United States captain Jim Furyk said the decision not to field Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in the opening round of the Presidents Cup was made in the best interest of the team.
The Ryder Cup-style tournament that sees the US take on non-European international teams begins in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday with five fourball matches.
Schauffele and Cantlay are close friends and played two matches at last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, while they also won two of three contests as they paired up for the 2022 US Presidents Cup victory.
However, Furyk decided to field world No.2 Schauffele with Tony Finau in the opening match against Jason Day and Byeong Hun An, while Cantlay teamed up with Sam Burns against Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners.
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Furyk said: “We’re trying to maximize 10 people on the course, trying to maximize potential, get five groups on the golf course.
“Talking to my assistant and the statistician, there are different reasons.
“We know they (Schauffele and Cantlay) played all the training rounds together, they are good friends, they get along very well.
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Watch highlights from the final round of The Open from Royal Troon as Xander Schauffele shoots an impressive six-under-par 65 to claim the Claret Jug
“There is no other reason than to try to maximize the potential of our five groups on the golf course.”
In other matches, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala take on the Australian pair of Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, world number 1 Scottie Scheffler plays Russell Henley against Sungjae Im and Tom Kim, while Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley – US Ryder Cup captains – are up next. year – against Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Scott ‘determined’ to end 21-year Presidents Cup winless streak
Australia’s Adam Scott has represented the international team in the President’s Cup on 10 separate occasions and is yet to taste victory – but hopes that changes this week with his 11th appearance.
Adam Scott is still without an international victory in the Presidents Cup in his 10 appearances
On his debut in the Presidents Cup in 2003, Scott was part of the team that earned a draw in South Africa, with nine consecutive defeats since then.
The winner of the 2013 Masters believes that this is the strongest team in the international team for some time and therefore represents the best opportunity to achieve a double victory, and the first since 1998.
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Can the International Team end their President’s Cup losing streak? Ernie Els offers a rallying cry ahead of hosting Team USA this week, live on Sky Sports
“We decided to go out this year and change the script of this show,” Scott, 44, told reporters on Wednesday.
“Definitely, I want to improve my record in this event and I am very determined. I don’t know how many more opportunities I will get, if any. So this is a big week for me.
“But I have a lot of confidence in this team. I can’t remember feeling more comfortable coming into the Presidents Cup.”
Scott added: “I don’t know how I’ll feel (if I win). It’s definitely what I’m thinking…
“I think if I answer now, I’ll be underestimating the impact of winning.”
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Simon Holmes said the only way an International team can beat the United States in the Presidents Cup is if Canadian players step up to the occasion on home soil.
President’s Cup: Thursday fourball match
The match starts at about 4:35 p.m
Jason Day (Aus) and Byeong Hun An (Kor) vs Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau (USA)
Adam Scott (Aus) and Min Woo Lee (Aus) vs Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala (USA)
Sungjae Im (Kor) and Tom Kim (Kor) vs Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (USA)
Taylor Pendrith (Can) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa) vs Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley (USA)
Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) and Corey Conners (Can) vs Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns (USA)
Who will win the Presidents Cup? Watch the 2024 contest from September 26-29 live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday 26 September at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the President’s Cup and more with NOW.
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