BUDDIES CONTINUE LIFE'S TREK AT PRESIDENTS CUP
Connors, Pendrith on International squad looking for upset of favoured Americans
If it wasn't all so new, Tuesday would have been just like old times for Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith as they played the back nine at Quail Hollow together in preparation for this week's Presidents Cup.
They've been college teammates, roommates, best men at each other's weddings, and now Canada's representatives on the International team are waiting to find out if they will be paired together in the Presidents Cup. There isn't anybody's game Conners is more familiar with than his long-hitting and longtime buddy Pendrith.
“Certainly not on this team, maybe not anybody in the world, actually,” Conners said after Tuesday's practice round. “We've played so much golf together.”
That decision is captain Trevor Immelman's to make, who is sure to have the International team's analytics guru Duncan Carey in his ear. Carey worked with Team Europe at the 2016 and 2018 Ryder Cups, and with the Internationals in Melbourne in 2019. We will find out Wednesday when pairings for Thursday's opening session are announced at the head-to-head selection process between Immelman and American captain Davis Love III. The Presidents Cup might play second fiddle to the Ryder Cup in many respects, but selecting pairings in what amounts to a high-stakes fantasy draft easily trumps the Ryder Cup's blind ballots.
On a scorching Tuesday in Charlotte, the teams played their first official practice rounds with the heavily favoured Americans teeing off on the back nine in three foursomes and attracting most of the attention from fans, while the underdog Internationals in their sharp all-black gear teed off at the first hole.
“Nothing I'm not used to, to be honest,” Conners, who now lives in Florida, said of the heat. “I've played in plenty of warm conditions.”
Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-30 C range most of the week before cooling on the weekend. Whether because of its modest history, a lack of familiarity with some players or the American domination, the buildup for the Presidents Cup never matches the Ryder Cup, but the physical buildup on-site at a sprawling Quail Hollow is second to none and it should be a spectacular venue for the soldout event.
Immelman's Internationals are trying to feed off momentum created in 2019 in Melbourne, where under the strong leadership of Ernie Els — whose smooth swing belies a powerful personality — the perpetual underdogs nearly pulled off the upset over playing captain Tiger Woods' Americans before stumbling in Sunday singles. Looking toward a losing team for inspiration isn't ideal, but it's a fact of life for a team with just one win and one draw in 13 previous events.
“I think it's quite clear that we're the underdogs,” Immelman said Tuesday. “It's a tag that we're used to. But the exciting part for us really is I do think that it frees us up because we have nothing to lose. If you look at our record in this tournament and you look at our world rankings versus their world rankings, we have absolutely nothing to lose.”
The discrepancy is massive, with the American players on Love's team coming in with an average ranking of 12th in the world, while the highest ranked player on the Internationals is Hideki Matsuyama at 17th.
Pendrith, while in great form, is ranked 109th.
“I certainly don't care at all,” Conners said. “I feel very excited to be here and I'm definitely hungry, and that's the vibe from the other guys, too.”
The same can be said for the Americans, who have been told by Love that this particular team hasn't won anything yet. It's a message that seems to be getting through.
“I cannot imagine being overly confident,” American Max Homa said. “We've all played golf for so long. Any time we're home or on the practice round, I'm pretty sure almost everyone plays a match. And one day of golf in match play is difficult, and you have to play great. I truly can't imagine being overconfident.
The International team is great.”
The Presidents Cup is played Thursday to Sunday with single sessions taking place Thursday and Friday before a double session Saturday, followed by Sunday singles. The opening session is foursomes, also known as alternate shot, a demanding style that requires strategy and teamwork, and has little room for error.
“I certainly like my game in that format,” Conners said. “I will be ready to play all five matches and we'll see how it goes.”
Conners seems built for foursomes with his incredible consistency from tee to green, and Pendrith's massive length with a driver makes him an attractive option as well, particularly at this bomber's course.
For these Canadian pals, the Presidents Cup is the next chapter in an already unlikely story. They will find out soon whether it will be another they will write together.