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Presidents Cup: Team USA on cusp of victory after extending advantage over International team

JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30:  Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger of the U.S. Team walk from the 11th hole during Saturday four-ball matches of the Presiden
Image: Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger overcame Hideki Matsuyama and Jhonattan Vegas in Saturday's fourballs

Team USA fell narrowly short of securing a historic Presidents Cup victory inside three days after maintaining their dominance over the International team on Saturday in New Jersey.

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Anirban Lahiri and this year's Players Championship winner Si Woo Kim battled to an impressive 1up victory over the American rookie duo of Charley Hoffman and Kevin Chappell, who conceded Lahiri's putt at the 18th green, to leave the United States within one point of the 15.5 points needed to win.

Steve Stricker's side, who lead 14½-3½, had won three of the four fourballs in Saturday afternoon's action at Liberty National GC to close in on an unprecedented victory before Sunday's singles even started.

JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30:  Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed of the U.S. Team walk on the 11th hole during Saturday foursome matches of the Presidents C
Image: Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed continued their winning partnership on Saturday

Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed overcame a disputed rules controversy to beat Internationals Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen 2&1, while Justin Thomas and rookie Daniel Berger picked up a comfortable 3&2 victory against Hideki Matsuyama and Jhonattan Vegas.

Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka overcame Marc Leishman and Branden Grace 3&2 to appear destined to seize the cup only for Lahiri and Kim to show great resilience against the partisan home support.

JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30:  Anirban Lahiri of India and the International Team and Si Woo Kim of South Korea and the International Team celebrate on t
Image: Anirban Lahiri and Si Woo Kim of South Korea secured an impressive 1up victory over Charley Hoffman and Kevin Chappell

"It's been a tough week for us," Lahiri told Sky Sports. "The Americans have really played well - they have stepped it up every time so it was nice to step up to the plate and make some putts of our own.

"It's nice to get another point on the board. We have to go out and be positive. The more points we make tomorrow the better for us. We have got to go out there and just try and hole some putts which the Americans have done more of this week."

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JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30:  Branden Grace of South Africa and the International Team reacts on the 15th green during Saturday foursome matches of the
Image: Branden Grace was unable to halt the American charge on Saturday

The United States had taken firm control of the contest during Saturday morning's foursomes by winning three of the four matches on the course.

Spieth and Reed won four successive holes to claim a 4&3 victory over Australian duo Leishman and Day despite the International pairing moving 1-up through eight holes.

Australian duo Marc Leishman (right) and Jason Day succumbed to Kevin Kisner and Phil Mickelson 1 down at the 18th
Image: Australian duo Marc Leishman (right) and Jason Day were unable to pick up a victory for the International team

World No 1 Johnson and Matt Kuchar secured a comfortable 4&3 win over Adam Hadwin and Adam Scott while Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner continued their unbeaten ways this week for a 2&1 success over Jhonattan Vegas and Emiliano Grillo.

JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30:  Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner of the U.S. Team react on the eighth green after winning the hole against Emiliano Grillo
Image: Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner defeated Emiliano Grillo and Jhonattan Vegas in Saturday's foursomes

The final match of the morning saw Oosthuizen and Grace pick up a hard-fought half against FedEx Cup champion Thomas and Rickie Fowler.

Watch Sunday's singles at the Presidents Cup live on Sky Sports Golf from 5.00pm.

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