The International team head into the Presidents Cup in a month’s time as underdogs once again, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
The Presidents Cup – even from a South African point of view – doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal as the Ryder Cup. Liberty National Golf Club is the site this year as the hosts attempt to continue their shut out of their foreign guests and they are well primed to do so.
The Dell Technologies Championship is the last event for a player to make the automatic top 10 with the captain’s allowed two picks to complete the 12-man squad.
The USA enter the event on the back of a Ryder Cup win last year, their first since 2008 and have a wealth of talent on their side – plus the experience of whoever Steve Stricker opts to go with.
A comparative look at the form of the US team versus their international counterparts has the home side taking it by a mile. Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka are the standout names with Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger, Kevin Kisner and Matt Kuchar the supporting cast. That’s one powerful lineup which includes the world number one and two and two players who have Majors this year – exactly the kind of BMT needed to get over the line.
The internationals continue to have the same mix of Australians and South Africans with Hideki Matsuyama thrust into the spotlight. Si-Woo Kim held off teammate Louis Oosthuizen to win The Players but form over a period of time has escaped Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott and Branden Grace – it’s heading towards a hammering.
The last time out the Internationals punched brilliantly above their weight – unlike Conor McGregor this past weekend – but they still came up short.
This time, they head to New Jersey with the opposition in splendid form and with the very vocal home support. The South Africans and Aussies are well known to raise their game but strength in depth is going to be an issue and is likely to sway the contest.
It appears, on paper, to be incredibly one-sided but we all know the game and matchplay – and team sport – can be completely different. Nick Price will need to get his pairings spot on and send out his strongest groupings early. If the USA get off to a fast start, they could steamroll their way to another win.
The captain’s picks are due on 6 September, Stricker will no doubt go for Phil Mickelson and one other while Price may need to think well outside the box if he wants to get anything from the contest.
