From left: Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee in a lighter second Monday at Royal Montreal.
Getty Pictures
MONTREAL — The speak turns to Sunday, although it’s now Monday. They’re taking part in professional golf, however the chatter is about professional soccer.
About Tom Brady. The GOAT-turned-TV-analyst seemingly nonetheless dominates dialog, even when he’s simply tossing out nouns and verbs now, quite than pigskins. Or no less than TB12 did right here, on the twelfth inexperienced of stately Royal Montreal, as 4 Individuals readied for Thursday’s begin of the Presidents Cup, which biennially pits the U.S. towards one of the best on the earth outdoors of Europe.
“Did any of you catch what Tom Brady mentioned yesterday?” mentioned caddie Ted Scott, whose employer, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, is presently shredding golf programs to the same degree as Brady as soon as did defenses. Scott then continued his anecdote about Brady’s ideas on Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys-Baltimore Ravens sport, and laughs adopted from Scheffler and Sam Burns, a Scheffler teammate this week and an in depth pal.
The takeaways listed below are a number of. For one, Brady is no less than getting some people to tune in, although whether or not he’s value 9 figures is a debate to be argued on one other net web page. This, after all, is a golf article. And the thought on the golf is that the fast back-and-forth supplied a peek into the Scheffler-Scott dynamic, which shouldn’t be underestimated within the professional’s ascent — and that the American temper seemed gentle Monday, when spectators have been restricted to varied officers and a handful of reporters.
Together with this one, who’s hoping to supply 17 extra observations on the week forward within the paragraphs to comply with.
Within the phrases of Brady then, let’s goooo!
2. In the event you’re into the historical past of this occasion, know that the U.S. facet has received 12 of the 14 playings of the Cup, shedding as soon as and tying as soon as. This additionally fascinated me, although. That is the second time that Royal Montreal has hosted, following 2007, when memorably Tiger Woods was defeated in Sunday singles by Mike Weir, this 12 months’s captain, on Weir’s home-country soil.
Two years later on the Presidents Cup, and 15 years in the past now, Woods and accomplice Steve Stricker then defeated Weir and accomplice Tim Clark in a match — the place Woods authored THE membership twirl on his technique to sealing issues, which you’ll view beneath.
3. Extra historical past!
Additionally on the 2007 occasion, throughout Friday four-ball play, whereas attempting to drive the driveable par-4 14th gap, Woody Austin hit his tee shot into the water to the left of the inexperienced, then this occurred on his second swing — and he turned often called Aquaman:
4. You’re going to listen to concerning the shot this week.
On Monday afternoon, Golf Channel analyst Johnson Wagner was scoping out the world, then tried the swing later within the day, which you’ll watch right here. He’s been implausible in recreating pictures on stay air.
5. Shortly after Wagner seemed on the spot, the creator did. It’s a steep drop.
The water was heat, although.
6. MORE historical past!
Simply 5 Individuals — Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele — have been on the 2021 crew that steam-rolled the Euro facet on the Ryder Cup.
The following 12 months, LIV Golf notably began.
7. It would doubtless be introduced up this week how U.S. captain Jim Furyk and Worldwide captain Weir really feel concerning the PGA of America’s current announcement that LIV gamers will be picked for the U.S. crew.
The Presidents Cup is, after all, staged by the PGA Tour — which has been in a three-season-long struggle with LIV.
8. Ought to the Presidents Cup be a combined occasion? U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis thought so.
“To be sincere, I’d like to see the Presidents Cup grow to be combined,” she mentioned two weeks in the past. “It’s the right technique to mix the 2 excursions. The Worldwide crew will get higher in a short time.
“I believe it will be wonderful to have the 2 excursions collectively that approach.”
Tour Confidential: Presidents Cup preview, LIV Golf modifications and extra
9. Must you be questioning if the pay-for-play storyline from final 12 months’s Ryder Cup will proceed, know that gamers received’t be paid on the Presidents Cup.
Right here is the official phrase, from the Presidents Cup web site, within the “continuously requested questions” part:
“The Presidents Cup is a biennial international crew competitors between the USA and an Worldwide crew that represents the remainder of the world excluding Europe. The competitors alternates between venues within the U.S. and abroad. The Presidents Cup is a novel golf occasion in that there isn’t a purse or prize cash. Gamers are usually not paid for his or her participation, however every competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his selection. Because the inception of the Presidents Cup in 1994, greater than $56.4 million has been generated from occasion proceeds. Over the previous 25 years, the Presidents Cup has impacted greater than 475 charities in 18 international locations worldwide. Cognizant and Rolex are the unique World Companions of the Presidents Cup.”
10. On that be aware, beneath are Cantlay’s ideas on this 12 months’s clothes.
11. Talking of articles of clothes, Keegan Bradley’s caddie, Scott Vail, was quizzing Scheffler on his footwear whereas strolling after a tee shot, making a gesture at one level within the method of Scheffler’s slide follow-through.
Scheffler re-assured him that the grips on his footwear have been good.
12. In the event you’re up for some Presidents Cup studying, Furyk sounded fired up in this text right here from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
13. And Golf Digest’s Shane Ryan makes the case in this text right here that the Presidents Cup will someday be larger than the Ryder Cup.
14. Right here’s saying Min Woo Lee is the breakout Worldwide star.
15. Right here’s saying Sahith Theegala is the breakout American star.
16. Right here’s hoping Max Homa holes out.
Ought to he, assistant captain Kevin Kisner guarantees to take his tarp off, a la the caddies two weeks in the past on the Solheim Cup.
17. So who wins this?
Our Tour Confidential gang has their say right here. In the event you’re into odds, as of Monday afternoon, BetMGM lists the U.S. at -250, and the Internationals at +260 (and a tie at +1,400)
Me? No guesses right here. However for those who imagine in depth of expertise, the world rankings will let you know that favors the Individuals (The U.S.: Scottie Scheffler, No., 1; Xander Schuaffele, No., 2; Collin Morikawa, No. 4; Wyndham Clark, No. 6; Patrick Cantlay, No. 9; Sahith Theegala, No. 11; Keegan Bradley, No. 13; Russell Henley, No, 14; Sam Burns, No. 19; Brian Harman, No. 22; Tony Finau, No. 23; Max Homa, No. 25. And the Internationals: Hideki Matsuyama, No. 7; Adam Scott, No. 18; Sungjae Im, No. 21; Tom Kim, No. 24; Jason Day, No. 33; Ben An, No. 34; Corey Conners, No. 37; Min Woo Lee, No. 40; Taylor Pendrith, No. 44; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, No. 45; Si Woo Kim, No. 49; Mackenzie Hughes, No. 61.
In the event you imagine in home-course benefit, that ought to fall into the Worldwide ledger. The Canadian Open yearly is a celebration. This Thursday via Sunday needs to be bopping.
18. On that be aware, the Avis rental automotive stand on Monday at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Worldwide Airport was all outta vehicles. The rationale a cashier informed a poor soul forward of me in line:
“A golf match.”
19. Bonus!
In the event you’ve made it this far, and you’re keen on your Montreal, inform me the place I have to eat. Give me your recs at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
