Ernie Els hits the early shot of the day on Friday at the Presidents Cup with this hole out from the bunker

One of the most used phrases in the match play format of golf is that you must expect your opponent to hole the next shot. It’s rather silly to think that the person is always going to be making full iron shots and long pitch shots, but it’s true that you can never let your guard down in match play, especially if you’re playing against a four-time major winner.

Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge were routing Hunter Mahan and Bill Haas through eight holes on Friday during the alternate shot format of the Presidents Cup, but Mahan finally got what most expected to be a win after sticking his approach shot on No. 9 to just a few inches.

The Internationals gave the Americans the birdie and with de Jonge’s approach shot coming up short it was up to Els to hole this bunker shot to keep the 3-up lead with just nine holes to play.

Els, who had been struggling with his putter all week at Muirfield Village, hit the perfect bunker shot and it went in for the birdie, meaning the Americans had to endure a brutal halve while the Internationals could roll to the back nine knowing they stole one on the 9th.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports