Si Woo Kim clinched a 5-0 session sweep on Friday on the Presidents Cup.
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Three of our writers are on the bottom at Royal Montreal for this weekend’s Presidents Cup. After Thursday went a method (a 5-0 U.S. sweep) and Friday went the opposite (a 5-0 Worldwide candy) we obtained ’em collectively for a post-round breakdown.
Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): Howdy, James. Howdy, Nick. It’s Friday night time in Montreal and whew — what a distinction a day makes. I can’t cease fascinated about this time final night time, when issues have been bleak. It didn’t simply really feel like this occasion was over after the closely favored U.S. aspect went up 5 zip. It felt just like the Presidents Cup itself may be over. If that sounds dramatic and dumb, properly, it most likely was. Anyway, now it feels totally different. So I’ll begin with a easy query: What the hell did we simply watch?
James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): Man, I feel we simply watched a blowout. The Internationals beat the brakes off the People from the opening bell. In 5 alternate-shot matches, solely two lasted previous the 14th gap — and each of ‘em have been gained by the INT anyway. It’s laborious to make sense of what two utter clobberings from both crew imply for the place this factor is headed, however man, that was thrilling.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): The road-Ryder Cup People appeared. They have been hit within the mouth within the opening match (Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im took down Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 7 and 6) and the dominoes — and Worldwide putts — fell from there. Wild. We have been additionally kinda speaking about this after an exquisite Tim Horton’s breakfast (shout-out Tim Bits!) about how the U.S. appears to play higher on the highway within the Presidents Cup, versus the Ryder Cup. Perhaps the jinx got here from us?
Dethier: Can’t rule it out! There’s no query that Friday was simply an all-around drubbing, however the placing stats have been notably jarring: Each single American misplaced strokes on the greens Friday, whereas eight of 10 Internationals have been within the optimistic. Our Sean Zak wrote about this extra however it made me consider the match-play cliches about how the successful aspect “simply made extra putts” and the way, on Friday, that was mainly true.
So how will we make sense of that? We might throw our palms up and cite randomness, I assume, or {the golfing} gods, however that’s not very fascinating. As a substitute I feel it’s value specializing in what we noticed and heard and felt — and what the gamers did, too. How totally different did issues really feel out on the course Friday vs. Thursday?
Colgan: Just like the distinction between a funeral and a rock live performance. The followers have been jacked up. The gamers have been jacked up. No matter aerosolized Xanax used on Royal Montreal on Thursday had worn off by the point play started.
Piastowski: The followers have been method totally different, for certain, and I spent the afternoon canvassing just a few, together with Mackenzie Hughes’ closest pal — who was simple to identify whereas holding a huge Hughes head cut-out. Effectively achieved. However I’ll add a unique thought and say that it seems just a few speeches got final night time by the Internationals, and so they got here out with their hair and golf baggage on fireplace. Friday, the U.S. have been the flat bunch.
Dethier: Agreed on the followers. And look, there’s some chicken-and-egg stuff right here. Like, the followers have been quiet Thursday as a result of their crew was shedding, however possibly, simply possibly, their crew was additionally partly shedding as a result of they have been quiet?
Regardless, issues have been totally different on Friday immediately. The opening tee was rocking. My dumbest take that I truly form of consider is that the change within the set checklist of the first-tee DJ (faster cuts, louder music, higher decisions, dramatically totally different, I’m telling you) made the distinction within the match. It was the primary domino to fall. The followers obtained hyped, the gamers obtained hyped, the Internationals went 3-0-2 on the primary gap and saved it going big-time from there. If Thursday’s crowds felt like they have been out for a pleasing stroll and came across a golf event, Friday’s felt like they have been out at a hockey sport — and so they’d been tailgating on the best way in. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes have by no means felt that of their lives.
However let’s do some second-guessing. Something U.S. captain Jim Furyk ought to have achieved otherwise?
Colgan: Eh, the pairings have been largely positive. If Furyk made a mistake, it was in failing to organize his crew for the all-out offensive everyone knew was coming right now. This occurs to U.S. groups method too typically in these occasions, however I’m undecided how a lot of that falls on the captain.
Piastowski: Perhaps play Keegan? However solely him and Burns sat, and the pairings have been partly the identical. Perhaps the 5-0 lead made them relaxed and I’d desire they channel “ruthless” as a substitute.
Dethier: When captain’s picks got here out, my rapid response was shock that Furyk had gone with Brian Harman over Justin Thomas. I couldn’t assist however take into consideration that each one Friday afternoon, when Harman struggled whereas enjoying alongside Max Homa. Then once more, I couldn’t consider Worldwide captain Mike Weir sat Tom Kim for Friday’s matches, so I’m undecided they need to be taking recommendation from me anyway — that technique labored out okay.
However fellas, I saved operating into you on the market, roaming contained in the ropes on this beautiful Quebecois afternoon. Gimme a scene from on the market that made you’re feeling one thing.
Colgan: Standing off to the aspect of the 18th gap when Si Woo Kim poured within the par putt to conquer World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was fairly epic. (Take a look at that “C’mere” he provides his teammates when the putt drops within the video beneath.) All day that match felt just like the one the People would possibly steal again, however Si Woo and Ben An took it to them when it mattered. Unbelievable, inconceivable, unbelievable win to carry the rating proper again to even.
Dethier: No. 13 is an arena-style par-3 surrounded by large grandstands. I’d simply arrived when Corey Conners stuffed his tee shot, which despatched up an enormous roar. And when Hughes completed it off with a brief birdie putt, I couldn’t assist however assume it should have been the good sporting second of each their lives. Two Canadians of the identical age, junior opponents, school teammates out collectively in entrance of a rowdy house crowd, ending off two high People 6 and 5? Man, what a sense. One drunk fan saved screaming to Conners as the 2 performed interviews. Corey! Corey! That was a f—– dart, Corey! And Tom Kim was behind the inexperienced, dancing, leaping, screaming, floating. That was a second.
Piastowski: You guys nailed it. I used to be, fortunately, there for each of these. I’ll merely add that it was a delight seeing Tom Kim dancing on the thirteenth inexperienced after the match was gained. And Kim didn’t even play right now. You prefer to see that.
Dethier: Ultimate query, then: What occurs now?
Colgan: Dylan, I sincerely want I knew, however proper now I really feel like I simply stepped into the attention of a storm. It’s quiet for the second, however I’ve obtained no concept what the hell occurs subsequent. I feel uncertainty favors the house crew?
Piastowski: 25-5, U.S. Kidding, kidding. It’s going to get louder. Everybody I talked to stated it would get slightly boozier, too. Cheers. And sport on.
Dethier: I’ll go big-picture: What occurs now could be the Presidents Cup continues to exist. How’s that for an overreaction? We’ve obtained an unimaginable weekend forward, as a result of Friday saved this event. A minimum of for an additional day…
