Presidents Cup: Steve Palmer's final-day preview, best bets, free golf tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 10pm Saturday

Best bets

Presidents Cup 15-15 tie
1pt 7-1 BoyleSports, Betfred, Betway

Webb Simpson to beat Byeong Hun An
1pt 5-4 BoyleSports

Story so far

The Internationals have forged a 10-8 lead over the USA going into the final day of one of the most controversy-filled editions in the history of the event.

The home side, led by determined captain Ernie Els and backed by raucous Royal Melbourne galleries, have shortened from 11-4 to 11-10 after the first three days of action.

Patrick Reed has been subjected to relentless taunting from Australian golf fans in the wake of his Hero World Challenge indiscretions and the American's feud with the spectators reached a peak when his caddie was involved in an altercation with one of them after the day-three fourballs.

Reed's caddie has been banned from the final-day singles and is set to be replaced by Reed's coach. The former Masters champion will probably have to overcome an even more hostile reception than previously when he faces C.T. Pan in the singles at 11.24pm UK and Ireland time.

The States looked likely to square the match at 9-9 when Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler were cruising five up with eight holes to play against Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman in the foursomes, but the International pair won the final three holes to secure a tie.

Scoreboard
Internationals lead 10-8

Results
Internationals won day-one fourballs 4-1
Day-two foursomes tied 2.5-2.5
Internationals won day-three fourballs 2.5-1.5
USA won day-three foursomes 3-1

Best prices
11-10 Internationals, 7-5 USA, 7 tie

Top scorers
3.5 Justin Thomas, Abraham Ancer
2.5 Sungjae Im, Adam Scott
2 Byeong Hun An, Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen, C.T. Pan, Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Tiger Woods

Singles line-up
11.02pm (UK and Ireland time) Abraham Ancer v Tiger Woods
11.13 Hideki Matsuyama v Tony Finau
11.24 C.T. Pan v Patrick Reed
11.35 Haotong Li v Dustin Johnson
11.46 Adam Hadwin v Bryson DeChambeau
11.57 Sungjae Im v Gary Woodland
12.08am Joaquin Niemann v Patrick Cantlay
12.19 Adam Scott v Xander Schauffele
12.30 Byeong Hun An v Webb Simpson
12.41 Cameron Smith v Justin Thomas
12.52 Louis Oosthuizen v Matt Kuchar
1.03 Marc Leishman v Rickie Fowler

Final-day preview

Justin Thomas has been superb for the USA this week, justifying Racing Post Sport's pre-tournament faith in backing him at 5-1 to be top American and 15-2 to be top combined scorer, but his late collapse alongside Rickie Fowler in the day-three foursomes could be pivotal in denying the visitors outright victory.

Marc Leishman and Abraham Ancer fought back for a tie and a 10-8 lead for the Internationals has made the 15-15 outright tie a serious runner going into the singles. The Americans, settled in Melbourne and slowly but surely getting their act together, can be expected to boss the singles, but getting to the magic figure of 15.5 points is a significant challenge from a starting point of eight.

Each punter will have their own ideas of how the singles will unfold and nothing is certain in 18-hole matchplay, but the draw appears to throw up a fair chance of a 7-5 singles success for the USA and 15-15 deadlock.

A thrilling denouement seems in store and UK and Ireland golf fans should be planning some Saturday sleep if possible in readiness for the all-night TV session from Australia. The opening joust starts at 11.02pm and is a mouthwatering contest between USA skipper Tiger Woods and Internationals star Ancer.

Woods, who took a day-three breather to freshen up for the singles, can be fancied to haul his team back to 10-9, despite the fantastic form of Ancer. The Mexican had been talking in the build-up about how much he would love to face Woods – well, be careful what you wish for, Abraham. The leader of Team USA will be desperate for the point, with his first time captaining his country under threat of failure, and a fully focused Tiger is a frightening prospect in a head-to-head duel.

Woods, who has been swinging magnificently since returning from his latest knee surgery, will be worried about Hideki Matsuyama taking out Tony Finau in match two. The Internationals may quickly restore their two-point lead.

The intense atmosphere of match three may have more of a negative effect on the inexperienced C.T. Pan than it will on a Major champion who has grown used to crowd abuse. Expect Reed to end a difficult week on a high, then Dustin Johnson, performing decently on his return from an injury lay-off, to see off Haotong Li.

Those results would level the match 11-11. From there, the possible winners of matches five to nine are Bryson DeChambeau, Sungjae Im, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson. The 5-4 about Simpson beating Byeong Hun An is the best value option on the card.

Simpson has suffered alongside Reed and the crowd hostility in the pairs action, and will probably feel a weight lifted from his shoulders going it alone. The former US Open champion is much more experienced than An, who ended day three in disappointment by missing a short birdie putt on the 18th green, and better suited to the challenges of Royal Melbourne.

Thomas can bounce back from the day-three foursomes setback by outclassing Cameron Smith in match ten, leaving two potentially tight contests to decide the outcome of the competition.

It is feasible the USA could be leading 15-13 with two matches left on the course, but the Internationals may have a couple of last-gasp rabbits to pull from their hat. Louis Oosthuizen may edge Matt Kuchar in match 11, while Leishman has a superb record in Presidents Cup singles combat and his tail is up after that foursomes rally. The Aussie could prove too much for Fowler, who has not played much competitive golf in the last few months and may not be sharp enough to triumph in a Presidents Cup decider.

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