Issues are coming all the way down to the wire on the Presidents Cup.
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MONTREAL — The matches are getting smaller on the Presidents Cup, which solely means one factor: the stakes are getting bigger.
After a tense Saturday showdown at Royal Montreal, we’ve formally made it to the highest-stakes second of the week: the Sunday Singles matches.
Twelve golfers will go off in one-on-one matches on Sunday with a whopping 12 factors on the road — practically half the purpose complete for the whole Presidents Cup. The foundations are easy: every match is value some extent, and the primary crew to fifteen.5 wins the Cup. (The present rating is Individuals 11, Internationals 7.)
After a noticeably chippy (and, at occasions, chilly) Saturday in Montreal, we flip our consideration to Sunday with bated breath. Singles matches are historically the time within the schedule most apt to ship high-octane leisure, and with tensions already simmering, that leisure could be even spicier than common.
Under, we rank all 12 singles matches on Sunday by our personal (extremely subjective) measure of must-watchability. You may tune into the motion from noon-6 p.m. ET on NBC.
Rating all 12 Presidents Cup singles matches by must-watchability
12. Brian Harman vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (2:07 p.m.)
The penultimate match of this Presidents Cup options two of the least-seen members of every crew: Brian Harman for the Individuals (0-2-0 to date), and Christiaan Bezuidenhout for the Internationals (1-1-0). Harman has a legendary monitor document as a U.S. Walker Cupper, and he’ll be seeking to recuperate from two largely dreadful alternate shot performances; whereas Bezuidenhout was a part of the massive Worldwide alternate shot wave on Friday however sat out the whole lot of Saturday’s marathon session.
11. Sahith Theegala vs. Byeong Hun An (1:43 p.m.)
Sahith Theegala has been one of many Individuals’ most excitable rookies this week (Freudian … or ought to we are saying Mongolian slips apart), whereas Ben An has quietly been a powerful power on the Worldwide facet. We didn’t hear from both participant on Saturday, however on Sunday, this match is in prime place to resolve the match.
10. Tony Finau vs. Corey Conners (1:19 p.m.)
Conners is bound to have the Canadian trustworthy in full power, whereas Finau has confirmed nearly impervious to trash talkers. The vitality can be excessive right here, although the placing may not be fairly.
9. Wyndham Clark vs. Min Woo Lee (1:31 p.m.)
Lee has been one of many shock ghosts of this 12 months’s Presidents Cup, not enjoying in a single match since a gap four-ball loss alongside countryman Adam Scott. Mike Weir admitted Saturday that he’d hoped to get the younger Australian extra concerned, however the playing cards didn’t fall Lee’s method after beginning the week with arguably the occasion’s finest haircut. He’ll look to get the gang electrified — and perhaps show Weir unsuitable — together with his efficiency on Sunday.
On the opposite facet, Wyndham Clark has been the image of common in his Staff USA profession, following up a 1-1-1 efficiency on the ’23 Ryder Cup with a 1-2-0 efficiency in Montreal. One other victory would carry him again to an excellent .500 for his Staff USA profession, which by some means feels completely affordable.
8. Max Homa vs. Mackenzie Hughes (2:19 p.m.)
This rating is extra about schedule slot than high quality of opponent. The ultimate match of the 2024 Presidents Cup pits a man who’s performed method higher than his 0-2-0 document suggests (Max Homa) in opposition to a man who’s performed method higher than his 1-2-0 document suggests (Mackenzie Hughes). The 2 golfers have introduced a number of vitality this week, and, if the Cup comes all the way down to them, might go away me wanting fairly silly for rating them this low.
7. Patrick Cantlay vs. Taylor Pendrith (12:50 p.m.)
The man who couldn’t purchase a putt on Saturday (Pendrith) in opposition to the man who couldn’t miss (Cantlay). What might presumably go unsuitable? In all seriousness, although, with Cantlay morphing into a full-blown apex predator within the greatest moments underneath the U.S. flag, this one might mark the emergence of a brand new Captain America. That’s well worth the value of admission alone.
6. Xander Schauffele vs. Jason Day (12:02 p.m.)
The first match of Sunday pits arguably the Individuals’ finest participant at this Cup (Xander Schauffele) in opposition to arguably the Internationals’ most shocking chief (Jason Day). Each golfers have performed impressed golf all week, and this one units as much as be a flusher’s paradise. In each sense of the phrase, it’s a tone-setter for what’s to come back.
5. Russell Henley vs. Sungjae Im (12:38 p.m.)
Many of the finishers on this record fall into the what may very well be class; this one falls squarely within the what has already been. Henley and Im had been a part of a chilly handshake on the finish of a slugfest in Saturday alternate shot. With Im arriving as a licensed flusher and Henley enjoying the very best golf of his life, the fireworks really feel nearly assured.
4. Keegan Bradley vs. Si Woo Kim (1:02 p.m.)
The longer term lifeblood of the Individuals in opposition to the current lifeblood of the Internationals. It’s a match that wants no introduction, although I do concern how Keegan’s New England roots will reply to a yuppie celebration like Si Woo’s “night-night.” Put together your popcorn.
3. Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Scott (1:55 p.m.)
Collin Morikawa has quietly had a fairly dominant week in Montreal (he’s 3-1-1), which caps off a season by which he was quietly one of the crucial dominant gamers on this planet. On Sunday, he can get the exclamation level his PGA Tour common season was lacking in opposition to Adam Scott, the chief of this Worldwide facet.
Morikawa ought to be cautious although, Scott has been enjoying sensible golf, and he’ll be a robust out with the Cup on the road.
2. Sam Burns vs. Tom Kim (12:14 p.m.)
Burns, the man who stated he doesn’t thoughts yelling again on the haters, and Tom Kim, the man who has by no means as soon as minded stirring up the haters in Montreal. After Kim’s sportsmanship feedback towards the Individuals on Saturday night, this one may have a number of additional consideration, and Kim’s admission that he’s “so motivated” to seize a win on Sunday means the fireworks are coming.
1. Scottie Scheffler vs. Hideki Matsuyama (12:26 p.m.)
Contemplating each of those golfers are the very best gamers on their respective groups, this match is a real heavyweight bout. Contemplating the way in which their match ended on Saturday — with Scheffler, the World No. 1, hanging on the rim after a proverbial Tomahawk dunk — the rematch on Sunday is bound to be additional spicey. And contemplating the way in which the half-hour earlier than that match ended went, you may guess Scottie is exhibiting up with a bee in his bonnet.
In different phrases: Maintain onto your butts, of us, this one is gonna be a doozy.
