Projected American Presidents Cup Team spells good news for International Team
The Presidents Cup will take centre stage this September with the United States and International teams going head to head for a fifteenth time. Jim Furyk's U.S. Team will look to avoid another disastrous showing by an American Team on foreign soil after Zach Johnson and company faltered in Italy at last year's Ryder Cup.
After first debuting in 1994, the Presidents Cup will return to Canada and Royal Montreal Golf Club for a second time in 2024 after a United States Team captained by the great Jack Nicklaus emerged victorious at Royal Montreal in 2007.
Captain Mike Weir's International squad will benefit from the raucous home support this time around after the black and gold put up a valiant fight in a losing effort at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina two years ago. The International Team will aim to defend home soil and lift the trophy for just a second time in a competition that the Stars and Stripes have historically dominated over the years.
Projected U.S. Presidents Cup Team could give International side renewed hope
The U.S. Team holds an all-time record of 12-1-1 in the competition but the American's latest projected roster for the upcoming Presidents Cup could spell good news for Captain Weir's International Team this Autumn. Here is a look at the latest projected teams if the competition was to begin today.
U.S. Team | International Team |
|---|---|
1. Scottie Scheffler | 1. Hideki Matsuyama |
2. Xander Schauffele | 2. Tom Kim |
3. Collin Morikawa | 3. Jason Day |
4. Wyndham Clark | 4. Sungjae Im |
5. Patrick Cantlay | 5. Byeong Hun An |
6. Sahith Theegala | 6. Min Woo Lee |
7. Tony Finau | 7. Nick Taylor |
8. Max Homa | 8. Corey Conners |
9. Brian Harman | 9. Cam Davis |
10. Akshay Bhatia | 10. Adam Hadwin |
11. Chris Kirk | 11. Christiaan Bezuidenhout |
12. Russell Henley | 12. Si Woo Kim |
The Top 6 players on each team will automatically qualify for the 2024 Presidents Cup with the remaining spots being determined by Team Captain's Jim Furyk and Mike Weir.
Currently, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele occupy the top two spots on the American Team and are assuredly locks to be on the American Team that will be heading to Royal Montreal this September. The Americans would currently boast two of this year's major champions in Scottie Scheffler (Masters) and Xander Schauffele (PGA Championship), with Bryson DeChambeau (U.S. Open) ineligible for this year's competition as a result of his LIV Tour status.
While undoubtedly boasting a wealth of talent, just three of the currently projected Top 6 qualifiers for the United States Presidents Cup Team have won this year, with Wyndham Clark's win coming at the weather-shortened 54-hole AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay and Sahith Theegala have both struggled with their form at times this season.
To put this in perspective, all six of the automatic qualifiers on the 2022 U.S. Presidents Cup Team, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, and Tony Finau, had won an event ahead of the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow.
Of course, there are still multiple events remaining on the schedule before we get to September, including another major, the Olympics, and FedEx Cup Playoffs, where any of the current six automatic qualifiers, or someone else, could secure a win ahead of this year's Presidents Cup.
The Americans will undoubtedly be substantial favorites to lift the cup for an incredible 13th time this fall no matter what happens between now and September, but the latest projected roster could spell the best news for the International Team's chances since 1998 when they secured their lone victory in the competition.
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