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.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Tom Kim and Byeong Hun An
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. »
To follow the tournament
- Friday from 1 p.m. on RDS or from the pen of Nicholas Richard in The Press
- Saturday from 9 a.m. on RDS or from the pen of Nicholas Richard in The Press
- Sunday from 11:30 a.m. on RDS or from the pen of Nicholas Richard in The Press
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.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Veteran Adam Scott didn’t have the words to express his feelings.
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 16the 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.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Keegan Bradley
“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.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Tom Kim
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.
“It’s like playing at home,” said the best player in the world. He celebrated as if the match was over and we had taken the lead by two [au trou précédent]. So we wanted him to stay quiet. »
Scottie Scheffler
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Scottie Scheffler
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. »
Day 1 results – four-ball duels
- Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele (USA) beat Byeong Hun An and Jason Day (International) 1 and 0
- Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala (USA) beat Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott (International)1 and 0
- Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler (USA) beat Sungjae Im and Tom Kim (International) 3 and 2
- Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark (USA) beat Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith (International) 1 and 0
- Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay (USA) beat Corey Conners and Hideki Matsuyama (International) 2 and 1
Day 2
For the second day of competition, Friday, the two teams will play the alternating shot format.
The Americans will unite Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, accustomed to competing in international events side by side, for the first duel at 1:05 p.m. They will face Sungjae Im and Hideki Matsuyama.
At 1:19 p.m., Taylor Pendrith and Adam Scott will pair against Sanith Theegala and Collin Morikawa.
Then, at 1:33 p.m., the two Americans absent today, Max Homa and Brian Harman, will begin their tournament against Jason Day and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Mike Weir then decided to pair Canadians Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes to face Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau, at 1:47 p.m.
Then, Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley will try to win their second duel together against Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An.
Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley will be left out by US captain Jim Furyk. In the international camp, Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee will also be on leave.
“We are following the initial plan,” replied Weir, when asked about his reasons for removing Kim from the lineup, an energetic and unifying player.
Still according to Weir, Thursday’s loss had nothing to do with chemistry and team spirit. “Our players are very positive,” he assured. It just wasn’t a good day. But it’s like it’s the first period of a hockey game. We are behind schedule and we still have a lot to do. »
What is the format of the Presidents Cup?
The Presidents Cup is a match competition that takes place over four days with a total of 30 matches and which pits 12 players from the American team against 12 players from the international team. The Presidents Cup begins on Thursday, and the team with the most points after four days of competition wins the trophy.
- Thursday: five matches total, four-ball matchups
- Friday: five matches total, alternating shots
- Saturday: Eight matches in total, four balls in the morning and alternating shots in the afternoon
- Sunday: Twelve matches total, singles competition
What is the match play or match competitions?
The match competition is a direct confrontation which is played on each of the 18 holes of the course. The hole is won by the player (or team) with the lowest score on the hole. The winner is the one who has more winning points than holes still to be played. So, in a final score of 4 and 3, this means that a team or a player was 4 holes ahead, with 3 holes to play.
How does the four-ball format differ from the alternating shot format?
The alternating stroke play format involves partners competing by hole where two pairs compete by playing a ball in alternating order on each hole. The four-ball format involves partners from each team where each player plays their own ball and where the number of strokes per hole is the lowest of the two partners.
*Explanations taken from the official Presidents Cup website