Presidents Cup: Meet the International team

The International team is the underdog once again at the Presidents Cup as it goes for its first win in the biannual event since 1998.

From the press coverage, to the mood of the players on both sides, to the lack of buildup, there’s no bones about it that the Presidents Cup doesn’t have anywhere near the electric atmosphere surrounding it as the Ryder Cup does.

There are a lot of reasons why that is — lack of tradition, the venue in this year’s case, diminished media buildup, etc. — but the crux of the issue is a lack of competitiveness.

The Americans have won nine of 11 events since the Presidents Cup debuted in 1994 with a loss in 1998 and a tie in 2003. Since 2003, the red, white and blue has combined to top the Internationals 110.5-89.5, which boils down to an average winning score of roughly 18.5-15. For comparison’s sake, the average score favors Europe by less than a point in the Ryder Cup in that span.

I’m not saying this is the year the International team stems the tide, but the talent pool is getting deeper. It’s no longer a team dominated by Aussies and South Africans, though those two nations are still the most vital. This year’s team pulls from eight countries across four continents to fill the 12 spots, tying the record set in 2009 and 2000.

This year’s bunch is one of its most talented featuring five world top-25 players and all 12 inside the top 70. It’s also one of the youngest with no players in their 40s and three 25 or under, including top weapon, Hideki Matsuyama, who’s still just 25. Players who just missed the team like Li Haotong, Byeong Hun An and Jeunghun Wang are in their 20s.

While 2019 at Royal Melbourne in Australia could be ripe for an upset, this year’s team could make some noise, too.

Let’s work our way up the standings to get to know the 12 players who will tee it up for captain Nick Price this weekend at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey.