The rosters for the 14th Presidents Cup are set, and once again the Americans, who have won 11 previous times, seem to be overwhelming favorites.
With the U.S. team having five of the top 10 players in the world and 11 of the top 20, the International team faces an uphill climb when play begins at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 22.
“I don’t think anybody gets too caught up in being the favorites,” said Kevin Kisner, who was one of six captain’s choices by U.S. team captain Davis Love III on Wednesday. “The motivation is to win for your country, your team and focus on the task at hand.”
The Americans have won eight straight Presidents Cup matches, including a 16-14 victory in Melbourne, Australia, in 2019.
“[It] was a little closer than we wanted last time in Australia, but we proved that we can play and we can go on a long road game, and we have to take this home game, one, seriously, and two, get the momentum,” Love said. “But our guys understand that anybody can win any match in match play, and if they are not ready come Thursday at lunchtime, somebody is going to jump them.”
Here’s what to watch for two weeks ahead of the Presidents Cup:
What might the U.S. pairings look like?
There seems to be two certainties when Love fills out his lineup: Jordan Spieth is playing with Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay with Xander Schauffele. Spieth and Thomas have been a successful duo in the Ryder Cup. Cantlay and Schauffele played together four times at the last Presidents Cup in 2019. They also came out on top at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are very good friends, so putting them together makes sense. They vacationed together with their wives in Greece after The Open in July. Kisner and Max Homa and played together at the QBE Shootout in Naples, Florida, in December, tying for fifth. Kisner could also play with rookie Cameron Young, who doesn’t say much. Kisner talks a lot.
Source : espn
