U.S. captain Jim Furyk said the decision not to pair Xander Schauffele with Patrick Cantlay in the opening round of the Presidents Cup was in the team’s best interest.
The Ryder Cup-style tournament, in which the United States will face off against non-European national teams, begins Thursday with five four-ball matches in Montreal, Canada.
Schauffele and Cantlay are close friends, having played two matches together at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome and paired up to win two of the three matches the United States won in the 2022 Presidents Cup.
However, Furyk has decided to field world number two Schauffele and Tony Finau in the opening round against Jason Day and Byung-hun Ahn, while Cantlay will team up with Sam Burns to take on Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Connors.
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“We’re trying to get the most out of those 10 guys on the course, maximize their potential and put five groups out on the golf course,” Furyk said.
“After talking to my assistants and statisticians, we found out there were a number of reasons.
“We believe that they [Schauffele and Cantlay] They play all their practice rounds together and are very close friends.
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Check out the highlights from the final round of The British Open at Royal Troon, where Xander Schauffele won the Claret Jug with a stunning six-under 65.
“For no other reason than to maximize the potential of our five groups on the golf course.”
Other matches will see Collin Morikawa and Sahith Teegala take on Australian pair Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, world number one Scottie Scheffler takes on Russell Henley to face Lim Sung-jae and Tom Kim, and next year’s US Ryder Cup captain Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley take on Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Scott ‘determined’ to end 21-year Presidents Cup winless streak
Australia’s Adam Scott has yet to taste victory in 10 years representing the international team at the Presidents Cup, but he’s hoping that will change this week in his 11th appearance.
Adam Scott has played in 10 Presidents Cups but is yet to win an international tournament.
In their first Presidents Cup appearance in 2003, Scott was part of the team that secured a draw in South Africa, but since then they have suffered nine straight losses.
But the 2013 Masters champion believes this is the strongest international team he’s had in a while and gives him the best chance to win a second title and his first since 1998.
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Can Team International end their losing streak in the Presidents Cup? Ernie Els offers words of encouragement ahead of this week’s match against Team USA, broadcast live on Sky Sports
“I’m determined to go out there this year and try to change the narrative of this tournament,” Scott, 44, told reporters on Wednesday.
“Obviously, I want to improve my record in this tournament and I’m very determined. I don’t know how many more chances I’ll have, or if I’ll even have any, so this is a big week for me.”
“But I have a lot of confidence in this team. I can’t remember ever feeling more comfortable going into the Presidents Cup.”
Scott added: “I don’t know how I feel. [if we won]Certainly, I’ve thought that too… what we’re missing are the accomplishments outside of individual performance.
“I think if I answered that now, I would be underestimating the impact it would have if we won.”
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Simon Holmes said the only way the Canadian team can beat the United States in the Presidents Cup is if Canadian players perform well at home.
Presidents Cup: Thursday Four-Ball Match
The match will begin at approximately 4:35 p.m.
Jason Day (Australia) and Byung-hun Ahn (Korea) vs. Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau (USA)
Adam Scott (Australia) and Ming Woo Lee (Australia) vs. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Teegala (USA)
Lim Sung-jae (Korea) and Tom Kim (Korea) vs. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (USA)
Taylor Pendris (CAN) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SA) vs. Wyndham Clarke and Keegan Bradley (USA)
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Corey Connors (Canada) vs. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns (USA)
Who will win the Presidents Cup? The 2024 tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 26 to 29 September. Live coverage begins on Thursday 26 September at 4:30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the Presidents Cup and more on NOW.
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