Presidents Cup | The worst start in the last 24 years

The American team couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to the Presidents Cup. The defending champions of the event won their five four-ball duels of the day on Thursday. Conversely, this first round will go down in history as one of the worst ever contested for the international team.

The last time the international team was shut out in the first round was in 2000. This was also the case during the very first edition, in 1994.

Even in front of their supporters, a little more restrained than one had the right to expect, the local favorites showed themselves powerless in the face of the American threat.

The majority of clashes stretched to the 18-hole limit, but the team format remains cruel, because regardless of the gap between the two opponents, only one point per duel is awarded. Three matches were decided by a single hole. Another, that between the Americans Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay and the Internationals Corey Conners and Hideki Matsuyama, ended 2 and 1. Then, the least close clash of the day, between the Americans Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley and the internationals Sungjae Im and Tom Kim, ended 3 and 2. Regardless, the Americans lead the charge with a five-point lead. A total of 15.5 points is needed to win the competition.

At the end of the first day of activity, veteran Adam Scott did not have the words to express his feelings. With a blank look, a low expression and his back in his chair, Scott seemed overwhelmed by the severity of the result. “We are in a very complex position. But fortunately, there will be tomorrow. »

The 44-year-old Australian lost his duel with his compatriot Min Woo Lee by one hole against Collin Morikawa and Sanith Theegala. He said he was “disappointed”, given that this meeting was within their reach. “We should have been just a little better. The matches were much closer than the score indicates,” Scott insisted.

If it was always behind during the round, the international team was the victim of some generosity. Erratic iron shots from Hideki Matsuyama on the back nine, a missed approach from Conners on the sixth hole or wasted opportunities by Kim and Im on the receptive green of the 16th^e hole. At the end of the round, these kinds of details and mistakes make a difference against an American team that left nothing to chance.

The American dream

On the American side, morale is good, smiles are numerous and the relief of the players is contagious. In a hostile territory and in an environment in which they are the unloved, the situation could have been very different. However, the team having won the last nine editions of the classic proved why it would take almost a miracle for the international team to manage to take the trophy from them for the first time since 1998.

Keegan Bradley, who plays the role of player and assistant captain, had underestimated the emotional charge that the day would give him. Especially after an 11-year absence as a tournament player.

“During the national anthem this morning, I saw the guys getting ready and I got very emotional. That surprised me. I’ve been getting emotional a few times this week. At a certain point in my life, I thought I would never experience this again. […] I’m not ashamed to say that even at 38 years old, I look at my younger teammates and take inspiration from them,” Bradley revealed.

Winner of his duel with Wyndham Clark against Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Bradley explains this significant lead by the complicity between his teammates. Times change, morals too, and the veteran is happy about it.

“I’ve learned since the beginning of the week how much they mean to each other. I come from an era where we believed that every player we played against was an enemy, and that’s unfortunate. On the field, they want to fight each other, obviously, but outside the confines of the field, they are friends and their wives are friends with each other. It’s much better this way. »

The rivalry

Playing at home will therefore not have been a factor for the international team. The crowd was subdued on opening day, as Kim noted: “We’ll have to be louder.” You will have to feel the support of the home crowd. »

There were still some intense interludes on the Royal Montreal course, including one with Kim at the center of the action.

On the seventh hole, when the Korean holed a putt for birdie, the 22-year-old celebrated brightly. Immediately afterwards, his good friend Scottie Scheffler imitated him to maintain his two-hole lead. The American looked at Kim and shouted, “What do you think of that?” » when the ball fell to the bottom of the cup.

Then, Kim replied: “It’s difficult to play against guys I’m really close to, but it’s part of the job. I knew he was going to come back very strong. I play with him too often not to suspect it. »

On the next hole, the international duo cut the gap in half with a birdie. But to add to the animosity, Kim and Im didn’t wait for Scheffler to make his putt before heading to the ninth hole.

“I’m focused on my own game,” Kim explained. Whether he makes his roll or not, it doesn’t change anything for me. There was no reason to stand there and watch him do it. That wasn’t going to help us. I didn’t mean to be rude. »