Conners’ Presidents Cup putting swings from Saturday save to Sunday struggle

Corey Conners ended Saturday by holing the par putt that secured a Presidents Cup point. On Sunday, he lost the first four holes against Justin Thomas before a 5-and-3 singles defeat. Those two matches put his putting under the spotlight at Medinah.

Dan Rapaport relayed Kevin Kisner’s broadcast observation that Conners’ ball striking was stronger than his putting from three to five feet. Rapaport called that an especially frustrating range for a player of Conners’ ability. The post captured the criticism circulating during Sunday’s action.

There was also a dated statistical indication of the trouble. In a September 27 report, Golf Digest’s Alex Myers wrote that Data Golf had Conners at minus-4.62 strokes gained putting as of late Sunday afternoon. That was the snapshot Myers reported at the time; it does not establish a career rate from three to five feet.

Saturday had supplied a pressure putt that went in. Conners and Nick Taylor defeated Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 1 up in afternoon foursomes, according to the PGA Tour’s match recap. The Americans had won the first three holes and were still three up through 10. Conners’ par putt at the 18th completed the Canadian pair’s comeback and gave the Internationals a 10.5-7.5 lead heading into singles.

Thomas denied Conners a similar recovery on Sunday. The official singles recap records that Conners won the eighth and 12th holes to cut into the deficit. Thomas won the 15th to restore his five-hole advantage and finish the match.

The Saturday save had protected the International Team’s lead. Conners’ Sunday defeat gave the United States a point as it rallied to win the Cup.