Presidents Cup

Golf fans, our guy has done it again. Max Homa has gone back to back and wins the Fortinet Championship. This year however his win came in much more dramatic fashion. Going into 18 Danny Willet had the win all but locked up. However on the 18th green that all changed. Around the green Max Homa hit a bunker shot heavily and had a very tricky up and down to save par let alone make birdie. To nobody's surprise Max Chips in for birdie. Willet is now faced with a four footer for birdie. In this scenario after Max’s chip in Willet had one putt to win two putts to tie and a three putt would lose it. Unfortunately Willet had the dreaded three putt from inside five feet and ultimately lost. This is obviously a tough one to swallow but in the press conference Willet handled this crippling loss with so much class and grace. While this is a stretch for a guy like Willet I feel very confident that Danny Willet will become a PGA Tour champion this year. When it comes to golf it's all about trending in the right direction and Danny Willet along with Max Homa are doing just that. Not only was this win big for Max’s career, but it is absolutely huge going into his first President’s Cup this week. Ever since Max got picked for the Presidents Cup it has been so fun to watch him get ready, get excited, and get motivated to represent his country and showcase his abilities on a really large stage. There is no doubt that Max Homa will come to play in his first ever team event. ( Mike)

In regards to last week and the Fortinet Championship. I would be shocked if we saw a worse choke all season on Tour. I know it was just the first tournament, but for Danny Willet to not even get into a playoff in that scenario is still hard for me to comprehend. His first putt never had a chance and once you leave yourself a tricky few footer to force a playoff all bets are off. Danny continues to be one of the most random major winners we have ever had. Props to Max for his incredible chip in to put the pressure on, but this was a collapse that will stick with Danny Willet for the foreseeable future I imagine. (Tyler)

This year the lead up to the President’s Cup has been rather unusual. Thanks to LIV Golf many players have become indelible to compete in the event. This has hurt team USA but it has dismantled the International team. Team USA has lost Brooks, Bryson, and DJ which in the grand scheme of things isn’t that bad, players like that are very replaceable. Those players have been replaced by Cam Young, Max Homa and Jordan Spieth which are three very solid replacements that will do more than fine this week at Quail Hollow. I especially like team USA’s chances because not only do they have the top guys in the world but they have the non toxic players on their roster. They lost Brooks and Bryson yes, who are each great players in their own right, but those two players not only hate each other but they are toxic to the rest of the team and that has been shown numerous times. With additions like Kevin Kisner and Max Homa these guys bring people together, they create strong positive energy. Yes talent will allow them to win, but their teamwork will help them dominate the International team. 

Now on the International side losing great match play players like Cam Smith and Marc Leishman are major hits especially because Cam is currently top three in the world. Along with those two players Abraham Ancer and Joaquin Neiman have recently left for LIV and will add yet another hit to the international team. Due to players like these leaving it absolutely destroys the competition. Despite losing those players, the International team has picked some young up and coming players such as Si Woo Kim, Mito Pereira, and Corey Connors. While these players are not the best of the best they are young, hungry and determined to leave a statement on the international stage. Besides its match play and we all know that anything can happen in match play. 

With all that being said no matter what the International team does, team USA just has more firepower in the end. Match play or not, the USA has multiple players in the top 20 in the world and the International team simply has too many experienced players. It won't be a blowout like some people are predicting but come Sunday morning only a few singles matches will end up mattering in the end.  (Mike)

To me, Quail Hollow is a great course to have on the Tour, but I am not sure it is a course that will be real exciting for the Presidents Cup. There seems to be little fanfare around this year's Cup and rightfully so. I think Quail Hollow is a great course to have as a tour stop. It is challenging enough, the crowds are always there and the players seem to like it. However, I think there are much better picks for the Presidents Cup. More casual fans tune into events like this so it is a chance to pick a course that has much more to offer for the fans than Quail Hollow does. Course criticisms aside, LIV has dismantled the international team and taken some key USA players like Mike touched on, but the course leaves a lot to be desired as well. The Presidents Cup could not have gone better a few years ago in 2019 in Australia. It is remarkable how much has changed in the golf world since then and I hope I am wrong about this year's edition of the Cup, but I think it lacks the stars that really drive events like these. It also does not help that the course is one I find particularly boring. The one thing the Presidents Cup does have going for it is that they play four days as opposed to the three days that the Ryder Cup has. I am sure I will tune in throughout the weekend, just hope it is something worth tuning in for.

My picks for the Presidents Cup are pretty boring. I think the USA rolls in almost historic fashion. The event had really been improving over the years until LIV killed it. Without so many big names on the international side I would be moderately shocked if this was not wrapped up on Saturday and I would be absolutely floored if the USA loses the Cup to the International team. I think it is entirely possible that the USA team gets a record amount of points for this event. I think the USA team falls just shy of the record but wins by at least 6 points nonetheless. (Tyler)