Presidents Cup: The International brings excitement, but do changes need to stop Team USA’s dominance? | Golf News

Team USA maintained its Presidents Cup dominance with a record-extending 10th international victory, reigniting debate about whether changes are needed to “save” the tournament.

The U.S. scored 7.5 points in singles on the final day and won a resounding 18.5 to 11.5 at Royal Montreal Golf Club. It was the largest away win in Presidents Cup history and the 13th in 15 biennial tournaments. They won a trophy in the contest.

The international team battled back from a loss in the opening session and won all five of Friday’s games to level the score heading into the weekend, raising hopes of ending a 26-year wait for victory, but the only one to emerge victorious was It was the USA team. For the last two days.

“I need an injection for the Presidents Cup.” sky sportsWayne “Radar” Riley said after Sunday’s play. “Two days later, 5-on-5, we thought we were successful. We haven’t been successful yet, but we’re going to be under the microscope and we’re going to be exposed to criticism.”

International team captain Mike Weir claimed that despite the score, it was “close” given that many matches were decided in less than one hole during the four-day tournament, but the defeat , and has lost every tournament since then. 2003 tied contest.

Former major champion Rich Beam He told Sky Sports: “I can promise you that the Internationals are tired of losing and until the Internationals get their next win it will become harder and harder for them to get through.

“They have to figure out if they need to change a little bit, whether it’s the venue or the point system or something else, because the Americans are going to continue to produce a ton of young, great players. .”

Regardless of the result, was the event a success?

Four of the world’s top six players were American, and Jim Furyk’s lineup was all within the world’s top 25, but 20 of the matches weren’t decided until after the 17th hole, so it was a star-studded affair. lineup was tested regularly.

The contest still produced record-breaking drama, with the first-ever back-to-back dominant wins, a rare foursome success for an International, and accusations of “bad sportsmanship” at times as emotions boiled over between both sides. Ta.

“International teams have all kinds of games, but when you have as much depth as the American team, it makes a big difference,” Beam admitted. “Anyone can beat anyone on any given day, but when you stretch it out over four different days, it’s different.”

Weir said of the team’s performance: [Internationals] We fought until the end. That’s all I can ask of the captain, that’s what I asked them to do, and they responded and did it. I think both teams played at a very high level.

“It was really high-level golf. Lots of birdies, lots of swings with big momentum. As a golf fan, it was really exciting to watch. I’m a golf fan myself, so it was really great golf to watch. It was.”

Could a mixed event help international teams?

Seven of the world’s top nine players in the women’s game are from internationally represented countries, including AIG Women’s Open winner Lydia Ko, and the past four women’s major winners have all come from the United States. and come from countries outside Europe.

The possibility of adding female players to the Presidents Cup has long been suggested as a potential way to bring the contest closer together, but the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour have already announced a joint sanctioned mixed team with the Grant Thornton Invitational. An event is being held.

“that [a mixed Presidents Cup] It’s going to be an interesting watch, especially when you think about the U.S. and international teams in the women’s game,” said former world No. 1 Justin Rose. he told Sky Sports. “The international team will be incredibly strong.

“Obviously a lot of Korean players are dominating the world rankings and Lydia Ko from New Zealand has had the most amazing summer. It could really strengthen the international team and potentially give them an edge. It even has sex.”

Need a format change?

In the early editions, you could earn 32 points, which increased to 34 points in 2003. The number of matches was then reduced to 30 in 2015 and has remained unchanged since.

The Presidents Cup is played over four days instead of the three days used in the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup only offers a total of 28 points, with more players missing the first four sessions.

“Why not mimic the Ryder Cup and go back to three days?” Beam suggested. “That way, if you have guys who aren’t playing that great, you can hide it a little bit.

“If players want to play the week before, as Adam Scott, Byung-hun Ahn and Si Woo Kim did at the BMW PGA Championship, they will have an extra day off.”

“We weren’t looking for change,” Weir said at the post-tournament press conference, and vice-captain Ernie Els said “Our prize money was 28th place, so we had to settle somewhere.” I think 30th place is fine. I don’t know how the players feel, but we have to play a little better and be a little sharper.”

Will LIV Golf players make a difference?

Seven of the international teams that narrowly lost in the 2015 tournament, 15.5 to 14.5, and five of the teams that narrowly lost in 2019 have since joined the LIV Golf League, but the Presidents Cup is an event run by the PGA Tour. Therefore, he was disqualified from participating.

Veteran Louis Oosthuizen, major champion Cameron Smith, and rising star Joaquin Niemann are among the players who could add depth and experience to the international team, while Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are He was one of the players who missed out on participating in the USA.

“Of all those three teams, [Team USA, Europe and the Internationals]”I would say the international teams struggled the most against LIV Golf,” said Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard. “Clearly LIV Golf has watered down what was supposed to be a solid international team.

“Essentially, Trevor Immelman [2022 Internationals captain] Had to start rebuilding from scratch a few weeks before Charlotte. [previous Presidents Cup]. Team USA lost players, but they are deep so it will be easy to backfill.

“If there was a world where you could have both teams together, imagine a team that could be led by an international team?! I think that could make a difference.”

Will time help the international team?

Only three players from the international team have played in more than one Presidents Cup in the past, but 10 of the 12 players are 33 years younger than Scott, the former world number one. I was excited about the future.

“I felt like there was an evolution over the past four or five years under this Shield over the last two cup games, and there was buy-in from the players from each country,” Scott said. “That’s what they want to play.

“I felt like it was a great trip to be here, and the personalities were great, too.In the heat of the moment on the golf course this week, there were some personalities that I probably didn’t expect, and some that I expected. I think I found out that there are.”

“Unfortunately, the result is the same. I think if you think about it deeply, you can always see the positives. This tournament will challenge all of us to play hard, continue our careers for the next two years and win big events. And come back better prepared and ready to win in Chicago.”

Team USA will look to reclaim the Ryder Cup when they play Team Europe next September 26-28 at Bethpage Black, with the next Presidents Cup to be held at Medina Country Club in 2026. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more now.