The 11th edition of the Presidents Cup is around the corner and it is shaping up to what could be the most competitive battle to date. The United States has dominated the matches, winning eight, tying one, with only a single loss.
The American team comes into the competition led by red hot Jordan Spieth who had one of the best years in the history of golf, but the team does have four rookies on the team and question marks on a few of their players. Jim Furyk is nursing a wrist injury that forced him out of the last two playoff events, his return is up in the air.
Captain Jay Haas would be smart to ride his horses - Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Zach Johnson need to be in the lineup everyday. Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler will probably be a team that Haas can count on. He can pair Spieth up with anyone the way he is playing.
It will be interesting to see how many times Haas’ son, Bill plays, who was a captain's pick. Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed are playing poorly and he should play them as little as possible.
I hope the captains decide to pair up Jordan Spieth against Jason Day, or a Rickie Fowler vs. Hideki Matsuyama showdown.
The American Team
Jordan Spieth 2-2
The No. 1 player in the world coming off one of the best years in the history of golf will be the anchor of the United States team
Rickie Fowler - Rookie
It’s hard to believe that Fowler is making his first start on the team. He has a way of playing well in big time events and he should thrive in this format.
Dustin Johnson 1-3-1
D.J. looks to get his record back to .500 in this event. He has disappointed in the past, but has too much talent not to succeed in this format.
Bubba Watson 3-2
It all depends on the course. If it fits Watson’s eye, he will perform well, if not, he could end up with a losing record.
Zach Johnson 7-6
Steady as can be, Johnson is a perfect teammate. You can pair Johnson up with anyone on the team and they will do well.
Patrick Reed - Rookie
Reed has been scuffling for months. He did well in the Ryder Cup, so maybe he gets up for this type of tournament, but then again, his current form will be hard to hide.
JIm Furyk 20-10-3
Furyk’s status for the matches are up in the air and really no one knows if he will be healthy enough to tee it up. His nagging wrist injury is a real question mark.
Matt Kuchar 4-5-1
Kuchar is another player like Zach Johnson, steady and can adapt to any partner in the team matches. He is a great player to have on the team, a great player and also good in the locker room..
Chris Kirk - Rookie
A rookie in unchartered waters. Your guess is as good as mine whether Kirk performs well.
Jimmy Walker - Rookie
Another player making his first appearance at the Presidents Cup. His current form is not good and Captain Haas may have to play him as little as possible.
Bill Haas 3-5-2
Haas was the first captain’s pick. Playing for his father will add pressure, but I believe he will handle it well and be the surprise player on the team.
Phil Mickelson 20-16-11
Mickelson also was a captain’s pick and he will be like a coach to the other players. He will bring out the best no matter who they pair him with and exude confidence across the board in the locker room.
The International team is optimistic about their chances and Captain Nick Price loves the new rule change that he thinks benefits his team, Price said, “There will now be five four-ball and five foursome matches on Thursday and Friday, versus six and six previously. Every player on each team will still play in the Sunday’s singles matches. Another change includes that any matches that are all-square after 18 holes, will be determined as a draw, with each team receiving a half point.”
The International Team
Jason Day 4-4-2
Day had a September to remember and he will be counted on heavily if the International team wants to contend. A matchup with Spieth could be on the radar and the one matchup we all want to see.
Louis Oosthuizen 1-3-1
The South African has a bad back which forced him to withdrawal in numerous events. He is a question mark on a daily basis and this really hurts the International’s chances.
Adam Scott 12-15-3
Scott is a veteran and should provide some much needed leadership to the younger players on the team. His putting is a real concern and that is hard to hide in this format.
Hideki Matsuyama 1-3-1
This is the guy who needs to step it up. He has all the talent to do so, he hits it a mile, is a good putter and will be counted on to be one of the leaders on the team.
Branden Grace 0-4
He had a great year in the major’s. He plays well in big events, but he has never tasted success in this format, with an 0-4 record.
Marc Leishman 2-2
The Aussie played on the last team and broke even with two wins and two losses. Someone on the International team will have to step it up and it could be Leishman.
Anirban Lahiri - Rookie
This is where the strength of the two teams shows up. Lahiri is making his debut and doesn’t have the game or experience to perform well.
Thongchai Jaidee - Rookie
Jaidee comes in off a win on the European Tour and he will be a tough matchup to whomever he plays. He is a straight hitter and great putter which bodes well for the International team.
Charl Schwartzel 5-4-1
Schwartzel is hard to predict. We all know that he is one of the best ball-strikers on the planet, but his course management and putting always are a concern.
Danny Lee - Rookie
Lee is the wildcard on the team. He has come into his own over the past year and finally displayed his talent. Lee is my pick to score the most points for the International team.
Steven Bowditch - Rookie
He was a surprise captain’s pick but played well in the FedEx Cup playoffs and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. He will play well.
Sangmoon Bae - Rookie
This will be his last event for about two years. He has to fulfill his military duties in Korea and will take a leave of absence from any tour during that time. He will have the hometown fans behind him and should be a solid player on Nick Price’s squad.
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