Even though Mackenzie Hughes is in Mississippi, her spirit is already in Montreal. Near the marshes, he is already thinking of the fall colors in the trees at Royal Montreal, where the next Presidents Cup will be held next year. And his entire season will be devoted to it.
“My goal is to play for Mike Weir and make the Presidents Cup team. »
This is what Hughes said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
The Canadian golfer absolutely wants to be part of this international team because it will bring together some of the best golfers in the world. But above all he wants to have the privilege of playing under Weir.
Hughes first met him in 2004, when he was volunteering at the Canadian Open. According to the 32-year-old athlete, it was during this weekend that he first wanted to become a professional golfer.
At that time, Weir was a true hero, as he had won the Masters Tournament a year before. “We could come full circle at the Presidents Cup,” insists Hughes.
His desire to rub shoulders with Weir is such that in June, he suggested the possibility of trading his two victories on the PGA Tour circuit for a place on the team led by the left-hander.
The American fault
Last weekend, the European team gave a 16 ½ to 11 ½ beating to the American team at the Ryder Cup in Italy.
Like all golf fans, Hughes watched the competition. In his case, it’s because by carving out a position on the international team, he could rub shoulders with several members of this American team next fall.
The Americans had a fantastic team. When they put a team together, there’s no real weakness, and I know it will be the same in Montreal in a year.
Mackenzie Hughes
But Americans are fallible. And even if there are several of them at the top of the world rankings, it is possible to shake them in this type of competition. The dominance of Team Europe proved it.
“With the crowd getting involved and playing as a team, it’s possible to have this kind of result and beat these players. […] It’s good to know these guys can be beaten. »
Better finish
In the meantime, although he speaks freely about his hopes, Hughes must play well enough next season to convince Weir to be one of the chosen ones.
And the new PGA Tour season will begin Thursday, as part of the Sanderson Farms Championship, in Jackson, Mississippi, where Hughes triumphed last year. “It was a dream start,” he remembers.
So he comes to the tournament with the intention of defending his title. And he will have to take advantage of the absence of the majority of big names to sneak into the last groups on Sunday afternoon.
In the current environment, a victory on the PGA Tour this season would give him an almost automatic ticket to join the international team. However, he will have to forget his setbacks from last season. In his last 11 tournaments, he was ousted from the weekend rounds seven times.
He even finished the year at 51e rank in the FedEx Cup, one place away from being able to continue its season in the playoffs.
I fell into a slump after the Masters Tournament. I don’t really know why this happened.
Mackenzie Hughes
Hughes notably encountered difficulties in starting the various tournaments with confidence. These gaps on the tee shots were fatal on several occasions. However, it was thanks to his short game that he was able to be competitive. In fact, the closer he gets to the hole, the more comfortable the Canadian is.
However, to stand out at this level, it’s all about consistency. “I think I have a good understanding of what I have to do,” he said of the new season. Despite what I’ve done in the last six months, I don’t think I’ve ever felt better. »
Unlike other disciplines, the off-season in golf is measured in days, not months. This is why Hughes needs to bounce back quickly. And that’s what he intends to do: “It doesn’t take me much time to make the transition and get back in the right direction. »
And for him, the right direction is the one pointing towards Bizard Island. Where he can not only play at home, but also make his dream come true.