Tom Kim insists the international team still has plenty to fight for as the USA leads 11-7 in the Presidents Cup

TOM Korea's Kim admitted he ran out of energy after a turbulent Saturday at the Presidents Cup, with the U.S. team leading the international team 11-7 at Royal Montreal.

But he insists he and his teammates haven't run out of fight.

Tom, 22, partnered his compatriot Si Woo Kim twice in a marathon third day at the Royal Montreal, earning his team their only point in the morning four-ball session with a 4&3 win over defending champions Keegan Bradley/Wyndham Clark Scottie Scheffler/Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau/Xander Schauffle and Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns won the other three matches.

Later in the afternoon foursomes session, and with the USA having already won two of the three alternate shots matches, the Korean duo fought valiantly against Schauffele and Cantlay before losing 1-up after Cantlay scored a 17-up in near darkness. Foot birdie putt completed an exciting game. The Korean duo was on the ground but was not knocked unconscious.

“I believe in this team. We have the crowd. It's a different situation. I believe in my teammates,” Tom said. “I'm very tired at the moment, but I'm not going to lie. I'm so motivated to go out and post a number tomorrow because I feel like there will come a day when we've lost so many times. It'll just be our day. I think it’s tomorrow.”

The US team needs 4.5 points from Sunday's 12 singles games to win the Presidents Cup for the 10th straight year, but Tom isn't ready to throw in the towel. In the second singles match he will face Sam Burns, while Si Woo will face Keegan Bradley.

Si Woo, who was the Quail Hollow team's leading scorer with three points two years ago, stole the show with courageous play and wild celebration. He and Tom convincingly beat Bradley and Clark in the morning, taking his cap off just before his winning 17-foot putt reached the bottom of the cup. After he holed an improbable chip-in birdie on the 16th night, he ran across the green and pressed his hands to the side of his head as if to signal in an ode to his favorite NBA basketball player, Stephen Curry he puts the other team to sleep. His teammates and the home crowd roared in approval.

“This is what we needed,” Si Woo said. “I didn’t expect the ball to go in, but I was so excited.”

Tom added: “It's been the last many, many years, there's just so many little things that aren't going the way we wanted. There are so many lip outs. I feel like the opposing team gets some good kicks. Even in Charlotte, there are so many little things that didn't turn out the way we wanted. I feel like all these guys are going to go out there and do our best. If we don't succeed, we'll try again. This is us. There will be a time when we will host the Cup, and it will be soon.”

Taylor Pendrith, one of three Canadians on the international team, also played twice with Adam Scott on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Scheffler and Morikawa in the morning before earning the only point in the foursome with a 2-1 triumph over Brian The home team was secured by Harman/Max Homa.

He knows his team has a tough fight ahead of them. “It’s a very, very solid US team and we have a big task ahead of us,” Pendrith said. “But a lot of games went deep and were often decided by 18, so we’re spot on.”

International team captain Mike Weir paid tribute to the American superstar as the visiting team fell behind in several afternoon games before turning things around and claiming victory. “These team competitions are undoubtedly an emotional rollercoaster. Hats off to the US people. They played great down the stretch. They holed some important putts. “They played the 18th hole really well when those games were close and that’s why they’re ahead on some of those crucial holes right now,” Weir said.

“But these are 12 great players we have on our team. We have great faith in them. They have tremendous belief in themselves. It's the best group I've ever been with. We love them and know they will fight hard tomorrow.”

Australian veteran Scott, playing against Collin Morikawa in the penultimate singles match, set a record 11th appearance and called on his teammates to stand up and be counted. He has never been part of a winning team. “We have to be persistent and heroic tomorrow,” said Scott, who has two points in four games this week.

“It’s a big format tomorrow, 12 games, 12 points to win, an incredibly strong US team. Our guys need to throw caution to the wind and work their asses off.”