For probably the most half, Presidents Cup captains maintain their plans near the vest, and thus far this week at Royal Montreal, it’s been no completely different. It’s inconceivable to gauge which gamers will play extra classes than others, and which gamers will pair with whom.
Nonetheless, when you think about previous historical past and present kind, it’s doable to get a good thought of who might doubtlessly star for his or her respective sides.
Here’s a rating of all 24 Presidents Cup rivals this week, from probably to guide the occasion in factors to least probably:
1. Xander Schauffele: The emotional and arguably bodily chief of this crew – much more so now that Schauffele has two main titles beneath his belt. Schauffele’s 6-3 file in two Presidents Cups is matched solely by teammate Patrick Cantlay, whom Schauffele will probably pair twice with in foursomes. A 5-0 week for Schauffele is a good wager.
2. Collin Morikawa: He didn’t play a four-ball match in his Presidents Cup debut two years in the past, however after the 12 months he’s had – he has seven top-10s because the Masters – it’ll be laborious to depart Morikawa on the bench in any respect, not to mention greater than as soon as.
3. Scottie Scheffler: Finally Scheffler’s struggles in crew occasions, which embody a 0-3-1 efficiency two years in the past at Quail Hole, should finish. He’s simply too good. That mentioned, it’d be shocking to see Scheffler play all 5 classes contemplating he’s 0-4 in foursomes between Presidents and Ryder cups. It’s additionally probably that Scheffler, who’s 0-3-1 alongside Sam Burns in cup play, will get a brand new associate.
4. Hideki Matsuyama: Proven by his 7-10-5 file in 5 earlier appearances, he’s the Internationals’ horse. He enters this week taking part in a few of his greatest golf lately, too. His elite ball-striking and quick recreation ought to get him a couple of factors, no matter who he faces.
5. Patrick Cantlay: He circled a season that began abysmally, by his requirements, and enters this week having notched six consecutive top-25s to shut. He’s a pure associate for Schauffele and ought to be freed up now that there’s no hat controversy to take care of.
6. Sungjae Im: One of many few Internationals with a successful file (5-3-2), Im has the complete confidence of his crew that he can deal with a 3rd straight cup of taking part in each session. Like Cantlay, he rallied to salvage a great season. He’s additionally one other nice scrambler, which at all times provides worth in these crew occasions.
7. Tony Finau: He enters the week with 9 top-25s in his final 10 begins. He additionally boasts a 3-2-3 mark on the Presidents Cup. The putter isn’t going to win him factors, whatever the format, however he’s obtained some good expertise and has been nails together with his method play this 12 months.
8. Russell Henley: Historical past tells us that at the least one rookie could have a breakout week. Why not Henley? He didn’t miss a lower in a significant whereas posting two top-10s within the largest championships this 12 months, and he’s one of many Individuals’ greatest putters.
9. Adam Scott: The steely veteran is 18-25-6 in his Presidents Cup profession, and with three extra match wins wanted to set the all-time Worldwide file, the quantity will probably be there for Scott to get some factors. 4 top-10s in his final six begins is sweet, too.
10. Corey Conners: probability for a turnaround after an 0-4 exhibiting in his debut two years in the past. He’ll be impressed taking part in at house, and the putter has really been constructive in current begins. He’s one other potential five-session man.
11. Sahith Theegala: He’s discovered one thing since East Lake, the place he positioned third after which adopted with a T-7 in Napa. He might make a case because the Individuals’ greatest putter proper now. It simply boils all the way down to how a lot the rookie will probably be performed.
12. Sam Burns: How a lot of Burns’ 0-3-2 week at Quail Hole was due to Scheffler? One other elite putter, Burns ought to at the least get the decision for each four-ball classes, although his foursomes participation will hinge on how properly he drives it.
13. Taylor Pendrith: Throw out the 0-4 exhibiting two years in the past. Pendrith has been taking part in some nice golf this summer season, highlighted by making it to East Lake and back-to-back top-5s, on the Barracuda and 3M Open. He’s obtained size for this ballpark, the putter can get sizzling; if he retains it within the fairway, which has been a battle at occasions, he’ll get the decision early and infrequently from his captain.
14. Jason Day: He’s compiled a 5-11-4 profession file whereas admittedly mailing it in his previous cups. That is his probability for redemption after lacking the final two editions, although he most likely doesn’t play foursomes, a format during which he’s winless.
15. Si Woo Kim: Credit score to Kim for taking part in the BMW PGA, the place he tied for 18th to get again some confidence that was most likely misplaced this summer season previous to a T-5 on the BMW Championship. He’s 4-3 for his cup profession, so he clearly steps up in these moments. The putter could be a legal responsibility, although.
16. Tom Kim: He was the star for the Internationals two years in the past as a rookie, going 2-3. He’s not performed since Memphis, although, and his putter was not good that week.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 25: Keegan Bradley of the U.S. Workforce warms up on the driving vary previous to the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Membership on September 25, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Picture by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR by way of Getty Photographs)
17. Keegan Bradley: His win at BMW was type of an anomaly whenever you see that he doesn’t have a single further top-30 (other than East Lake) since he was T-2 at Colonial. That mentioned, he’s confirmed to be higher when referred to as as much as the crew occasions, and his steadiness will give him ample alternative like his solely different Presidents Cup begin, in 2013, when he went 2-2-1.
18. Brian Harman: After The Gamers this 12 months, he posted only one top-10. He’s correct off the tee, nevertheless it’s tough to see him outperform his 2-2 Ryder Cup debut as I feel he’ll most likely sit each four-balls. He’s a fighter in this sort of factor, although, and that provides some hope.
19. Ben An: He performed all 5 classes in 2019, going 1-2-2, although his driving-accuracy points most likely restrict him to only a couple classes this week.
20. Max Homa: He was 4-0 at Quail Hole and 3-1-1 final 12 months in Rome, so that every one counts for one thing. Sadly, he most likely had the worst second half of the season of any Presidents Cupper, on both aspect. The iron play has particularly dogged him as he posted no top-20s after Wells Fargo in Could.
21. Wyndham Clark: He confirmed some indicators within the playoffs earlier than lacking the lower in Napa, primarily due to some poor iron play. Not an correct driver. He went 1-1-1 in Rome final 12 months. It’s tough to see him taking part in greater than three matches due to the driving force.
22. Min Woo Lee: He had a sizzling run from the Masters by way of the Rocket Mortgage Traditional, however he has no top-20s since. The ball-striking has been a little bit wild and he seemed simply barely above common in Napa. I doubt he performs greater than three classes.
23. Christiaan Bezuidenhout: He gained his singles match at Quail Hole, however in any other case he went 0-1 in four-balls. It’s probably this short-game specialist will get comparable run contemplating the expertise on this Worldwide crew.
24. Mac Hughes: The rookie is coming off a T-4 in Napa, however like Bezuidenhout, he’s actually solely bringing placing and quick recreation to the desk. It’s probably he will get comparable remedy to a rookie Bez two years in the past.
