After an extra year off due to COVID, The Presidents Cup returns this week in North Carolina where Aussie Adam Scott makes his 10th appearance and hopes to lead a team of rookies to a second victory.
Arguably one of the most significantly affected events since LIV Golf arrived on the scene with important players that would have likely been a part of both sides missing this week, the biennial event once again sees the International Team go in as underdogs.
Scott is the most experienced of either side, and breaks his own record of the most appearances by an International team player, with captain Trevor Immelman hoping to inspire his eight rookies and the likes of the Queenslander the way his compatriot Ernie Els did in 2019.
Immelman’s opposite number, Davis Love III, has plenty of experience in leadership roles in both this event and the Ryder Cup and a very strong team on paper. But he will of course be wary of over confidence after years of witnessing less fancied European teams cause upsets in the Ryder Cup.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: The United States team led by playing captain Tiger Woods railed for the Sunday singles in 2019 facing the prospect of just a second loss in the event, the only International win coming in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.
It was the same venue last time the teams faced off, with Ernie Els’ team leading 10-8 going into the final session, but ultimately going down 16-14 with Woods himself securing an important point against Abraham Ancer.
RIGHT: The Aussie pair of Adam Scott and Cam Davis enjoy a laugh during practise this week. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.
COURSE: Quail Hollow Club is a familiar venue for the golf watcher as the annual host to the Wells Fargo, a one-time (and future) PGA Championship venue and the past site of the Kemper Open.
As it did when it hosted the PGA in 2017, the course had a rest from PGA Tour play this year, with Max Homa winning the yearly stop at TPC Potomac.
Although it is familiar, the course routing has been adjusted for match play, with the ‘Green Mile’ now to play as holes 13, 14 and 15 for maximum impact in the late stages.
Measuring 7,571 yards, Quail Hollow was originally laid out by George Cobb in the 1960s, with Tom Fazio making changes ahead of its major debut in 2017.
Water, expansive bunkering and large undulating greens are the flavour of the day at the par-71 that will play significantly different than it does on the PGA Tour due to the time of year.
Less rough will be a noticeable change, so too the playing surfaces that aren’t overseeded as the northern hemisphere heads into the cooler months, all of which should play into the hands of the longer players this week. And hopefully encourage more aggressive play.
In 2019 at Royal Melbourne, Tiger Woods stood out playing a course that suited his artistry, and while Quail Hollow doesn’t rank as highly as the Sandbelt gem, its list of winners gives an insight into the capabilities of the layout for the cream rising to the top.
Woods is on the winners list here alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jim Furyk.
FORMAT: Five foursomes matches takes place on Thursday, with five fourball matches on Friday followed by four of each foursomes and fourballs on Saturday. On the final day all 12 players from both sides take part in the singles.
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week
US TEAM: Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Kevin Kisner, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM: Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim, Corey Conners, Adam Scott, Mito Pereira, Taylor Pendrith, KH Lee, Sebastian Munoz, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Si Woo Kim, Cam Davis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: At events like this and the Ryder Cup every player has a role, and thus is a player to watch even if they were to sit until the Sunday singles.
However, there are always players that stand out either as leaders or rookies that can play a significant role in the end result, sometimes without playing their best golf personally.
Adam Scott is one such player who has an internal determination to finally win one of these things.
The Queenslander has been in good form of late, and will have had this circled on his calendar since 2019 when his side went agonisingly close to finally ending their hoodoo.
With LIV players like Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen missing, Scott’s role as the on course leader has been magnified, with the eight International rookies sure to look to him for guidance.
Of those rookies, the only other Australian, Cam Davis, could well be something of a silent assassin for Immelman this week.
The Sydneysider is hitting the ball further than ever before, was a magnificent match play exponent as an amateur and will just go about his business regardless of who is playing or how loud the crowds are.
Joohyung ‘Tom’ Kim is another of the key first timers, with huge raps on the young Korean (one of four) as he continues to climb the world rankings.
A recent winner on the PGA Tour, Kim makes plenty of birdies, is a bubbly character and is a very comfortable English speaker. All elements that make him a huge asset to the melting pot International team.
Hideki Matsuyama like Scott will be one of the on-course leaders who will let his clubs do the talking.
Now experienced in this format, Matsuyama has a game that matches Quail Hollow perfectly and it is fair to assume he will be part of almost every session this week.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has been one of the hottest players on the planet this year and will be a key to the American side’s success.
An impressive debutant at the Ryder Cup last year, Scheffler strikes as the sort of player who can partner anyone and relishes the head-to-head nature of match play.
The list of US team members that will play an important role is 12 long, but captain Love will surely send out two combinations regularly in the foursomes and fourballs.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele love playing golf together and proved it at the Ryder Cup, while Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth will likely see plenty of time as a combination, although the need to send the six rookies out with experienced partners could make for a pairing quandary for Love.
Thomas won the 2017 PGA here, and team competitions bring out another side of him that will make him one of the keys to victory this week.
Of the first time American representatives, Max Homa shapes as a genuine asset.
A winner at this course, Homa won last week in a matchplay type situation and his impeccable ball striking combined with his attitude make him a perfect addition to any team.
BIGGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: The United States defeated the International Team by 11 points (21.5-10.5) at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia in 2000.
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 2am – 8am)
Round 3: Saturday/Sunday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 9pm – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 2am – 10am)
*AEDT, check local guides
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