Despite dramatic point swings and bubbling tensions that threatened to spill over, the Presidents Cup ended as it always has for the last 19 years – in a Team USA triumph.

The International team responded to a Thursday thrashing with a 5-0 sweep of its own in Friday foursomes, highlighting the vagaries of match play and adding suspense to the weekend ahead.

After the U.S. side swept the first five matches Thursday at Royal Montreal, International Team Captain Mike Weir, Canadian through and through, described the shutout in hockey terms as only the first period. “There’s a long way to go,” Weir pointed out. “Still significant sessions left. That’s the way we’re looking at it.”