Presidents Cup in full swing at Royal Montreal Golf Club
Posted September 26, 2024 12:44 pm.
Last Updated September 26, 2024 8:03 pm.
The Presidents Cup began Thursday with a four-ball format for the first round at the Royal Montreal Golf Club.
“Were ready to go,” says Ryan Hart, executive director of the tournament. “We’ve been planning this for a few years.”
The day featured five matches with 10 players from each the American and International teams.
- 11:35 a.m.: Xander Schauffele-Tony Finau vs. Jason Day-Ben An
- 11:53 a.m.: Collin Morikawa-Sahith Theegala vs. Adam Scott-Min Woo Lee
- 12:11 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler-Russell Henley vs. Sungjae Im-Tom Kim
- 12:29 p.m.: Wyndham Clark-Keegan Bradley vs. Taylor Pendrith-Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- 12:47 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay-Sam Burns vs. Hideki Matsuyama-Corey Conners
Rogers Communications is the official telecommunications partner of the popular golf tournament.
And around 30,000 spectators are expected to attend the highly anticipated event daily.
“Let’s be really proud of this,” says Montreal mayor, Valérie Plante at the Royal Montreal on Thursday. “You could feel it in the crowd that we’re so happy.”
“Just like we were happy with the Grand Prix cycliste or the marathon and the Grand Prix,” she added. “Those events shows the world that Montreal is very big into sports.”
Schedule for the week
- Thursday: Five matches total, four-ball
- Friday: Five matches total, foursomes (alternate shot)
- Saturday: Eight matches total, four-ball and foursomes split the morning and afternoon
- Sunday: Twelve matches total, singles
The Royal Montreal Golf Club hosted the Presidents Cup back in 2007 — it’s the second international venue to host the event more than once.
And Hart explained to CityNews that Hole 14, might just be the most challenging for the players this weekend.
“It’s a risk-reward short par-4,” he said. “From a fan perspective, if I was coming in and not doing what I’m doing, I would head to the 14th hole for sure.”
Format
The Presidents Cup is a four-day, match play event with 30 total matches, comprised of a 12-person U.S. Team and 12-person International Team. The team that earns the most points after four days of competition wins the Presidents Cup.
The first hole, a giant amphitheater that the Presidents Cup team built for spectators.
“One of our goals really over the last three years was try to bring that energy from the Bell Centre on a Saturday night,” said Hart. “And bring that to the first tee.”
From DJs to giant screens — there’s space for 2,500 people as the pros tee off.
The event, happens every two years.
This year, three Canadians are on the International team, the most ever at a single Presidents Cup.
Plus, Canadian golf icon Mike Weir is the captain of this team.
The last and only win from the International team was back in 1998 — they tied in 2003.
“I think the last two Presidents Cup have been extremely close,” said Hart. “I think it’s just time and form coming in.”
“I think this one is a little bit different,” explained Hart. “I mean, on Canadian soil, you’ve got Mike Weir, Canadian icon as the captain, three Canadians on the team.”
“I think these fans are gonna be pretty pro-Canadian,” he added. “I think it’s gonna be loud and I think that’ll help push them along.”
