CARLOTTA | While we were expecting complete domination by the Americans in this 14th edition of the Presidents Cup, the Internationals held out until the last moment before capitulating to Quail Hollow on Sunday. Insane was the person who predicted a yield of 12.5 points against this machine.
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Yet that’s what Trevor Immelman’s men, heavily overlooked on the eve of the tournament, managed to fight hard against a well-oiled team. At the stroke of 5:30 pm, they waved the flag as the United States hit the score of 15.5 at the expense of poor Corey Conners.
The final table counter stopped at 17.5-12.5 in favor of the Americans.
In fact, for a while, the Internationals’ hopes hung in two threads. Their fate was in the hands of Canadians Taylor Pendrith and Conners. Each of them lost the duel seeing their rivals celebrate. The rest was just a formality before they raised the trophy.
“We dug a hole until Friday night, Immelman recalls. We showed a lot of courage by returning to battle this way. At some point this afternoon, I felt we still had a chance to win. ”
Team to be respected
His men ultimately won five of the 12 games scheduled for the final round, as well as a draw.
“This team is no joke, hammered the captain, very proud of his 12 warriors at his side. I’m tired of being the butt of ridicule. It’s a real team. And we can’t wait for the next edition. ”
It must be said that the captain has encountered many difficulties since his appointment. First, the pandemic hit this competition and delayed it for a year. Then, in recent months, LIV Golf has decimated the lineup by promising mountains of money to its golfers.
“We had set several goals early in the process. We have struggled to reach the majority of them. Only the trophy is missing. ”
“We had victory close at hand in 2019. We were in control and we had escaped. Defeat is always disappointing, veteran Adam Scott said. But let’s not leave Quail Hollow empty-handed. We have gained a lot of experience. This cup will fall back into our hands one day. “
The famine continues
The shortage of Internationals that has persisted since 1998 will wait another two years. Who knows, Royal Montreal could be the scene of a big sporting moment when the leaves turn red in Quebec at the end of September 2024.
In the European rout at Whistling Straits last year, during the Ryder Cup, the Americans immediately kicked off the celebrations. The beer was flowing because the game was still far from over, but the cup was in his pocket. This time, the suspense continued and the champagne bottles remained cool.
Without admitting that they felt a little scared, the Americans found their feet on this last day. Enough to keep them grounded before celebrating.
“Our biggest challenge this week has been to be ourselves and block out outside noise. Throughout our headquarters, the captain had put notes saying we were favorites and we had to win, said American star with her five wins, Jordan Spieth. He had put all these flattering messages.
“But we all focused on our games. Nobody took the opposing team lightly. ”
Ignore label
With an incredible strike force at hand, Captain Davis Love III applauded the involvement of his people in this 12And consecration.
“The pressure is felt in different ways. The big favorites label carries a lot of pressure. I’m glad my boys shrugged off the good performances. “
If the logic is respected and the Americans continue to reap good performances over the next two years, the hard core of this star formation will land in Montreal in 2024.
The tournament will take place on the fairways of the Blue course of the historic Royal Montreal Golf Club from 24 to 29 September.
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Work on the greens
“I’ve learned that Americans excel with their putter. I will definitely add practice on the greens. “
This statement comes from Canadian Taylor Pendrith. The latter and his compatriot Corey Conners were the only golfers not to score points in this edition of the Presidents Cup.
The reason blew the screen all over the world. They lived a real ordeal on the lawns of Quail Hollow. With a few exceptions in the four days of competition, theirs putting hurt them. And since the ruthless Americans sensed the weakness of their prey, they showed no mercy.
“It is very disappointing not to have been able to put points on the scoreboard. Luck didn’t work in my favor. I’ve lost a lot of putts that could have given me momentum, ”said Conners, who once again let his chances slip away against Xander Schauffele on Sunday.
Without trust
In this duel, he made 38 putts. Out of four of the 18 greens, Ontario performed three. A statistic that doesn’t lie to explain his four losses of the week. Having lost faith in his abilities in Charlotte, he still worked hard to find them before the final round. In vain. Like Pendrith, he will be looking to improve this aspect of his game.
In his first appearance at the Presidents Cup, he took two of his four games to the 18-hole limit without delivering his best performance. Pendrith too.
With better putter control, a little more chance, and a less conservative game plan, the two Canadians could have contributed to the score.
“They were good battles. I was often on the mat, but I got up to fight. In the end I didn’t measure up, ”said Conners, who also struggled with his irons, an important part of his game.
The ice is broken. The two golfers look to the future and to the Royal of Montreal, in 2024.
Quail Hollow Express
A SPIETH CLINIC
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Giordano Spieth ended the tournament with a perfect record of 5 wins. A first since Jim Furyk in 2011. he He participated in all sessions of the American team. The friendly Texan stood out above all for his impeccable short game. After facing it three times, the Canadians took notes! Sunday’s match against Australian Cam Davis was not easy, especially on the fairway. But he blew up on the return lining up three birdies in a row, thanks in particular to a 47-foot long putt at 13And flag that broke his opponent’s back. Offering his “best game of the season” according to him, Spieth is back strong in this edition of the Presidents Cup after missing the 2019 selection at Royal Melbourne due to his difficulties on the courses. Hard to believe, but on Sunday he recorded his first win in singles duels representing Team USA for 8thAnd times of his career. In his four Ryder Cup appearances and three previous Presidents Cup appearances, he had never managed to win alone.
«SILENCE»: YES WOO KIM
Si Woo Kim had the pleasure of annoying the Americans during the four days of competition. Top scorer of the Internationals, the Korean pissed off Justin Thomas all Sunday afternoon. And on the green of the difficult 15And, responded brilliantly to a charge from the American by equalizing the holeshot with a delicate 10-foot putt. It was enough for him to be heard and ask the crowd to shut up by putting his index finger over his mouth: “Shh”! By filling up, he was also mimicking a sign from Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, most notably in a fabulous Ryder Cup duel at Hazeltine in 2016. Which set fire to his rival’s back. Kim finally won her duel over Thomas by signing her third tournament win.
LIKE RENALD PARÉ
Both Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith took on the guise of Rénald “Pinson” Paré, a character from The little life. The two Canadians were quite close to their opponents on the greens, not suffering many short putts. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth tasted it, as did Billy Horschel, Max Homa and Tony Finau. We saw that the first two had received some of their decisions badly. JT and Spieth responded by allowing few putts. Finau looked annoyed a few times on Sunday against Pendrith. The latter was not particularly generous towards the rival, leaving him only a few very short rolls. In short, this is a controversial topic of discussion in the format game match. Among the unspoken “code of ethics” rules, contestants should politely concede putts within about two feet. It all depends on the concept inside the skin. Some apply it to the length of the handle, others to the length of the shaft, between the club head and the handle. In the case of the Canadians, many of the putts were questionable. They can defend themselves by imitating the famous Rénald Paré: “They are not cheap ! ”
TIMES CHANGE
Captain Davis Love III regularly participates in these team competitions in the American clan. But this time he noticed some real changes in his men’s habits. Entertainment activities have given way to treatment sessions. Outside the ping-pong tables, replaced by hot and cold baths. Settling in the locker room in the evening, he often looked for his boys. They were either in physiotherapy, in the gym, in ice baths with a teammate or on the training ground in the dark.
“It’s very serious. That’s why they are the best in the world. During the Champions Tour, we played cards in the hotel lobby. These guys are in training or on treatment. Tony has more bottles of supplements and smoothies than bottles of water. It’s amazing what they have to do. I know why they’re the best, “the captain pleaded.
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