Even though the statistics point in Team USA’s favor this weekend at the Presidents Cup, Corey Conners refuses to believe that the international team will be the underdog on the fairways of the Royal Montreal Golf Club. Better yet, the Canadian believes that it has all the elements necessary to cause an upset.
In this sense, the Ontarian believes that a series of factors could allow his team to emerge victorious from this duel, which would allow the international team to sign a second victory in 15 editions of the prestigious team competition.
“I think everyone on the team believes in our chances. We’re going into this competition with the right mindset. We can obviously do it,” Conners said after a practice round Tuesday.
“Certainly, they’ve always dominated the Presidents Cup, but I think everyone on the team, including the captains, did a good job of giving us confidence going into the tournament,” added the 32-year-old golfer.
Conners also played in the 2022 Presidents Cup, which the United States won 17.5-12.5 at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the Americans’ ninth straight victory in the competition, and their 12the in 14 editions.
Conners and fellow Richmond Hill, Ont., native Taylor Pendrith were two of eight rookies on the international team then. This year, fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and Australian Min Woo Lee are the only rookies in the international camp. Conners acknowledged that experience, in 2022, will be valuable this weekend.
“It’s a very demanding week,” admitted Conners, who was pointless in 2022. “The crowd at the last Presidents Cup was pretty loud.”
“I’m looking forward to feeling the support of the crowd here, but I’ve obviously learned some lessons from my last experience and I’m very grateful to get another opportunity to showcase myself,” he added.
Advice and experience
As for whether he’ll offer Hughes any advice on how to keep his feet on the ground, Conners said his countryman already has all the tools in his toolbox to excel.
” [Hughes] shines on the biggest stages. It is a gamerhe loves the match play (the head-to-head), and his game is very well-rounded — which will be key here. I talked to him a little bit about the logistics of the event, which surprised me a little bit last time in 2022, but he told me he’s ready and he’s looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great experience for him,” Conners summed up.
For his part, international team captain Mike Weir, who knows the course well since he played it as a player during the 2007 Presidents Cup, indicated that he would limit his advice to his protégés this weekend.
“You know, the Presidents Cup has changed a lot between 2007 and 2024, and golf has changed a lot,” the 2003 Masters champion said. “I might be able to give them some tips on some really specific shots, depending on the wind and all that, but these guys are professionals. They know what they’re doing, so I’ll stay back a little bit during the competition.”
Scheffler, America’s Quiet Force
Even though the American team has historically dominated the Presidents Cup and has the two best players in the world rankings in Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, the international team should not be counted out.
At least that’s the view of Scheffler, who has eight PGA Tour victories in 2024 — arguably the best season since Tiger Woods in 2000, when he won nine times, including three majors, in 20 starts.
Despite the staggering statistics, the 28-year-old Texan offered a very calm response when asked if the international team was the underdog this time around.
“I’m sure it’s still 0-0. My job here is to go out there in my first game and try to get a point for my team. I don’t care who’s the favourite or the underdog. All I can do is try to win and get a point on Thursday,” said Scheffler, a quiet force whose temperament is very reminiscent of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.
“Is there an advantage to being the underdog? Well, you know, I’ve been the underdog a lot throughout my career, but my desire to win has never wavered. In my head, there’s no concept of favorite or underdog. But I’m probably not the best guy to answer that question. I find my own motivation, and I always try to push myself. I love to compete,” said Scheffler, who has earned $62 million in purses this season alone.
Scheffler added that there was a huge difference between winning a regular PGA Tour event, where he’s playing for himself, and a competition like the Presidents Cup, where he’s playing for his country.
The American, who will be participating in his second Presidents Cup, after his two appearances in the Ryder Cup, believes that “these tournaments often become our best memories.”
And to add another to this memorable season, Scheffler will now have to measure himself on the course of the Royal Montreal golf club.
“A very simple course. We played it, and the guys rarely wondered where to aim from the tee. Nobody was confused about what the course presented us,” he summarized. “Only the wind could change the game.”
First round pairs
Late in the afternoon, U.S. team captain Jim Furyk announced that Scheffler will be paired with Russell Henley against South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Tom Kim in the third four-ball match scheduled for Thursday.
Australian Jason Day and South Korean Byeong Hun An will open hostilities against Americans Schauffele and Tony Finau, starting at 11:35 a.m.
On the other hand, two Canadians will be in action on this first day of competitions. Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout will face Americans Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley, while Conners and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama will cross swords with Americans Patrick Cantley and Sam Burns.
The other duel on the bill will pit Australians Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee against Americans Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.