The USA had a fantastic start at the Presidents Cup, winning all their matches on the first day.
They lead 5-0, but the games were closer than it seems, with most matches ending just one point apart.
One tight match saw Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa win by just one point. Afterward, Theegala said, “Match play is a funny, funny thing. There’s always some Mongolians and things go the way that you don’t think it would go.” This left many puzzled about what he meant by “Mongolians.”
Explaining Theegala’s Comment:
On Thursday, Theegala clarified his statement. He mentioned hearing laughter when he said it and explained he didn’t mean any offense. He was referring to a phrase called “Mongolian reversal,” which he first heard from Fred Couples on TV .
He described it as when your opponent seems to have an advantage but then you make an unexpected move like sinking a long putt. Suddenly, you turn the tables and win the hole instead of losing it. He added humorously, “Don’t cancel me, please.”
In simple terms, it’s about momentum shifting unexpectedly during a game. On Thursday, the US team had several such moments that halted the International team’s progress.
Fans might think this explanation makes sense and clears up any confusion.
Another incident that got people talking involved Tom Kim and Sung-Jae Im in their four-ball match against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
During this match, drama unfolded on the seventh hole when Kim made a long putt followed by Scheffler who shouted towards him in excitement. But things heated up more on the next hole when Kim and Im birdied and walked off before Scheffler could attempt his birdie putt. Commentator Paul McGinley called it “bordering on bad behavior,” while American vice-captain Kevin Kisner reportedly spoke with Camilo Villegas about it.
What do you think of these events? Let us know!
