The popular narrative heading into this week’s Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club has been the potential for another lopsided American victory in an event dominated by lopsided American victories. And there are reasons why US captain Steve Stricker should be optimistic about his 12-man squad’s chances. There’s little question the US team has golfers who have played closer to their peak form in 2017, suggesting their games are in better shape for the rigours that await in the shadow of New York City. The US side’s average World Ranking is 15.5 compared to the Internationals’ 31.6, an indicator of the home team potentially being sharper entering the competition.
But before simply handing over the trophy to Stricker’s crew and concluding that the Presidents Cup is permanently broken, consider a few statistics that don’t necessarily predict a walkover. For one thing, the U.S. had six rookies playing in the event, none of whom have any Ryder Cup experience either. By way of comparison, International team captain Nick Price has just four rookies on his roster.
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Additionally, of the six veterans on Stricker’s team, the “experience” they bring can be viewed through a sceptical lens. Consider that their combined record in the event is only 38-36-16, barely above 50 percent. Even more surprising is the combined singles record of the returning US players in previous Presidents Cup: 4-12-4. Again, by way of comparison, the International team’s returning golfers have combined for a 11-9-2 singles record.
This hints that if the International side can keep the matches close heading into Sunday, the potential for an upset surely exists – and the likelihood of a lopsided win will float away in the nearby Hudson River.
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Here’s a breakdown of the individual players on both Presidents Cup sides:
UNITED STATES
Daniel Berger, 24
US PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 24
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Kevin Chappell, 31
US PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 25
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Rickie Fowler, 28
US PGA Tour wins: 4
World Ranking: 7
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 1-3-0
Foursomes: 1-1-0
Four-Ball: 0-1-0
Singles: 0-1-0
Charley Hoffman, 40
US PGA Tour wins: 4
World Ranking: 23
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Dustin Johnson, 33
US PGA Tour wins: 16 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 1
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2011, 2015)
Overall record: 4-4-1
Foursomes: 3-0-1
Four-Ball: 0-3-0
Singles: 1-1-0
Kevin Kisner, 33
US PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 26
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Brooks Koepka, 27
US PGA Tour wins: 2 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 11
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Matt Kuchar, 39
US PGA Tour wins: 7
World Ranking: 13
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 4-7-2
Foursomes: 1-3-2
Four-Ball: 3-1-0
Singles: 0-3-0
Phil Mickelson, 47
US PGA Tour wins: 42 (5 Majors)
World Ranking: 30
Presidents Cup appearances: 11 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 23-16-12
Foursomes: 11-6-3
Four-Ball: 9-5-6
Singles: 3-5-3
Patrick Reed, 27
US PGA Tour wins: 5
World Ranking: 20
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 1-2-1
Foursomes: 0-2-0
Four-Ball: 1-0-0
Singles: 0-0-1
Jordan Spieth, 24
US PGA Tour wins: 11 (3 Majors)
World Ranking: 2
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-4-0
Foursomes: 3-0-0
Four-Ball: 2-2-0
Singles: 0-2-0
Justin Thomas, 24
US PGA Tour wins: 6 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 4
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
TEAM
Average age: 31.4 (30 without Mickelson’s 47)
Average US PGA Tour wins: 8.5 (5.4 without Mickelson’s 42)
Average World Ranking: 15.5
Combined Presidents Cup Record: 38-36-16
Combined Foursomes record: 19-12-6
Combined Four-Ball record: 15-12-6
Combined Singles record: 4-12-4
INTERNATIONAL TEAM
Jason Day, 29, Australia
US PGA Tour wins: 10 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 6
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 4-8-3
Foursomes: 0-4-2
Four-Ball: 3-2-1
Singles: 1-2-0
Branden Grace, 29, South Africa
US PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 37
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-4-0
Foursomes: 2-1-0
Four-Ball: 2-2-0
Singles: 1-1-0
Emiliano Grillo, 25, Argentina
US PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 59
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
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Adam Hadwin, 29, Canada
US PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 46
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Si-Woo Kim, 22, South Korea
US PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 36
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
Anirban Lahiri, 30, India
US PGA Tour wins: 0
World Ranking: 68
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 0-3-0
Foursomes: 0-1-0
Four-Ball: 0-1-0
Singles: 0-1-0
Marc Leishman, 33, Australia
US PGA Tour wins: 3
World Ranking: 15
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 3-4-1
Foursomes: 1-2-1
Four-Ball: 0-2-0
Singles: 2-0-0
Hideki Matsuyama, 25, Japan
US PGA Tour wins: 5
World Ranking: 3
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 3-4-2
Foursomes: 1-2-1
Four-Ball: 1-1-1
Singles: 1-1-0
Louis Oosthuizen, 34, South Africa
US PGA Tour wins: 1 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 22
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-3-2
Foursomes: 2-2-0
Four-Ball: 3-1-0
Singles: 0-0-2
Charl Schwartzel, 33, South Africa
US PGA Tour wins: 2 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 27
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 6-7-1
Foursomes: 0-4-1
Four-Ball: 4-2-0
Singles: 2-1-0
Adam Scott, 37, Australia
US PGA Tour wins: 13 (1 Major)
World Ranking: 23
Presidents Cup appearances: 7 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 13-17-5
Foursomes: 6-6-2
Four-Ball: 3-8-3
Singles: 4-3-0
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Jhonattan Vegas, 33, Venezuela
US PGA Tour wins: 3
World Ranking: 38
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie
TEAM
Average age: 29.9
Average US PGA Tour wins: 3.5
Average World Ranking: 31.6
Combined Presidents Cup Record: 39-50-14
Combined Foursomes record: 12-22-7
Combined Four-Ball record: 16-19-5
Combined Singles record: 11-9-2
