Adam Scott – teamed with Taylor Pendrith for an emphatic win
The glorious uncertainty of golf, at whichever level it is played, was no more on display than during day two of the Presidents Cup contest in Montreal overnight.
Yesterday’s endless analysis of what went wrong with the Internationals is today’s ‘fish and chip paper’ as the saying goes and another analysis of what went wrong with the Americans and why, today, the Internationals were able to reverse the 5-0 opening day loss is ongoing as this is written.
Down by that daunting and demoralizing 5-0 after the opening day Fourball contests, it was hard to imagine, despite their still relatively good play on day one, that the Internationals could claw much, if any, ground back off the Americans in today’s Foursome matches.
That they could not only claw back some of the margin but that by day’s end they had leveled the ledger was a testament to these two sides perhaps not being as unevenly matched as their on-paper strengths suggested.
The Foursome contest is of course a very different animal to that of the Fourball but the confidence the Internationals have built after not only winning 5-0 today, but how they did so, gives great hope of this contest going down to the wire on Sunday.
The first match out which pitted Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im against a formidable pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay set the tone for a day to remember. The Internationals were 5 up by the turn and would eventually finish their match at the 12th with a 7 & 6 victory.
The Americans were up in only one match all day, and that was a brief period in the final match of the day when Scottie Scheffler and Russel Henley birdied the second hole to take a 1-up lead. The Internationals birdied the 3rd and were then never behind before Si Woo Kim holed a 15-foot curling putt at the last to retain a 1-up lead for he and Ben An to complete a 5-0 whitewash for their side.
Yesterday, despite the International’s 5-0 loss, three of the five matches stayed alive until the 18th hole whereas today only two were alive beyond the 14th hole, further emphasising the turnaround.
Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im sparked the fightback with a record-tying 7 & 6 rout over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in the first match of Friday’s Foursomes session before Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An put the bow on a 5-0 reversal over the star-studded U.S. Team to leave the Presidents Cup all tied at 5-5 at Royal Montreal, Canada on Friday.
Kim, a captain’s pick, rolled in a pressure-packed 15-foot par putt on the final green of the last match in front of his team and a raucous home crowds as he and An produced a 1-up victory over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
In between, Australian veteran Adam Scott made more history by earning his 22nd point in what is an unprecedented 11th International Team appearance as he and Taylor Pendrith trounced Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa 5 & 4 in the second match of the day.
Canadian stars Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes also enjoyed a 6 & 5 win over Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau while Jason Day and Christiaan Bezuidenhout edged out Max Homa and Brian Harman 1-up as the International Team brilliantly bounced back from Thursday’s setback as they chase only a second Presidents Cup victory.
Matsuyama, a 10-time PGA TOUR winner, and Im dovetailed brilliantly in the alternate-shot format as they closed out Cantlay and Schauffele, who until Friday, was undefeated as a pair in Foursomes at the event. The Asian stars didn’t allow their opponents to win a single hole, missing only two fairways and two greens through 12 holes, and brilliantly made seven straight birdies to close out their match.
“Five losses (on Thursday) wasn’t the result we wanted. But we knew we could come back from this,” said Matsuyama, who qualified for his sixth International Team as the top-ranked player. “Sungjae hit a perfect shot on the first hole, so I think that really brought the momentum. So really happy.”
Im, who won three points in his debut at Royal Melbourne in 2019, has been a livewire all week for the International Team where he mimicked the famous Gangnam dance during a practice round, and also outside the team room on Thursday evening to lift his teammates’ spirits.
“Today from the beginning, our vibe was vibing and we were trying to win the match. With Hideki, our teamwork was amazing. When I would hit the shot, he would finish with the putt, so it was a great job,” said Im, a three-time TOUR winner.
Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An fought gallantly against Scheffler and Henley in a match which was never more than a 1-up lead before holding on to a win, thanks to a clutch 15-foot par save at the last hole which sparked wild celebrations reminiscent of the scenes at Quail Hollow two years ago when Tom Kim holed a big putt for an International point.
“I saw all four front groups winning points, so I knew I needed to get points and bring it to game on. Yeah, we’re game on,” said a jubilant Kim, who is one of six captain’s picks. “It was a tough second shot, so I told him, just get me inside 15 feet, and I knew I had a chance to win the putt.”
An added: “We played great today. Well, Si Woo played great. You saw on the last hole, that’s what he was doing all day. Clutch. We scrambled. It was tough fighting with Scottie and Russell, such good players. We knew it was going to be tough, and it all came down to the last hole, and Si Woo made a great putt to win, and it was a great match.”
After a crushing opening day, An said the team’s spirit was still high and credited Weir and his assistants. “We left everything in the cabin. We were on the bus, had the most fun so far. I think today will be fun again, and having dinner back in the hotel, it was amazing, almost like we were having a party, like a Sunday night party.
“Just kept it loose. Like I said, we know we played good golf. Just very unlucky yesterday. We lost on the 18th hole four of the matches, and it came very close. Like I said, I don’t think it could be better than yesterday, but I know we’ll have fun tonight again,” said An.
Weir was proud with how his men fought back after the opening session shutout. “We’re all in this together. We all had a great belief. I was just so proud of the guys, how they fought, as I told you guys that yesterday. The guys fought. That message was loud and clear to the guys,” said the Canadian.
Leaderboard
Saturday Morning Fourball Pairings
𝟕:𝟎𝟐 𝐚.𝐦. Scottie Scheffler/Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith
𝟕:𝟐𝟎 𝐚.𝐦. Tony Finau/Xander Schauffele vs. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes
𝟕:𝟑𝟖 𝐚.𝐦. Keegan Bradley/Wyndham Clark vs. Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim
𝟕:𝟓𝟔 𝐚.𝐦. Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Imlegend
A bridge too far for the Internationals
Hideki Matsuyama – his win over Scottie Scheffler the highlight for the Internationals today – image Getty Images
It was likely a ‘bridge too far’ even before play got underway on the final day of the 2024 Presidents Cup but at one stage during the middle of the 12 singles matches, the near impossible appeared as if it might just be possible.
The disappointing last hour of play on Saturday appeared as if it might well prove costly for the Internationals, a possible share of the lead on Saturday night turning into a four-point deficit heading into the final day and essentially that result up playing a very significant role.
Beginning the final day with such a deficit and given the greater ranking strength of the Americans who needed only 4½ points out of the 12 available on day four to take the Cup for the 13th time in 15 attempts, it appeared all but fait accompli for the Internationals
But as has so often been the case in events such as these, momentum plays a huge part in the final outcome and although the result of first match out between Jason Day and Xander Schauffele soon became obvious in the American’s favour, those behind were providing hope.
Although Day birdied the opening two holes of his encounter, Schauffele birdied four consecutive holes from the 5th and by the turn was 5 up and one point all but assured for the Americans.
Other matches were giving a glimmer of hope for the Internationals but as had been the case in yesterday’s afternoon foursomes, that hope soon turned to custard as although Hideki Matsuyama who overcame world number one Scottie Scheffler, Corey Connors and Chistian Bezuidenhout would record wins and Tom Kim, Ben An, Min Woo Lee would earn half points, the task, which always appeared to be the case, was beyond reach.
The final result of 18½ – 11½ perhaps did the Internationals a disservice but the bottom line it was another win for the Americans and importantly away from home and leaves us again pondering just what lies ahead for this, on paper at least, one-sided contest.
Leaderboard
Final hour proves costly to International side
The US team appear to have done enough – image Getty Images.
The final hour of play on day three of the 2024 Presidents Cup encounter at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec is likely to determine the outcome of what had been to that point an increasingly intense battle, with the International side fighting their way back from a morning loss in the Fourball matches to potentially draw level with the Americans.
What had been a roller coaster of an event throughout the opening two days threatened more of the same when the Internationals appeared to be building the sort of momentum that might well have had them heading into tomorrow’s 12 singles matches if not sharing the lead, within close enough proximity of their opponents to make Sunday one of the epic Presidents Cup final days.
After Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith had taken out the opening foursome match of the afternoon following a 3-1 win by the Americans in the morning Fourball, the score was 8 -7 to the Americans with the remaining matches on the course so close that the lead or share of it heading into Sunday could go either way.
With play delayed by fog early on Saturday, the last few matches fought not only the outcome of their respective contests but a light that would see the day’s final match completed in near darkness.
The last hour of play would however all but determine the fate of the contest. The Americans picked up all three of the final three matches to extend their lead to four. With a margin of that extent before the single match-ups surely the outcome of what has already been a fascinating Presidents Cup encounter has been determined.
Or has it? The Internationals must win 8.5 of their twelve singles matches and, while the task is an almost possible one, the door is perhaps not yet closed.
A stronger finish by the Internationals over the closing hour would have created potentially one of the great final days but it would seem that the task might be just too great for an International side which has surprised many with the closeness of the contest.
Is there yet one more surprise tomorrow? Let’s hope so, for the sake of the Presidents Cup.
Leaderboard
Sunday Singles match-ups
The glorious ucertainty of golf – day two Presidents Cup
Adam Scott – teamed with Taylor Pendrith for an emphatic win
The glorious uncertainty of golf, at whichever level it is played, was no more on display than during day two of the Presidents Cup contest in Montreal overnight.
Yesterday’s endless analysis of what went wrong with the Internationals is today’s ‘fish and chip paper’ as the saying goes and another analysis of what went wrong with the Americans and why, today, the Internationals were able to reverse the 5-0 opening day loss is ongoing as this is written.
Down by that daunting and demoralizing 5-0 after the opening day Fourball contests, it was hard to imagine, despite their still relatively good play on day one, that the Internationals could claw much, if any, ground back off the Americans in today’s Foursome matches.
That they could not only claw back some of the margin but that by day’s end they had leveled the ledger was a testament to these two sides perhaps not being as unevenly matched as their on-paper strengths suggested.
The Foursome contest is of course a very different animal to that of the Fourball but the confidence the Internationals have built after not only winning 5-0 today, but how they did so, gives great hope of this contest going down to the wire on Sunday.
The first match out which pitted Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im against a formidable pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay set the tone for a day to remember. The Internationals were 5 up by the turn and would eventually finish their match at the 12th with a 7 & 6 victory.
The Americans were up in only one match all day, and that was a brief period in the final match of the day when Scottie Scheffler and Russel Henley birdied the second hole to take a 1-up lead. The Internationals birdied the 3rd and were then never behind before Si Woo Kim holed a 15-foot curling putt at the last to retain a 1-up lead for he and Ben An to complete a 5-0 whitewash for their side.
Yesterday, despite the International’s 5-0 loss, three of the five matches stayed alive until the 18th hole whereas today only two were alive beyond the 14th hole, further emphasising the turnaround.
Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im sparked the fightback with a record-tying 7 & 6 rout over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in the first match of Friday’s Foursomes session before Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An put the bow on a 5-0 reversal over the star-studded U.S. Team to leave the Presidents Cup all tied at 5-5 at Royal Montreal, Canada on Friday.
Kim, a captain’s pick, rolled in a pressure-packed 15-foot par putt on the final green of the last match in front of his team and a raucous home crowds as he and An produced a 1-up victory over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
In between, Australian veteran Adam Scott made more history by earning his 22nd point in what is an unprecedented 11th International Team appearance as he and Taylor Pendrith trounced Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa 5 & 4 in the second match of the day.
Canadian stars Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes also enjoyed a 6 & 5 win over Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau while Jason Day and Christiaan Bezuidenhout edged out Max Homa and Brian Harman 1-up as the International Team brilliantly bounced back from Thursday’s setback as they chase only a second Presidents Cup victory.
Matsuyama, a 10-time PGA TOUR winner, and Im dovetailed brilliantly in the alternate-shot format as they closed out Cantlay and Schauffele, who until Friday, was undefeated as a pair in Foursomes at the event. The Asian stars didn’t allow their opponents to win a single hole, missing only two fairways and two greens through 12 holes, and brilliantly made seven straight birdies to close out their match.
“Five losses (on Thursday) wasn’t the result we wanted. But we knew we could come back from this,” said Matsuyama, who qualified for his sixth International Team as the top-ranked player. “Sungjae hit a perfect shot on the first hole, so I think that really brought the momentum. So really happy.”
Im, who won three points in his debut at Royal Melbourne in 2019, has been a livewire all week for the International Team where he mimicked the famous Gangnam dance during a practice round, and also outside the team room on Thursday evening to lift his teammates’ spirits.
“Today from the beginning, our vibe was vibing and we were trying to win the match. With Hideki, our teamwork was amazing. When I would hit the shot, he would finish with the putt, so it was a great job,” said Im, a three-time TOUR winner.
Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An fought gallantly against Scheffler and Henley in a match which was never more than a 1-up lead before holding on to a win, thanks to a clutch 15-foot par save at the last hole which sparked wild celebrations reminiscent of the scenes at Quail Hollow two years ago when Tom Kim holed a big putt for an International point.
“I saw all four front groups winning points, so I knew I needed to get points and bring it to game on. Yeah, we’re game on,” said a jubilant Kim, who is one of six captain’s picks. “It was a tough second shot, so I told him, just get me inside 15 feet, and I knew I had a chance to win the putt.”
An added: “We played great today. Well, Si Woo played great. You saw on the last hole, that’s what he was doing all day. Clutch. We scrambled. It was tough fighting with Scottie and Russell, such good players. We knew it was going to be tough, and it all came down to the last hole, and Si Woo made a great putt to win, and it was a great match.”
After a crushing opening day, An said the team’s spirit was still high and credited Weir and his assistants. “We left everything in the cabin. We were on the bus, had the most fun so far. I think today will be fun again, and having dinner back in the hotel, it was amazing, almost like we were having a party, like a Sunday night party.
“Just kept it loose. Like I said, we know we played good golf. Just very unlucky yesterday. We lost on the 18th hole four of the matches, and it came very close. Like I said, I don’t think it could be better than yesterday, but I know we’ll have fun tonight again,” said An.
Weir was proud with how his men fought back after the opening session shutout. “We’re all in this together. We all had a great belief. I was just so proud of the guys, how they fought, as I told you guys that yesterday. The guys fought. That message was loud and clear to the guys,” said the Canadian.
Leaderboard
Saturday Morning Fourball Pairings
𝟕:𝟎𝟐 𝐚.𝐦. Scottie Scheffler/Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith
𝟕:𝟐𝟎 𝐚.𝐦. Tony Finau/Xander Schauffele vs. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes
𝟕:𝟑𝟖 𝐚.𝐦. Keegan Bradley/Wyndham Clark vs. Si Woo Kim/Tom Kim
𝟕:𝟓𝟔 𝐚.𝐦. Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Imlegend
Australia’s Nadene Cole wins US Senior Women’s Amateur
Nadene Gole with her stunning trophy – image USGA
In a field full of some of the game’s most established amateur legends, Nadene Gole may not have been the obvious favorite to win the 62nd U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, held this week at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Washington. But when you look at her resume, well, maybe she should have been.
Currently ranked No. 116 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®, far and away the highest-ranked female senior in the world, Gole defeated 2022 champion Shelly Stouffer, of Canada, 3 and 2 to win her first USGA title in just her second USGA championship appearance.
“It’s amazing. It really is,” said Gole, of Australia, who first competed in a USGA championship at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. “It probably will not sink in for a while. I’m happy to be taking it back to Australia, I really am. I’ve just taken an R&A trophy back there, so hopefully it grows the sport and people are inspired by it and have a bit more fun with the game.”
It was Gole, 55, who jumped out to a small early lead, taking a 1 up advantage with a par on the second hole. Stouffer quickly leveled the match with a par on the third, but Gole responded by notching the first birdie of the day on the par-4 fourth to reclaim her advantage. A bogey from Stouffer on the seventh allowed Gole to stretch her lead to 2 up.
It would take the 2022 champion until the ninth hole to secure her first birdie of the day, but it allowed her to close the deficit back to 1 down at the turn. The 54-year-old seemed to find her form a bit with the birdie, following it up with a 30-foot par save on No. 10 after finding the fairway bunker. A Gole bogey on the same hole would bring the match back to tied.
“That was nice,” said Stouffer of the ninth and tenth holes. “Hitting the flag on 10 and making that long one. That kind of got me going. I missed a few putts, and she was making some long putts. Someone had to be the loser today.”
With the match level, Stouffer would once again turn in a great up and down on the 11th hole, missing the green left with her tee shot before sinking a 10-footer for par.
But after a birdie on the 12th hole to regain the lead, momentum would officially shift back to the Australian on the 13th, who followed up a tap-in par by Stouffer by pouring in an 18-foot slider for par to halve the hole. A big fist pump would follow. Hole wins on Nos. 14 and 15 would extend the lead to 3 up, the largest of the match, and one that would not be relinquished.
“For me, I just go and play golf,” said Gole. “I knew I was playing really tough competitors yesterday and today, and every match, I always have respect for who I play. But I just go and try to play golf the best I can.”
While Gole may not be as familiar a name in the United States as some of the 12 USGA champions who were in the field to start the week, she has dominated senior amateur golf in Australasia over the last few years. In 2024 alone, Gole has won the Victorian Senior Amateur, South Australia Senior Amateur, R&A Women’s Senior Amateur, New Zealand Senior and Tasmanian Senior Amateur.
By her side, every step of the championship, which for Gole consisted of 36 holes of stroke play and 97 holes of match play, was her husband, Sam. For Gole, having him by her side meant something extra special, given Sam came down with sepsis just eight weeks ago, and was told it could be fatal.
“We had just got back from having a massive time winning at the R&A senior,” said Gole of her husband’s unexpected illness. “He started feeling unwell. He had sepsis and septicemia, and he had about 12 to 18 hours to live. They luckily got the right antibiotic.
I just didn’t think I’d be here. I honestly wasn’t even thinking about playing golf. This morning, when I woke up, I was very emotional. Life’s very fragile, and I went through a month where I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just driving to the hospital and doctors and doing life, whatever it was meant to throw at us.”
What The Champion Receives
Notable
Americans dominate opening day in Montreal
Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee – their match went the distance but lost 1 down – image Getty Images
The U.S. Team powered to an emphatic 5-0 lead over the International Team in the Presidents Cup on Thursday as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler carried the charge in the opening Four-ball session by partnering debutant Russell Henley to a 3 & 2 win over Tom Kim and Sungjae Im at Royal Montreal Golf Club, Canada.
The opening session shutout was only the fifth occasion in the biennial team competition’s history since 1994, and the first time since 2007 when the U.S. won the third session’s Foursomes 5-0 at Royal Montreal.
Xander Schauffele, a two-time major winner this season, partnered Tony Finau to a 1-up win in the top match against Jason Day and Byeong Hun An while Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala also fought to a 1-up victory over International team veteran Adam Scott and another debutant, Min Woo Lee.
A third match concluded on the 18th green when Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark edged Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith while Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns saw off Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners 2 &1 to complete the American domination on day one of the competition.
“Look, the reality is it wasn’t a great day, but it’s like the first period of a hockey game the way I look at it. You’re down, but there’s a long way to go. Still, significant sessions left,” said International Team captain Mike Weir.
Out of the five matches, the Americans led in four at the turn to eventually put the points on the board. Morikawa and debutant Theegala were 1-down through 11 holes before birdies from Morikawa on the 12th and 14th holes flipped the match.
“I was really, really nervous,” said Theegala. “I tried to channel that as positively as I can, but definitely thought about what I was doing a few times out there. Just realized I needed to do my thing. Collin was great. Just reminded me to stay in the moment and keep doing what we’re doing.
It was awesome. I had so much fun out there. It’s just the best. It’s hard to describe.”
Scott, who is making a record 11th appearance for the International Team, was disappointed he and Lee failed to maintain their push to put a much needed point up on the board for the International Team.
“I think Min Woo and I could have won that match today. It’s disappointing that we didn’t do just a little bit better. I have a feeling the matches were closer than what the score indicates. Our guys are just going to have to lift a little bit. We’re going to have to find another gear to beat a tough American team,” said Scott.
“The best news is there’s tomorrow for us. It’s not over. We’re going to have to come out, fight really hard, find that gear, win a session and get going in the right direction.”
Kim, 22, tried his hardest to rally the International Team and the home fans. When he stepped onto the first tee with Im, he fired up the crowds before his match but the early American domination ensured the fans stayed muted for much of the day.
“Definitely when the crowds are with us, it definitely helps when you can kind of get loud. Like Taylor said, I think it was a little too quiet today being on home soil. I wish they would have helped us out a bit more, especially being in Canada. I know how much they love golf. I’m definitely expecting more crowds to be louder and for them to be on our side,” said Kim, who will not be part of Friday’s Foursomes session.
“I feel like I could have done a better job as a partner. I missed a short putt on 14. I think it was a big momentum shift. Just I couldn’t — had a few good looks and just didn’t make them. Unfortunately, it’s match play, so the putts matter the most.”
Schauffele, who raised his career record to 7-3-0 (Win-Loss-Tie) after his win alongside Finau, said: “It means we had a really good day, and it means we are playing a completely different format tomorrow. We need to get back in the team room, get some rest, and regroup for tomorrow.
Friday Foursomes Session:
𝟏:𝟎𝟓 𝐩.𝐦:Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.) vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (Intl)
𝟏:𝟏𝟗 𝐩.𝐦: Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S.) vs Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (Intl)
𝟏:𝟑𝟑 𝐩.𝐦: Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.) vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day (Intl)
𝟏:𝟒𝟕 𝐩.𝐦: Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau (U.S.) vs. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (Intl)
𝟐:𝟎𝟏 𝐩.𝐦. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S) vs. Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An (Intl)
First Round results
Internationals look to Matsuyama to lead the way
The International Side – with Hideki Matsuyama front row right – image Getty Images
The final preparations for this week’s Presidents Cup encounter between the USA and the Internationals have been completed at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, with practice on Wednesday providing one final chance for due diligence and team combinations to be settled.
The International team will be led in terms of ranking by Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama and several of Matsuyama’s teammates spoke of his importance to the team.
Hideki Matsuyama was described as a Japanese sensation, leader, master and great golfer.
The version that everybody on the International Team truly hopes will show up at the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club starting on Thursday, however, is ‘assassin’.
“He’s an assassin,” said Australia’s debutant, Min Woo Lee.
“No one really knows much about Hideki. He does his own thing usually, and he plays wonderful golf. So assassin, and off the course, private. I don’t know …. does he have a kid? Does he have anything? Where does he live? I don’t know. I don’t even think Google knows. So privately assassin.”
After Aussie veteran star Adam Scott, who will be making a record 11th appearance for the International Team, Matsuyama, who won twice on the PGA TOUR this season and the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, is second-most capped International player in the biennial competition which the United States Team has dominated since 1994. The U.S. has won the last nine editions, lost once in 1998, and both teams shared the Cup in 2003.
“I just have so much admiration for what he does, the pressure he deals with playing for all of Japan, as their greatest player ever, I think. You know, he is the master,” said Scott, who took Matsuyama under his wing in 2013 when the Japanese star made his Presidents Cup debut.
Matsuyama’s 7-10-5 (Win-Loss-Tie) record in the Presidents Cup is something that International Team captain Mike Weir hopes to improve, hence the Canadian legend roped in Shigeki Maruyama as one of his captain’s assistants. Maruyama is part of Presidents Cup folklore where he earned the moniker “Smiling Assassin” after going 5-0-0 during the International Team’s lone victory at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
“Hideki’s great. He’s one of our leaders obviously. And having Shigeki here, who was key in 1998, going 5-0 as a rookie to win. He’s just a great character. I think it puts a smile on Hideki’s face. Hideki has been the lone Japanese player for all the times he’s played but he hasn’t had a teammate. So to have Shigeki here for him is great. He’s been fantastic in the team room,” said Weir.
Matsuyama’s importance to the International Team’s quest to turn the tide against a powerful U.S. Team, led by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and this season’s two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, was evident when Weir paired him up alongside local hero Corey Conners in the fifth and final match against Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns in the opening Four-ball session on Thursday.
Scott, the oldest player this week at age 44, is tired of losing to the Americans and knows he and the likes of Matsuyama and countryman Jason Day must lead from the front at Royal Montreal. Day teams up with Korea’s Byeong Hun An in the top match against Xander Schauffele/Tony Finau while Scott will pair up with Min Woo Lee to take on Collin Morikawa/Sahith Theegala.
“We need him (Matsuyama) to deliver points,” said Scott, who holds an 18-25-6 career record. “We need our best player to deliver points. He knows that. I feel like I need to deliver more points than I have before, if a couple of the older, more experienced players can do that, hopefully it can filter down throughout the rest of the team.”
“Hideki has won twice, two big events this year. He brings the strength to this team. Whoever plays with him, it’s like a dream pairing to play with Hideki. He’s so good, and you know, we are going to lean on him this week.”
Matsuyama, who at World No. 7 is the highest ranked International Team member, feels this could be the year for the International Team to finally end their frustrating winless run. “The team is well balanced, three from Canada, three from Australia, four from Korea we have a good bond,” said Matsuyama, who holds 10 career PGA TOUR wins – the most by an Asian golfer.
“It’s really a great honour to represent the Shield (International Team logo). It’s unifying the team. It’s very, very hard, especially for someone like Adam who probably feels more pressure. He’s so passionate in wanting to win the trophy. This year, we have a solid team that can win the trophy, and I really looking forward to it and hopefully I can contribute to the team.”
Thursday Four-ball Session – times Montreal time
Match 1
11:35 a.m.: Jason Day/Byeong Hun An (International) vs. Xander Schauffele/Tony Finau (U.S.)
Match 2
11:53 a.m.: Adam Scott/Min Woo Lee (International) vs Collin Morikawa/Sahith Theegala (U.S.)
Match 3
12:11 p.m.: Sungjae Im/Tom Kim (International) vs. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.)
Match 4
12:29 p.m.: Taylor Pendrith/Christiaan Bezuidenhout (International) vs Wyndham Clark/Keegan Bradley (U.S.)
Match 5
12:47 p.m.: Hideki Matsuyama/Corey Conners (International) vs. Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns
Is this a turning point for the Presidents Cup?
The Presidents Cup – file photo
To some extent this week’s Presidents Cup sees the event reaching a crossroads.
A comprehensive win by the USA side would see the record, which in 14 previous matches reads 12 to 1 in favour of the Americans along with one tied encounter, suggesting another win by the USA would bring into question the value of the contest.
But a closer look at the encounters over the years suggests things are perhaps not as one-sided as the results would indicate with the International side losing by one point on two occasions and by two points on another in addition to the victory at Royal Melbourne in 1998 and the tied match in South Africa in 2003.
When considering the plight of the underdogs it should be remembered that it took the Ryder Cup until the mid-1980’s before it became a genuine contest.
The Americans had won 21 of the first 25 Ryder Cup encounters between its inception in 1927 and 1983 before the European side boosted by the introduction of Continental Europeans into the previous Great Britain and Ireland side, changed the course of what has now become one of the greatest of all sporting contests.
The Europeans were aided by the ‘them and us’ mentality of the European Tour essentially taking on the might of the PGA Tour but with the introduction of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Jose Maria Olazabal and the like, and the confidence the change of fortunes would bring, the Ryder Cup has now become a contest in which the former underdogs have turned the tables on the Americans.
Whether the Presidents Cup can ever experience such a transformation remains to be seen but a win this week or even a very close contest will add to the belief of the Internationals that they can become a far more serious opponent in the years ahead.
One of the aspects that keeps the USA ahead of the curve in results is that they get to play the formats linked to both the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup each year while for the widely sourced Internationals it happens only every second year, giving the Americans an advantage not only in terms of their overall ranking strength but in experience.
There is little doubt that on any given day, each member of the International side is capable of beating their opposite number on the American side but the collective strength of the Americans and that they are playing under one flag certainly helps their cause and if things were to change this year then it would be a surprise although, admittedly, a pleasant one for the future of the event.
Only two of the Internationals (Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott) are currently inside the top twenty in the world ranking while the Americans boast nine in that category and not one outside the top 25 while for the Internationals only four players are inside the top 25.
Not that this sort of disparity in rankings is uncommon as in most Presidents Cup contests the Internationals have always suffered in terms of ranking strength but golf is a game played on grass and not paper. It might be that this ongoing underdog status will serve to bolster the International’s chances as they try and reverse this David and Goliath battle.
Three Australians (Adam Scott, Jason Day, and Min Woo Lee) have made the team Scott and Day via automatic qualifying while Lee gets his chance courtesy of Captain Mike Weir’s generosity.
Scott is by some measure the most experienced in either side in this week’s contest with ten previous appearances while Matsuyama has five and Jason Day is the next best with four.
In fact, where the Internationals have an advantage is in the amount of Presidents Cup appearances. The Internationals have 28 while the Americans have just 11 although the Americans do have many of their team with Ryder Cup experience also.
None of the Americans have more than two Presidents Cup appearances.
So what do all of these stats mean for this week’s contest?
Clearly, the Americans will start as hot favourites with a quote of around $1.40 for their winning chances verses $3.50 for their opponents but something tells this writer that the odds should be narrower than that.
The Internationals need to get off to a good start in the all-important fourball on Friday and build on that as much as possible ahead of the 12 singles matches on Sunday.
They will be buoyed by what will be no doubt a partisan Canadian crowd who will be willing on their three representatives and the team captain Weir in the hope that their rowdy support will serve to inspire the ‘home’ team.
If the Internationals can head into Sunday in, or within striking distance of the lead then it will be a case of game on for the final day.
Let’s hope for the sake of the event’s future it is a closely fought encounter irrespective of who wins.
Lydia Ko continues amazing late season run with win in Ohio
Lydia Ko – file photo -image PGA of America
Lydia Ko has continued her remarkable late-season run in golfing events worldwide with yet another win on the LPGA Tour, her 30th professional victory and her 22nd on the LPGA Tour.
The 27-year-old New Zealander emerged from an early final round battle with Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul to win the Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio by five shots after beginning the day two behind, her final round of 63 the best of the day by two shots.
Korea’s Haeran Ryu finished another shot back and alone in 3rd place.
For Ko, it was her third win in her last four starts including the Olympic Gold Medal and the AIG Open and after slipping outside the world top 20 in June she is now in third place, and with still several big events to come she might well finish the year in second place behind Nelly Korda.
Ko trailed Thitikul by two shots through 8 holes but unleashed a powerful back nine of 30 to walk away with the title as Thitikul just could not keep up.
For Ko it was her first start since her win at St Andrews three weeks ago and earlier in the week she described what the break and the current form meant to her.
“Yeah. I was always going to take the three weeks off regardless of what was going to happen in Europe. Obviously the best stretch I’ve had over a cumulative of three weeks with two wins there.
“But, yeah, I don’t know if it has really sunk in yet. I think my husband and I kind of turn to each other at times and go, wow, I can’t believe you won the Olympics and then the AIG Women’s Open. So it was kind of like being punched in the face twice in a very good way. Obviously very grateful.
“And a lot of people said, oh, it’s because you work hard. But like all of us work hard. And I think I’ve been very fortunate about the opportunities that have come in my career, and to be able to capitalize at some of the biggest events for me, especially knowing that Paris is going to be my last Olympics at least in that regards, it was special.
“I think the LPGA made a little video for me from like when I first won in Canada to winning in Paris, and I think that kind of brought tears to my eyes because just seeing my 15-year-old self and seeing how much I’ve grown as a person and as a player, it’s pretty surreal.
“I don’t want to go back through those times again. You know, obviously I want to relive the good moments, but I’ve had my own lows as well, and I think I’m most proud of being able to come through and on top of my struggles, because we all have it. And it’s never easy getting out of it, but I think that’s what I’m most proud of outside of just the results and the accolades in the end.”
Grace Kim finished as the best of the Australians when she tied for 19th with Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou sharing 27th place.
The LPGA now heads to Rogers in Arkansas for the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship although Ko will not play the event.
Leaderboard
Green again runner-up on Champions Tour – Wright 5th
Another near miss for Richard Green – image PGA of America
Richard Green fell just short of a first PGA Tour Champions victory when losing out in a playoff to Steve Stricker at the Sanford International Classic in Sioux Falls this morning.
A stunning birdie from the rough by Stricker at the 4th playoff hole sealed the win, his third consecutive win in this particular event.
The US$184,000 Green earned for his runner-up finish takes his season’s earnings to US$1,845,000 and he remains in 4th place in the Schwab Cup standings.
Green began the final round one shot behind his fellow countryman Michael Wright who would eventually finish in a share of 5th place with New Zealand’s Steve Alker and through nine holes actually led the tournament but bogeys at his 13th and 14th holes would prove costly, as, even though he birdied the last, he fell one short of winning outright.
For Green it was his fourth runner-up finish of the season and 9th top ten.
Wright dropped four shots in his first ten holes but rallied with two late birdies to finish in 5th place, his best PGA Tour Champions finish of his rookie year and a cheque for US$92,000.
Leaderboard
Michael Wright and Richard Green chase maiden victories
Michael Wright – file photo
Queensland’s PGA Tour Champions rookie, Michael Wright, has the outright lead heading into the final round of the Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the 50-year-old from Brisbane chasing his first victory since joining the tour earlier this year.
Wright has recorded just one top ten in 17 starts, that coming when 7th at the Kaulig Companies Championhip in but a second round of 65 today has him one shot ahead of Victorian Richard Green, another chasing a first victory on the PGA Tour Champions but who has played so well this season he is currently ranked 4th in the Charl Schwab Cup standings.
Wright was one of four Australians to have gained access to the PGA Tour Champions late in 2023 via Qualifying School .
Wright played his last four holes in 4 under today to take the lead over Green with Steve Alker, Stuart Appleby and Steve Allan in a share of 12th position at 3 under and just five from the lead, adding to the chances of a possible victory from the down-under brigade.
Victory tomorrow would earn a cheque of US$315,000.
Leaderboard