Thursday At The (Mixed) Presidents Cup
USA takes a one point lead after Thursday's competitive matches featuring mixed Four-ball action for the first time in event history.*
This one will be coming down to the very end.
Unlike Presidents Cups of yesteryear, Thursday’s opening Four-ball session of the first-ever mixed edition delivered everything from a clinical blow-out to multiple nail-biters. More important to the future of the event, the Internationals bolstered by eight women reversed past trends when the event was men-only and dominated by the United States.
Even as Jim Furyk and Stacy Lewis’ U.S.A. squad finished with a 3-2 lead and history on their side when leading on day one, the International team appeared far more competitive in all but one contest.
Thursday’s match capsules followed by a few notes from day one at Royal Montreal:
Brooke Henderson/Corey Conners defeat Nelly Korda/Patrick Cantlay 1 up. So much for Canada-nice. The home country duo rarely cracked a smile and often stared down the the imposing American duo from the first tee arena until the 18th. The Canadians also made Korda and Cantlay putt out several short putts that seemed to fluster the red-white-and-blue. Sources inside the International team room said this was co-Captain Karrie Webb’s idea to establish a tougher tone after so many International beatings. Henderson hit all but one fairway while Conners used his length to attack the course at key times, leading to a brilliant best-ball 64 to Korda and Cantlay’s 66. After the match, Conners denied ever asking Cantlay why caddie Joe LaCava wasn’t yelling whipping up the crowd and interrupting his pre-shot routine.
Rose Zhang/Scottie Scheffler defeat Ayaka Furue/Hideki Matsuyama 6&4. Solheim Cup star Zhang continued her methodical play by carrying Scheffler at the outset while the world No. 1 worked off the rust. He then reeled off five birdies in a row from the sixth through 10th to put the Japanese duo away by the 14th green. Zhang and Scheffler did not lose a hole, meaning Zhang has now won 34 holes and lost only 8 in going 5-0-0 between her short Solheim and Presidents Cup career. “I just want to thank Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour Board, or is it Boards, who voted to include us?” Zhang said after the match. “The vision they had to add women when no one thought to do such a thing really made this arguably the most special day of my career. Getting to play with Scottie and winning the way they did is something I’ll always treasure.”
Lydia Ko/Adam Scott defeat Lauren Coughlin/Keegan Bradley 2 up. The most intense match of the day featured a wild back-and-forth that was much closer than the final score. The match included funny misunderstanding and oodles of passionate displays from the four veterans who’ve all lost their games only to rekindle their talents to be on this stage. Neither duo led by more than one hole until Ko reeled off four birdies to finish off the match. Bradley and Coughlin were 6-under-par through 17 holes and had a 12-footer at the last, but Ko’s fourth-straight birdie forbid put the contest away. Scott contributed four birdies as well as a late replacement for Ko’s Grant Thornton Invitational partner Jason Day, who watched the match from a cart with a giant ice bag wrapped around his hip sprain. As for the controversy: Ko summoned the match walking referee to ask why Bradley received club selection advice at the 13th tee from Vice Captain Stewart Cink. Under the Captain’s agreement, only Captain Furyk along with vice Captain’s Kevin Kisner and Morgan Pressel were designated as “advice givers” Thursday. Before things could turn too chippy, Scott gently informed his partner that it was Furyk that was the advice giver at the tee. “Oh, so I got their shaved head guys confused?” Ko said, covering her mouth, apologizing to Bradley, Furyk, Coughlin and anyone else who would listen before playing the last five holes four-under-par.
Lilia Vu-Sahith Theegala defeated Jin Young Ko-Tom Kim 3&2. The USA duo’s Presidents Cup debut was a stealthy ham-and-egg masterpiece, with each southern Californian making three birdies and zero bogeys. Ko and Kim actually made more birdies but co-bogeyed three holes to end up as the difference. Kim delivered his usual exuberant reactions and was heckled by Dallas buddy Scheffler, who had dropped back to watch the conclusion of this one. Both said it was just lively gamesmanship and rest assured, they are “still buds” according to Kim who was put on the clock twice in the match. The quirky young Korean also angered some American observers by walking ahead several times before they’d putted out. “I was on the frickin clock!” Kim said after the loss. “Didn’t really notice,” said Theegala as Vu nodded in agreement.
Megan Khang-Collin Morikawa defeat the brother/sister Lee’s 1 up. There appeared to be some nerves in this one, as both sides made bogey at the difficult 4th and 11th holes. But all four grinders persisted without their best in this one to make for another tight contest. At the 18th Min Woo drove into the water, leaving his sister to take on the experienced Khang and Morikawa. The Americans won the last with Khang’s birdie putt. The win takes Khang’s national team match play record to 8-3-3, including 3-0 at the recent Presidents Cup. Morikawa’s record in matches that include the Walker, Ryder and Presidents Cups moved to 11-4-1.
Other notes from day one:
Jim Furyk said Vice Captain Kisner has lost his “advice giver” status after Tweeting during the session and texting to various commentators and influencers. “Love the passion but we can’t have that,” Furyk said. “This is going to be a dogfight to the end. I need my VC’s locked in and not doing performative guy talk about slinging beers with weirdos.”
Caitlyn Clark took up Comcast CEO Brian Roberts’ offer to be flown in on his private jet once the Indiana Fever were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs. She was seen Thursday watching the Vu-Theegala match with NBA legend Steph Curry. “What a thrill and such a great match,” she said. When asked how the private jet ride went, Clark gave a surprising answer. “Amazingly easy getting here, that’s for sure,” Clark said. “But I was a bit shocked that the flight attendant had a credit card reader and charged me for a Gatorade and some cold almonds.”
Also spotted in the crowd: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Celine Dion taking in the matches, while former Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama watched from behind a bulletproof-windowed hospitality chalet. All three were joined by the former First Lady’s and a number of other dignitaries.
NBC’s pictures briefly went to black (again) and the network dealt with graphics issues all day, including posting incorrect scores. Sources say the latest screen issue was caused back at the Stamford headquarters when football analysts Chris Simms and Jason Garrett accidentally hit a wrong button while watching game tape in a control room. Also, a camera at the sixth green appeared to be experiencing a migraine headache for the duration of play on the hole and the network made no effort to deal with the issue.
Fans were denied the option to watch streaming Featured Group coverage provided at previous Presidents Cups. NBC’s Peacock app also did not carry any of the first-day coverage, nor did PGA Tour partner ESPN+.
International vice captain Geoff Ogilvy, asked about falling asleep in his cart while watching the Lee match. “I was staring at the bunkers and wondering how Rees Jones could be so bad at what he does,” the Vice Captain said. “I guess it was like a seditative or meditative trance looking at something so lifeless. I’ll drink a second cup of coffee tomorrow. Won’t happen again. We can win this thing. For a change.”
Friday’s session features four morning Foursomes matches featuring all eight women, followed by afternoon Foursomes with all eight men.
The matchups:
8:05 a.m.: Nelly Korda/Megan Khang (U.S.A.) vs. Brooke Henderson/Jin Young Ko (International)
8:19 a.m.: Alison Lee/Rose Zhang (U.S.A.) vs. Minjee Lee/Lydia Ko (International)
8:33 p.m.: Lauren Coughlin/Ally Ewing (U.S.A.) vs. Ruoning Yin/Ayake Furue(International)
8:47 p.m.: Lilia Vu/Allisen Corpuz (U.S.A.) vs. Hannah Green/Amy Yang (International)
1:05 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.A.) vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (International)
1:19 p.m.: Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S.A.) vs. Adam Scott/Min Woo Lee (International)
1:33 p.m.: Max Homa/Scottie Scheffler (U.S.A.) vs. Jason Day/Byeong Hun An (International)
1:47 p.m.: Wyndham Clark/Keegan Bradley (U.S.A.) vs. Corey Conners/Tom Kim (International)
Enjoy Rounds 2 and 3!
Also, please tell me that the singles matches won't be gender specific, and that we can get a Korda vs. Scott or something like that. Now that would be fantastic to see.
Fans were denied the option to watch streaming Featured Group coverage provided at previous Presidents Cups. NBC’s Peacock app also did not carry any of the first-day coverage, nor did PGA Tour partner ESPN+.
How is this even possible?