Presidents Cup: Internationals carry pleasure however are modifications wanted to cease Team USA’s dominance?

Team USA continued their Presidents Cup dominance with a record-extending tenth victory over the Internationals, reigniting debate about whether or not change is required to ‘save’ the occasion.

The United States gained seven-and-a-half factors within the final-day singles to finish a convincing 18.5-11.5 victory at Royal Montreal Golf Club, their largest away win in Presidents Cup historical past and the thirteenth time in 15 editions of the biennial contest they’ve claimed the trophy.

The International crew fought again from shedding the opening session to a clear sweep to win all 5 of their matches on Friday and degree the competition going into the weekend, elevating hopes of ending their 26-year look forward to victory, just for Team USA to drag forward over the ultimate two days.

“The Presidents Cup needs an injection,” Sky Sports‘ Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley mentioned after Sunday’s play. “We thought we had it after the 5-5 after two days. We haven’t got it and now it’s going to come under the microscope, it’s going to under criticism.”

International crew captain Mike Weir insisted the “margin was so close” regardless of the rating, given the quantity of matches that have been determined by one gap of much less throughout the four-day occasion, though the newest defeat means they’ve now misplaced each version for the reason that tied contest in 2003.

Former main champion Rich Beem advised Sky Sports: “I can promise you that the Internationals are uninterested in shedding. Until the Internationals do get that subsequent win, it will be more durable and more durable for them to drag it off.

“They’ve got to figure out whether it’s the venue, whether it’s the point system, or something else that’s got to change a little bit, because the Americans are just going to continue to churn out young, great players.”

Was the occasion a hit regardless of the outcome?

Four of the world’s prime six are American gamers and all of Jim Furyk’s line-up have been contained in the world’s prime 25, though their star-studded line-up was commonly examined as 20 of the matches weren’t determined till the seventeenth gap or later.

The contest nonetheless produced record-breaking drama, with the primary back-to-back swept classes in historical past, a uncommon foursomes success for the Internationals and accusations of ‘unhealthy sportsmanship’ as tempers boiled over between the 2 sides at occasions.

“The International side has got all kinds of game, but when you have as much depth as the United States side, it’s a massive difference,” Beem admitted. “Anybody can beat anybody on one given day, but if you stretch it out to four different days, that’s a different thing.”

On his crew’s efficiency, Weir mentioned: “They [Internationals] battled right to the end. That’s all you can ask from the captain is what I asked them to do, and they responded and did that. There was a super high level of play, I think on both teams.

“It was really high-level golf, lots of birdies, lots of big momentum swings. Really exciting golf, as a golf fan, to watch, which I’m a golf fan. It was really great golf to watch.”

Could a combined occasion assist the Internationals?

Seven of the world’s prime 9 gamers within the ladies’s recreation are from nations represented by the Internationals, together with AIG Women’s Open champion Lydia Ko, with every of the final 4 ladies’s main champions coming from nations outdoors of the United States and Europe.

The risk of including feminine gamers into the Presidents Cup has lengthy been steered as a possible solution to make the competition nearer, though the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour already has a co-sanctioned combined crew occasion with the Grant Thornton Invitational.

“That [a mixed Presidents Cup] would be a fascinating watch, especially when you think of Team USA against the International team in the ladies’ game,” former world No 1 Justin Rose advised Sky Sports. “The International team would be incredibly strong.

“There’s clearly a whole lot of Korean gamers dominating on the planet rankings and Lydia Ko – from New Zealand – has had probably the most superb summer season. That might actually shore up the International crew and probably even give them the sting.”

Is a change in format wanted?

There have been 32 factors up for grabs within the early editions earlier than rising to 34 factors in 2003, with the variety of matches then lowered to 30 in 2015 and remaining unchanged ever since.

The Presidents Cup is performed over 4 days somewhat than the three used within the Ryder Cup, the place there are solely a complete of 28 factors on provide and extra gamers sit out of the primary 4 classes.

“Why not switch it back to three days, to mimic the Ryder Cup?” Beem steered. “That way, if you have guys that aren’t playing that great, you can hide them a little bit.

“You additionally then have one additional day of relaxation if these gamers need to play the week earlier than, like Adam Scott, Byeong Hun An and Si Woo Kim did on the BMW PGA Championship.”

Weir mentioned within the post-tournament press convention that he “hadn’t been pushing for change,” whereas vice-captain Ernie Els added: “Our first prize was 28, so we had to settle somewhere. I think 30 is fine. I don’t know how the guys feel. We’ve just got to play a little better, get a little sharper.”

Would LIV Golf gamers make a distinction?

Seven of the International crew that have been narrowly crushed 15.5-14.5 within the 2015 version and 5 of the facet from their shut 2019 loss have since joined the LIV Golf League, making them ineligible because of the Presidents Cup being a PGA Tour-run occasion.

Veteran Louis Oosthuizen, main champion Cameron Smith and rising star Joaquin Niemann are among the many names who might have added some depth and expertise to the Internationals crew, though Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have been amongst these to overlook out for Team USA.

“Of all three of those teams [Team USA, Europe and the Internationals], I would say the International team took LIV Golf the hardest,” Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard mentioned. “Clearly, LIV Golf gutted what was going to be a stable International crew.

“Essentially, Trevor Immelman [2022 Internationals captain] had to begin rebuilding from scratch just weeks before Charlotte [previous Presidents Cup]. The Team USA lost players but they’re deeper, so it’s easier for them to backfill.

“If there is a universe the place you will get the 2 sides collectively, think about the crew that the Internationals might discipline?! I believe that would make a distinction.”

Can time assist the Internationals?

Only three of the Internationals facet got here into the occasion with greater than two earlier Presidents Cup appearances, whereas 10 of the 12 gamers have been 33 of youthful, leaving former world No 1 Scott excited for the longer term.

“I felt like there’s been an evolution under this Shield the last two Cups, four or five years of that, and buy-in from all the international players,” Scott mentioned. “It’s something that they aspire to play for.

“I felt we just had a great trip up here. The personalities were great. I think you saw that under the heat of competition this week from some of these guys, maybe some unexpected personalities out on the golf course, some expected as well.

“The outcome sadly is similar. With a deep dive, I believe there are positives all the time to see, and hopefully this competitors evokes all of us to play actually exhausting, go on with our careers the subsequent two years, win massive occasions, and are available again higher ready and able to win in Chicago.”

Team USA can be trying to regain the Ryder Cup from September 26-28 subsequent 12 months at Bethpage Black towards Team Europe, with the subsequent Presidents Cup going down in 2026 at Medinah Country Club. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and extra with NOW.