Monday, September 30th, 2024 Edition
‘It got a little feisty’: Team USA powers to 10th straight Presidents Cup after swearing accusation controversy
– by CNN
Per CNN: “Despite dramatic point swings and bubbling tensions that threatened to spill over, the Presidents Cup ended as it always has for the last 19 years – in a Team USA triumph…”
B&B POV: After the Internationals swept the foursomes matches on Friday to level the competition 5-5 heading into the weekend, we were hopeful for an epic Presidents Cup battle to be played out Sat & Sun. It wasn’t meant to be, again.
For the 10th straight iteration of the Presidents Cup, the US prevailed. For those counting at home, that’s 20 years of futility for the team representing the world minus Europe, the US, and compatriots playing the LIV circuit. It’s time to blow up the event format. If they don’t, US players will start skipping the competition, because the fans are already beginning to.
Trees down: Augusta National ‘assessing the effects’ of Hurricane Helene
– Adam Schupak / Golfweek
Per Adam: “Augusta National Golf Club is top of mind with golf fans after Hurricane Helene hit Augusta, Georgia, leaving more than 200,000 residents without power…”
B&B POV: Hurricane Helene landed in the US on Thursday with winds over 140 mph. More than 100 victims of the storm are presumed dead and tens of billions of dollars of damage is spread throughout the Southeast. Augusta National GC is supporting its local community first and foremost. At some point in the near future, they’ll turn their attention to their fabled course and will need to spend countless hours tending to fallen trees, structural damage, and overrun lakes and creeks (Rae’s Creek!!!). God bless all affected!
7 hilarious moments from a drunken U.S. Presidents Cup press conference
– by James Colgan / GOLF
Per James: “By the time Max Homa made his way up to the 17th green in the day’s final match, the Presidents Cup afterparty had already begun…”
B&B POV: At the end of the day, golfers skew a little nerdy – That’s right. I said it. And when the 12 American team victors, captains, and team members started celebrating after the final putts of the Presidents Cup were holed, out came unfiltered celebratory nerdiness, especially during the press conference. We wish we could’ve been there – and partaken, for we are golf nerds too.
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Presidents Cup grades: How every player (and captain) performed in Montreal
– Jack Hirsh / GOLF
Per Jack: “Once again the Americans were victorious in the Presidents Cup, defeating the International squad for the 10th-straight time, 18.5 to 11.5…”
B&B POV: Jim Furyk was never going to earn higher than a B due to the insurmountable team talent he had available to pick from when setting teams and running players out for Sunday singles. And after Weir left fellow Canadian Nick Taylor off the squad, he was never going to earn higher than a C for his role as captain of the Internationals. Stupid decision.
Seeing Xander grade out as an A+ is not surprising after the year he had. Maybe Scheffler’s B- was a surprise in retrospect, but also was mostly earned. For the Internationals to have any chance, Sungjae, Adam Scott, and Hideki needed to earn A’s, and none did. Lefty Harman and Aussie Min Woo Lee should have never been picked, and played like it too.
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Tour Confidential: Presidents Cup MVPs, critiquing captains and format changes
– by GOLF Editors
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Presidents Cup MVPs, second-guessing for the captains, format changes and more.
B&B POV:
- What will people remember about this year’s Presidents Cup? Within 10 years, even ardent fans of professional golf will forget what happened in Montreal. However, the greatest takeaway from the event was how determined the underdogs were to get back into the matches on Friday, winning all five matches to level things up. Mid-event, there was hope this year’s President Cup would be different, possibly even ending in an International Team upset victory. But nope. Loss #10 in a row is how it ended up.
- MVP’s and Duds? IMHO, Xander and Si Woo Kim were each team’s MVP. For the Duds, Harman shouldn’t have been picked in the first place over Bhatia. And played like a puppy and not a Bulldog (Georgia). For the Internationals, I’ll go with Captain Weir for leaving Nick Taylor off of the team. In Montreal, Canadian Taylor would have been a fan favorite. Dumb move.
- What letter grade would you give the captains, Jim Furyk for the US and Mike Weir for the Internationals? Furyk, B-. Weir, D. The only way Furyk would have gotten a better grade was if he would have picked some newbies for the team like Bhatia or Denny McCarthy, and then watched them pick up points. For Weir, leaving off Taylor and playing the same eight guys Sat. morning and Sat. afternoon was nonsensical. Especially considering the players’ days started before 4a.
- How will Keegan Bradley’s experience this week as a player impact his role as Ryder Cup captain next year? Not that he needed extra motivation to be a great Ryder Cup captain, but coming off the Presidents Cup victory and having played pretty well, including capturing the winning point on Sunday, he’s going to work overtime to make sure the energy and team comradery are sky high next year at Bethpage Black
- Does the Presidents Cup need fixing considering the US has won 13 of the 15 events held? Yes. Blow it up. Add a co-ed women. Play 8v8 so there is less of a talent disparity. Have the fans select two players for each side. Only allow players to play a max of four matches. All ideas are good ideas right now.
- Is there something the Presidents Cup does well that the Ryder Cup doesn’t? The International squad has a cool logo. That’s it.
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