U.S. Captain adds fuel to Presidents Cup fire ahead of Royal Montreal

Royal Montreal Golf Club will host the 15th edition of the Presidents Cup in a week's time as the United States takes on the International Team in Canada for a second time. Montreal, Quebec, previously hosted the event in 2007 and it will do so again in 2024; seventeen years on from a United States victory north of the border.

An International side captained by Canada's own, Mike Weir, will look to push the Americans close once again in a competition that has been historically dominated by the Stars and Stripes since its inception back in 1994. Following a 17.5 to 12.5 victory at Quail Hollow two years ago, the U.S. extended its record in the competition to 12-1-1 with its only defeat coming back in 1998 when the Americans were soundly beaten by an International squad captained by Peter Thomson in Melbourne, Australia.

Sure, there have been numerous close calls for the team who now dons black and gold since the win in 1998, but none have resulted in the Internationals lifting the cup since that famous day over 25 years ago. Weir will hope that raucous home support will help spur his side on to what would be another historic win over the Americans. The United States may have had some close calls over the years, especially on foreign soil when more often than not the margins of victory have been slim, but once again they will head into this year's competition expected to win the cup for a thirteenth time. For many neutrals, an International upset would be a sight for sore eyes this time around, but don't tell that to American Captain Jim Furyk who had some strong words for anyone, especially Americans, who dared to root against his boys in Canada.

Jim Furyk fires warning shots ahead of Presidents Cup

Speaking ahead of this year's competition to Golfweek's Adam Schupak, Jim Furyk strongly dismissed any ideas of parity and had some choice words for any man or woman brave enough to root against his side. "Really? You’re American. You’ve got to understand, I do actually take offense at that. I don’t hate you but it’s a pretty shi–y thing to say," the American Captain responded upon hearing that some, including Schupak, were hoping his side would lose this time for the good of the competition.

In the interview, Furyk went on to recount a time when an unnamed individual shared a similar sentiment with the U.S. Captain ahead of the 2017 Presidents Cup. Suffice it to say, that didn't go over too well with Furyk, and neither did this time. “So it’s not like I’m killing you right now, but F–k you. Go f–k yourself. You can quote me on that one,” Furyk added.

It's easy to see why some would be hoping for Mike Weir's International Team to pull this one off and get on the scoreboard for just the second time (not including the competition's only tie in 2003). Heck, it would be good for the event moving forward and it would certainly draw a lot of interest in the same way that the Ryder Cup does every other year. It's never good for a sport when one side dominates all of the time. However, it's easy to understand why Furyk would respond in the manner he did at the same time. It's insulting. The American Captain has been tasked with leading his side to victory and extending what has been a historically dominant winning streak by the Stars and Stripes. He has every right to be offended by such sentiments.

A fire may have just been stoked in the American camp ahead of this year's competition at Royal Montreal and that could be bad news for the International Team. Only time will tell. Irrespective of whatever the final result may be at this year's Presidents Cup, there is no denying that this kind of passion is good for the competition.