Presidents Cup preview, LIV Golf modifications

Test in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked subjects within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we talk about the upcoming Presidents Cup, LIV Golf’s Crew Championship and future, and extra.

It’s Presidents Cup week! So let’s head to Canada, the place the People tackle the Internationals at Royal Montreal Golf Membership in Quebec. The U.S. has dominated this occasion and owns a 12-1-1 all-time document and hasn’t misplaced in 20 years. If Mike Weir and the Internationals had been to win this week, what must occur?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): The U.S. would have to be critically off their sport to submit an L this week. On paper, the People are simply so, so robust. However, that being mentioned, it’s match play! So after all something can occur (in idea). Taking part in on house soil can typically be a giant motivator. With a Canadian captain and three Canadians on the Worldwide crew, possibly the sudden will occur. However I wouldn’t wager on it. 

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): All the U.S. crew must oversleep their tee occasions? I’m kidding (type of), however I actually don’t see a path for the Internationals to win. With out the expertise they misplaced to LIV, the Worldwide crew simply doesn’t have the firepower to maintain up with Crew USA. I anticipate one other stress-free victory for the People. 

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): Weir may have Scottie Scheffler arrested, and when the U.S. crew goes to protest, he may lock up the remainder of them. As Jess says, it’s match-play. Nothing is preordained. However the oddsmakers have this one lopsided for a cause.

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): The Canadian guys go undefeated. They solely means the U.S. crew loses this one is that if the house crowd will get actually fired up for the 5 Canadians mowing down opponents. As my colleagues alluded to, match play is the good equalizer!

The People are with out long-time team-event standouts Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, and they’re already after all with none LIV gamers (Brooks Koepka was on the final Ryder Cup crew). Is that this U.S. crew extra beatable than others we’ve seen through the years?

Marksbury: No. Even with out these notables, the U.S. remains to be so deep! Scottie, Collin, Xander, Sahith, Keegan, to call just a few, all within the midst of nice seasons.

Melton: They is perhaps a little extra weak than we’ve seen them prior to now, however it’s nonetheless a really robust crew. The U.S. has a particularly deep expertise pool on the highest ranges of professional golf. Though this crew may lack among the stalwarts of earlier groups, they nonetheless have tons of expertise.

Sens: All due respect to Spieth and Thomas, however neither has been lighting it up of late. I don’t see the U.S. lacking a step of their absence. And it’s not as if the Internationals haven’t misplaced expertise to LIV, too. No Cameron Smith. No Joaqium Nieman.

Hirsh: Sorry to sound like a damaged document, however no. People have received the final seven majors, final two Gamers Championships and every of the final two Olympic Golds. And that doesn’t embody guys like Morikawa, Cantlay, Theegala, and so on. This crew is under no circumstances beatable.

Look into your crystal ball and predict the very best point-earners (for every crew) and provides us your winner.

Marksbury: Scottie Scheffler will put a bow on an already historic season by going 4-0-0 (4 factors) to steer the U.S. Tom Kim will scratch out three factors to steer the Internationals, however the united stateswill in the end prevail 18-12.

Melton: Crew USA: Xander Schauffele (3.5 factors); Crew Worldwide: Adam Scott (2.5 factors). Crew USA comes out on high 18.5-11.5.

Sens: I feel–or at the least hope–it is going to be nearer. Crew USA 16-14. Xander will nab 4 factors to paved the way for the People, with  fired-up Canadian Taylor Pendrith successful 3.5 for the Internationals.

Hirsh: Tom Kim was electrical two years in the past, I see him and Hideki Matsuyama incomes 2.5-3 factors for the Internationals however may hear an argument for Corey Conners. For the U.S., I see Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa (sure, that is precisely what’s going to get him out of his funk) going 4-0-0. U.S. rolls 17-13, shut sufficient to make it attention-grabbing the entire week, however nonetheless probably not in query.

LIV Golf wrapped up its season with its crew championship on Sunday in Dallas, and among the league’s crew captains hinted at potential modifications sooner or later. What did you make of their feedback? And the way would extra “crew play” determine into LIV’s future (and imply for the pending PGA Tour vs. LIV merger)?

Marksbury: With out world rating factors — and a wider context for every event’s that means on the planet of professional golf — the person stroke-play portion of LIV occasions lacks the drama of the PGA Tour occasions they’re up in opposition to on the weekend. LIV’s crew side has all the time been a differentiator, and making that a part of the league extra partaking and thrilling from a fan perspective can be a giant optimistic. 

Melton: Leaning extra into the crew side would definitely give LIV extra of an id than what they’ve established to this point. Via three seasons, the crew side has been a bit half-baked, but when they had been to make it extra team-oriented, it will give them a clearer id that’s totally different from the remainder of professional golf. Maybe LIV will grow to be the place to play on your crew, whereas the Tour is the place you play for your self? I wouldn’t hate the thought. 

Sens: You get the sense from the gamers’ feedback that they understand issues want shaking up. What to do precisely? LIV’s best weak point is that there isn’t a sense that something’s at stake. Leaning into the crew side is sensible, however I’d add extra of a Squid Sport ingredient to it. Not with blood and guts however with the potential for actual and quick loss. Make it a decrease bar for relegation. If a man performs poorly a few weeks in a row, he will get a warning. If he doesn’t form up the next, swap him out for another person.

Hirsh: I actually like that concept, Zephyr, simply totally embrace the crew side. I feel the entire taking part in the person and crew tournaments on the identical time is problematic in professional golf. It really works on the school degree as a result of the person occasion is secondary to the crew occasion, not a lot when there’s $4 million at stake for first place. I feel the match-play side of the crew championship was enjoyable an progressive, however it was kinda complicated and onerous to observe. However could possibly be tweaked sooner or later.

Talking of LIV, with Yr 3 now a wrap, what’s subsequent and what’s vital? Creating pathways with the Tour? Signing away extra high expertise? A much bigger, wider TV deal? In case you are operating the present, what’s in your offseason agenda?

Marksbury: A broader settlement must be high of thoughts. It looks as if the one method to give LIV the relevance it wants — and a means so as to add each intrigue and eyeballs.

Melton: They’ve obtained to get a greater TV deal. It’s robust to take the league critically when it’s drawing fewer eyeballs than the underwater basket-weaving world championship. With a correct TV accomplice, LIV won’t ever garner broad mainstream enchantment.

Sens: TV deal for positive. However I’d even be pushing for extra LIV-vs.-Tour occasions, just like the upcoming televised match with Scheffer, Bryson, Brooks and Rory. Develop that right into a Ryder Cup-style competitors, and also you’d get some consideration. 

Hirsh: It’s the TV deal as my colleagues mentioned, but additionally want to determine to get their guys incomes rating factors once more and which means getting pathways to the majors once more. There’s going to be lots of huge names lacking majors subsequent 12 months.

Rory McIlroy’s newest shut name got here on the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, as he misplaced in a playoff to Billy Horschel. This adopted a runner-up end on the Irish Open final week and, relationship additional again, his heartbreaking U.S. Open loss. He hasn’t received since Might. Any cause to fret about what’s taking place throughout this stretch? 

Marksbury: Slightly bit! I can’t assist however really feel there are some particular mental-game issues at play, when a participant of Rory’s caliber crumbles down the stretch quite a lot of occasions in a season. However we’ve seen him bounce again prior to now, and this has been a attempting 12 months for him personally and professionally. I’m inclined to provide him some grace, and hope he can get some vital relaxation within the low season.

Melton: No cause to fret — closing out golf tournaments is difficult! The one cause we’re speaking about it is because he continues to place himself into rivalry. It’d be extra worrisome if Rory had been lacking cuts every week. He’ll be again within the winner’s circle quickly sufficient. 

Sens: I agree that he’ll be again within the winner’s circle quickly sufficient. However I additionally assume Rory followers have cause to fret about him sealing the deal within the occasions that matter essentially the most to him, that are clearly the majors. A ten-year drought is a protracted dry spell, and there have been a variety of agonizing near-misses alongside the way in which.

Hirsh: Pump the brakes! Are we forgetting 2013, 2017 and 2020 when he didn’t win in any respect? He’s received twice on the PGA Tour this 12 months (OK technically as soon as) and has been in rivalry a boatload of different occasions. I’d say he’s successful at a extra prolific price than at any time in his profession. He’s simply not successful the large ones! It would occur.