strikers in the field and has already played a major role for the International Team this week. Conners and Nick Taylor have been especially tough together, including Friday’s 1-up win over Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns.
But singles golf is different.
Thomas has always been more dangerous when he can feed off momentum, the crowd and his own emotions. Conners is probably the steadier player tee-to-green, but JT has the bigger spike-putting potential.
And in match play, one hot five-hole stretch with the putter can completely flip everything.
If the Americans start making a Sunday run, I expect Thomas to be one of the guys keeping the train moving.
The Bet
Justin Thomas -125 over Corey Conners
I trust the energy, the match-play résumé and the possibility of that JT putter catching fire.
Conners will make him earn it, but this feels like a classic Justin Thomas spot.
