United States captain Jim Furyk has confirmed that the decision to not pair stars Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay for the opening fourballs of the President’s Cup is aimed at optimizing the team’s performance. The prestigious Ryder Cup-style tournament kicks off in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday, featuring five fourball matches.
Despite their strong friendship and previous successful partnerships, with Schauffele and Cantlay having achieved notable victories together in the past, Furyk has taken a different approach this year. Schauffele, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will team up with Tony Finau as they compete against Australia’s Jason Day and South Korea’s Byeong Hun An. Meanwhile, Cantlay will join forces with Sam Burns to face the duo of Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners.
Furyk stated, “We are trying to maximize our 10 players on the course and our overall potential.” He emphasized that numerous factors influenced the decision, despite Schauffele and Cantlay’s consistent practice rounds and camaraderie.
In addition to the marquee matches featuring Schauffele and Cantlay, other pairings include Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala taking on Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler aligning with Russell Henley against Sungjae Im and Tom Kim, and Wyndham Clark teaming up with Keegan Bradley to challenge Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Australian veteran Adam Scott, participating in his 11th Presidents Cup, aims to break a 21-year winless streak for the international team. He expressed confidence in this year’s squad, claiming it is their strongest yet. “We are determined to change the narrative of this event,” Scott remarked, highlighting the significance of this opportunity for him and the team.
The matches start at approximately 4:35 PM local time, with the line-up featuring these critical contests:
1. Jason Day (Aus) and Byeong Hun An (Kor) vs. Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau (USA)
2. Adam Scott (Aus) and Min Woo Lee (Aus) vs. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala (USA)
3. Sungjae Im (Kor) and Tom Kim (Kor) vs. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (USA)
4. Taylor Pendrith (Can) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) vs. Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley (USA)
5. Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) and Corey Conners (Can) vs. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns (USA)
As the excitement builds for the President’s Cup, all eyes will be on the crucial matches set to unfold on September 26-29.
