(Calgary) Mike Weir has many difficult decisions to make before the Presidents Cup, which will be held at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in September.
As captain of the international team, Weir keeps an eye on players who could potentially face the mighty Americans in this tournament that pits the best golfers against each other every two years.
“It’s a critical time for a lot of players,” Weir said Tuesday in Calgary at a news conference ahead of the Rogers Charity Classic.
“There’s six automatic spots in the world rankings and then there’s six picks with a lot of Canadians in contention, so hopefully they play really well over the next couple of weeks and I can pick them for the team.”
With Olympic medallist Scottie Scheffler and recent British Open and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele headlining the American side, Weir will be able to count on Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, decorated with bronze in Paris and the world’s number one international player.
PHOTO MARK HUMPHREY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The American team will be able to count on Scottie Scheffler, the most recent Olympic champion
South Koreans Tom Kim and Sungjae Im are second and third excluding the American players, while their compatriot Byeong Hun An is sixth. Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott are fourth and fifth.
Ontario’s Corey Conners, who competed in the 2022 edition of the tournament with fellow countryman Taylor Pendrith, is in a strong position in seventh place. Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin are in 11e and 12e echelons, while Pendrith and Mackenzie Hughes are 13e and 15e.
“As I’ve said all along, this is an international team,” said Weir, who will be able to count on the advice of assistants Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas to help make his selections. “This is not Team Canada, so you have to be fair to everyone. A lot of guys are playing well.
I really like how our team is shaping up. The guys are very excited. I’ve been in contact with the players since the beginning, since I’ve been captain. The players have reached out to me and they’re very engaged and excited to be part of the team.
Mike Weir
Taking part in the Charity Classic for the fourth straight year, Weir will have the Presidents Cup on his mind, even on the greens.
“Even though I’m working on my game and playing, it’s constantly on my mind,” said the 54-year-old Canadian Golf Hall of Famer. “Calls before and after rounds, text messages with players and our analytics team. I try to get all the information I can on the players so I can make the best decision in the coming weeks.”
“I don’t want to make a decision on a whim. I want to have all the information and statistics on the players so I can make an informed decision.”