Canadian Golf Fans Ready For Presidents Cup

September 25, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

The Presidents Cup, between the United States and the International Team (featuring golfers from countries not located in Europe) begins tomorrow at Royal Montreal Golf Club. Team USA is headlined by Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa while the International Team boasts Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, and Tom Kim. The United States has won or tied all of the last eleven matchups but this year's International Team is looking to live off the raucous Canadian atmosphere. 

Mike Weir, perhaps the most famous Canadian golfer, is captain of the International Team and he has three Canadians on his twelve man team. Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, and Corey Conners will be the crowd favorites this week. Tom Kim, who introduced himself to the world at the Presidents Cup in 2022, is back and ready to build upon his successful debut. His fellow South Korean countrymen, Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im, have had great seasons and are tough matchups in Sunday Singles. 

However, the United States has five golfers ranked inside the top ten in the World Rankings compared to the International team’s one (Matsuyama). Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele won three out of the four majors this season and Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, and Wyndham Clark all had terrific years. The United States is the heavy favorite but this year seems different than years past. There is no Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas, instead Captain Jim Furyk will rely on rookies Russell Henley, Sahith Theegala, and Brian Harman. The International Team has a slight advantage in experience and the home crowd effect could be trouble for Team USA. 

The format of the Presidents Cup is slightly different from the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup is a four day event with 30 points available compared to 28 in the Ryder Cup. Each team will send out golfers in either Foursome Matches, Fourball Matches, or Singles Matches. Each hole matters in match play events because by winning a hole you earn a “point.” A player or pair is awarded a full point for winning the match outright or half point for tying. Each team needs 15.5 points in order to win the Presidents Cup. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday there will be a mix of Foursome and Fourball matches before there are 12 Singles matches where every player on each team will compete. 

Thursday’s Matches will be: 

Match 1: Jason Day and Byeong-Hun An vs Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau

Match 2: Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee vs Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala

Match 3: Tom Kim and Sungjae Im vs Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley

Match 4: Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout vs Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark

Match 5: Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners vs Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns

The first match begins at 11:35 a.m EST. 

This is one of the best golf events of the year and it showcases the exciting format of match play among the world’s best golfers. Will the United States continue their dominance? Or will the International Team step up and deliver a home victory for the Canadian fans?