Presidents Cup 2022 - Best moments, sights and sounds from Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Round 2 of the Presidents Cup was more competitive than the first, but the U.S. team still piled up four more points to take an 8-2 lead heading into the weekend at Quail Hollow Club.

There are still 20 points at stake over the next two days, so the International team isn't completely out of it. But it's going to take one of the biggest comebacks in Presidents Cup history for the sizable underdog to avoid losing in the event for the ninth consecutive time.

The U.S. needs to win only 7½ of the remaining points to win the Presidents Cup for the 12th time in 14 events.

«Get to 15½ as quickly as you can,» Jordan Spieth said, when asked Friday what the U.S. team message would be on Friday night.

The Americans matched their biggest lead after Round 2 by winning three matches and tying in two others on Friday. They were also ahead 8-2 at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey in 2017, when they ended up winning 19-11. In the last Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia, the U.S. trailed 6½ to 3½ after Round 2, before rallying for a 16-14 victory under captain Tiger Woods.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, since the Presidents Cup format was changed to four days in 2000, teams that were leading after Round 2 have won in seven out of 10 events. The U.S. team has led eight times after Day 2 and went 7-0-1 after doing so.

The overmatched International team tied two matches and had a chance in the final one, until Max Homa sank a birdie putt on the 17th hole to take a 1-up lead and then made another 15-footer on the 18th for the win.

The Americans' strongest teams continued to roll, as Spieth and Justin Thomas defeated Australia's Adam Scott and Cam Davis 2 & 1, and Patrick Cantlay and Xander