What’s French for, “Can we have a mulligan?”
The Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal is just underway, yet also nearly over following a 5-0 sweep in Day 1 by Jim Furyk’s Team U.S.A.
“It obviously didn’t go our way at all today,” said International veteran Adam Scott. “We’re now in a really tough spot, but thankfully there’s tomorrow.”
It’s just the third opening-round sweep at a Presidents Cup and captain Mike Weir’s Internationals have a mountain to climb if they want to avoid dropping to 1-13-1 in the event’s 30-year history.
“We’re obviously on the road, the last couple road games have been close,” Amerian Patrick Cantlay said. “I think it’s a huge statement.”
The four-ball session scoreboard was predominantly Team U.S.A. red for most of Thursday, but early International hopes were buoyed by the opening group Jason Day and Ben An who won the first hole against Team U.S.A.’s Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau.
Turns out, that was a good as it got for the Internationals who led for just 10 holes compared to 61 for Team U.S.A.
“Reality is, it wasn’t a great day, but it’s like the first period of a hockey game the way I look at it,” captain Mike Weir said. “You’re down, but there’s a long way to go.”
Day 2 is foursomes, otherwise known as alternate-shot, which has historically been Team U.S.A’s most dominant format.
Is it too early to pull the goalie?
THURSDAY SCORES
Schauffele & Finau 1 UP Day & An
Morikawa & Theegala 1 UP Scott & Lee
Scheffler & Henley 3 & 2 Im & Kim
Clark & Bradley 2 UP Pendrith & Bezuidenhout
Cantlay & Burns 2 & 1 Matsuyama & Conners
FRIDAY MATCHES
1:05 p.m. Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im
1:19 p.m. Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa vs. Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith
1:33 p.m. Max Homa/Brian Harman vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day
1:47 p.m. Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau vs. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes
2:01 p.m. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley vs. Si Woo Kim/Ben An
Sitting out for US: Sam Burns, Keegan Bradley
Sitting out for International: Min Woo Lee, Tom Kim