CHARLOTTE | This is certainly not an open secret. The Americans are overwhelmingly favored to win the Presidents Cup. After their landslide Ryder Cup victory a year ago, internationals weren’t given a lot of skin this year. Even if the team’s face has changed slightly, the machine is still just as dangerous on the starting line.
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The majority of statistics favor the United States in this competition, which gets underway Thursday afternoon in Quail Hollow, North Carolina.
More experience, more golfers in the world’s top 20, more power, better players with irons, better putters. Best in all aspects of the game. On paper.
Now the Americans have to prove they are the best. And they have the chance to knock out the internationals as soon as hostilities begin at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. In the match-play formula and in the foursome (alternative shot) game format, they outrageously dominate the record books of this event founded in 1994.
They have recorded 73 wins, 39 losses and 21 draws. In points, they lead 83.5 to 49.5. Nothing less.
The last time the internationals won was by tying the game in 2005. Otherwise, you have to go back to 1998 to find a victory in this chapter.
Fake recruits
The United States have six rookies in their ranks, but that’s not entirely the truth. Because Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler tasted the Ryder Cup last year, rising among the stars of the big competition. They experimented with different game formats.
That in alternate shots rises among the most complicated, since it is necessary to take into account the personalities, the strengths and weaknesses of each one, the strategies and the equipment. More united since they evolve on the same continent, the Americans are thus more efficient.
“There are so many factors to consider for everything to line up properly. The equipment is a major obstacle to forming pairs in this formula, ”explained Xander Schauffele, who had not really played it before breaking through the American formation.
young and hungry
In the international camp, golfers are well aware of the historical shortcomings in this type of game.
“We’re not really used to it, warned Canadian Corey Conners, trying not to look too much at the past. Our team is young and hungry. We were not members of these formations which had difficulties.
“We learned to become a more united group,” continued the 30-year-old Ontarian. We are not afraid of disappointing our partner if we execute a bad move.
“But we know it will be a big challenge. With the configuration of the course, everything is possible to pick up the pace. »
Surprise
However surprising news, Wednesday, during the announcement of the opening matches of the tournament. Captain Trevor Immelman did not reunite the two Canadians. Still, Conners knows Taylor Pendrith like the back of his hand. Longtime friends, they complement each other wonderfully.
Pendrith stuns the ball by propelling it impressive distances, while Conners is among the best athletes with an iron in hand.
The mission of the internationals will be more complicated, because the American formation wants to be one of the most powerful ever created. His strong core wobbled the Europeans in Whistling Straits, Wis., 12 months ago.
The group piloted by a positive captain and organized in Immelman will seek to sign a page of history. The only international victory dates back to 1998 on his course at Royal Melbourne, Australia.
Thursday afternoon duels (Quatuor)
MATCH 1 | 1:05 p.m.
- patrick Cantley
- Adam Scott
- xander Schaulele
- Hideki Matsuyama
MATCH 2 | 1:17 p.m.
- Jordan Spieth
- Corey Conners
- justin Thomas
- Sungjae Im
MATCH 3 | 1:29 p.m.
- collin Morikawa
- tom Kim
- Cameron Young
- K.H. Lee
MATCH 4 | 1:41 p.m.
- scottie Scheffler
- Cameron Davis
- Sat Burns
- If Woo Kim
MATCH 5 | 1:53 p.m.
- Tony End
- taylor Pendrith
- Max man
- mito Pereira
Presidents Cup
14e PRESENTATION OF THE EVENT
- Journey : Quail Hollow
- Architect : George Cobb (1961)
- Defending Champions: Americans
› Best comeback in history in singles matches: United States in 2019 by erasing a 2-point deficit
› Younger teams: US: 29.6 years (2022) / Int. : 28.8 years (2022)
› Active player with the most appearances: Adam Scott (10e) and 44 games played
› Percentage of matches that never reached 17e pennant in history: 23.3%
› Best golfer in the history of the international team: Ernie Els with 21 points in his 8 appearances
› Biggest gap in victory: 11 points by the Americans in a 21.5–10.5 win in 2000
› Most Winning Golfer: Tiger Woods (27)
Photo archives, AFP
Tiger Woods
14: number of golfers among the two teams who experience their baptism of fire in this tournament. They are eight on the international training side and six on the American side.
8: number of American golfers who have finished in the top 15 of the PGA Tour rankings by total strokes earned on the board in the 2022 season. Internationals have just one: Sungjae Im.
Quail Hollow Express
THE FUTURE OF THE TEAM
Not so long ago, Jordan Spieth entered the American locker room in shorts and a t-shirt without taking himself seriously. It was October 2013 in Muirfield Village, Ohio. President Barack Obama was then the honorary president of the competition. Davis Love III acted as captain. He recounted the colorful comeback of the 20-year-old at the time.
“I will never forget that. He popped into the locker room and started throwing ping pong balls around. My wife then asked me: “but who is this young man?” I then replied: “He is the future of this team.” And that’s what he became, ”he said with pleasure.
That year, Spieth won two of his four games, which he played with Steve Stricker in three of them.
Four years later, he had called to order his teammates who were taking it a little too easy on the eve of the start of the competition. Since then, he is seen as one of the leaders among the Americans.
Back in the presidential team after his absence in 2019 due to his setbacks on the course, the Texan is determined to stand out in all aspects of the term. Especially since he finds his faithful companion, Justin Thomas.
THE BIG WEAKNESS
The international team can surprise in several respects if they succeed in executing their game plan to the letter. She’s skilful and powerful from the tees…to the greens. But once on the surface, on paper, that’s where it gets tough. According to this season’s data, Trevor Immelman’s men have struggled to stand out with their putter. Except Christiaan Bezuidenhout who finished sixth in the hits gained column on the board (0.653), more than two-thirds of the team members appear beyond the 70e rung. While power and accuracy are important on Quail Hollow’s long course, the magic must work on the greens to finish off the enemy. All asked which golfer they would favor in each aspect of the game, they all stuttered when it came to choosing their star of the game. putting !
Interestingly, at the team meet in Quail Hollow a few weeks ago, it was KH Lee who stood out from the pack by winning the majority of internal competitions.
SCOTT PREFERS HIS LEGACY TO MONEY
At 42 and seeing some fellow Australians deserting, Adam Scott could have been tempted by the money from LIV Golf towards his retirement. But the international team veteran prefers to leave his legacy on the PGA Tour, despite growing up idolizing Greg Norman, now LIV commissioner who would like to bring him to his league.
“I stay on the PGA, because that’s what makes my business. It’s as simple as that, ”said the friendly Aussie who has kept an open mind since the beginning of this alley battle in the world of professional golf.
“What I really don’t want is to leave my entire professional career behind. I’m not ready to do this. »
In his mission, Scott hopes to one day win the Presidents Cup. It would be a consecration, because he bites the dust since his first appearance in 2003. That year, the internationals finished tied with the Americans (17-17).