USA likely to win Presidents Cup again
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The teams representing the United States in the Presidents Cup have never lost the contest and all the form guidelines suggest another win against the best players from the rest of the world (other than Europe).
Away from the showpiece team event, Steve Stricker and Jason Day look to have decent opportunities to be the top point’s scorers for their respective teams.
This week’s renewal is the tenth Presidents Cup and only in South Africa in 2003 did the Americans not win, that match ending in a tie. The rules of the Seve Trophy allow for a sudden death playoff and if scores are tied after four days of golf the Presidents Cup is also decided by an extra match. It was only fading light in 2003 that spared the International side a full set of defeats as the tiebreaker match ended after three holes due to darkness and Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus shook hands on a tie.
In contrast to the decision of many top British players to swerve the Seve Trophy all the Americans who have qualified will be playing in the Presidents Cup this week. Nine players from the 2012 losing Ryder Cup team will be appearing at the Muirfield Village course designed by Nicklaus. The track is the regular host of the Memorial tournament on the US PGA Tour and, despite its length, requires straight more than long hitting.
The Internationals have a strong South African and Australian contingent but the Americans may be more motivated to play for the flag, especially after the heartache of the Ryder Cup.
The key to team golf is how individuals gel for the common cause. The individuality of the game seems harder for the Americans to overcome than Europe in the Ryder Cup. It is questionable how players from five different nations will bond and perform under the label of the rest of the world. The US side also goes much deeper with experience of team golf. They are the only individual nation that plays in a team matchplay event every year, alternating between the Ryder and Presidents Cups.
Erne Els has the best record in the Presidents Cup of the International side but Day has the game and temperament to outscore the veteran South African who is not expected to play in every session. Stricker is unlikely to be rested for a full day as his partner over the first four sessions could be Tiger Woods, a player with a much better record in this competition than the Ryder Cup.
For more tips, follow Ian Hudson on Twitter at @RockIan62 or visit his website at: www.ianhudson.sport.co.uk.
