The Presidents Cup is here, and we’re as excited as we can be for a Ryder Cup wannabe event that ended in a tie the last time it was played. The last time a major sporting event ended in a tie, Bud Selig was commissioner of Major League Baseball and the All-Star Game was called a draw.
What? You say Bud Selig is still the commissioner of the MLB? Oy.
Here are our staff predictions for this, the sixth playing of the Presidents Cup.
Erik J. Barzeski
Final Score: United States: 19.5, International: 14.5. It’ll probably be a one-point game going into the singles, but the U.S. side is deeper and features some gritty competitors who can all putt better than most of the Internationals.
Biggest Point-Getter: Tiger Woods earns 4.5 points. You know, so long as Nicklaus doesn’t pair him with that whiny, phony baby named Phil.
Biggest Disappointment: Can you call Mike Weir a disappointment? He’s playing so badly that if he wins any points it’s likely to be considered a plus. The biggest disappointment in my eyes is likely to be on the American side, and I’m fingering Fred Funk for the letdown. He hasn’t played well since the Players Championship.
Key Matchup: “Team Chemistry” on the International side versus the putters on the American side. Nobody on the International team can putt nearly as well as most of the Americans, but if our flat sticks go cold, you’re going to hear the word “team chemistry” and “bonding” a lot more than you’d like.
Cody Thrasher
Final Score: United States: 18, International: 16. The International team would have won with Ernie Els playing, but the US will sneak by without the Big Easy leading the International team. It will still be closer than people expect.
Biggest Point-Getter: Chris DiMarco with 4 points. The guy loves match-play events, and it will show this week. He will lead the United States team to victory.
Biggest Disappointment: Tiger Woods. I don’t really think he wants to be there. He may win his singles match, but he will be shut out in the foursome matches.
Key Matchup: The first foursomes match on Thursday. The US team has struggled in this format. Will they get it together this time and start off on fire, or will they be forced to rely on their singles play once again?
Dave Koster
Final Score: United States: 21, International: 13. I think the US will get off to a small lead and slowly build on it going into the singles. That is where they will put it away with a convincing win.
Biggest Point-Getter: Davis Love III – 4 points. He has the best record of anyone in the field and may get paired against some weaker international opponents. I think he has the perfect demeanor for Cup play and has been improving as the year has progressed. Tiger may play better, but Love will have the match up advantage.
Biggest Disappointment: It has to be Mike Weir. The whole year has been a disappointment for him, but he is supposed to be someone that has to get at least a split and I just don’t see him doing that. I’ll be surprised if he wins any points at all. The only way is if his partner carries him around the course in the first couple days. Don’t be surprised to see Weir sit a round out.
Key Matchup: International Rookies vs. lesser experienced Americans. Four guys for the International team have no Presidents Cup experience and only one for the Americans… and he has Ryder Cup time logged. I still want to see what type of point disparity there is between Funk, Cink, Verplank, and DiMarco and the green Internationals: Cabrera, O’Hern, Hensby, and Immelman. Without a doubt, you will see these guys playing against each other. I’ll be surprised if the US doesn’t win the majority of points, but we’ve seen stranger things happen.
Biggest Surprise: David Toms wins majority of points. The guy is a competitor. Anyone else would be shaken well beyond a James Bond martini, but not Toms. The Louisiana boy will impress everyone.
Everardo Keeme
Final Score: United States: 19, International: 15. I think the US will be off to a slow start but has more depth and experience. I see the US pulling away in Four-ball matches. Plus it’s our turf!
Biggest Point-Getter: Phil Mickelson – I know people will think I’m crazy and people we bagging on him after the last equipment change and for trying a new putter this week but it was after his switch to Callaway that he shot a 59 and started the season strong. He is looking for “something” to get his edge back and when he finds it he’ll do very well. He’s alse learned to prepare better for events and is still having a great year even though he appears to be in a slump. He’s also looking to redeem himself with the Ryder Cup falling out and public humiliation from the good old boy captain.
Biggest Disappointment: Hate to say it but it might be one of the Americans who has been struggling as of late. One of the rookies from the International team may also have some setbacks. I don’t envision a compete meltdown by one person though.
Key Matchup: Anyone against the International rookies. All very good players but need to establish themselves more in this format but the US better not take them for granted! Agree that we’ll hear a lot about “team chemistry” but it’s still the individual who has to strike the ball.
Josh Premuda
Final Score: United States: 19, International: 15. I think this is going to be a close one, but the US will prevail on its home turf. The US has a bit more experience and depth.
Biggest Point-Getter: Retief Goosen and Freddie Couples. I think these two will be the point leaders for both squads. I love both of their games. Nothing seems to bother either of them and Couples, especially, plays well in this format. Goosen is riding a hot streak right now, so I can’t pick against him. I’m also guessing Justin Leonard will sneak up on everyone, earning valuable points for the US. Same with Tim Clark. He’ll be a valuable asset to the Internationals.
Biggest Disappointment: aka, “Most Likely to Crap the Bed,” Fred Funk. I just don’t think he deserves to be on the team. He’s that guy that’s just happy to be there, which isn’t a good thing when you’re competing. Also, I hate to say this, but Tiger never scores well in these things. So I’m not expecting much from him.
Key Matchup: If the US pairs Tiger and Freddie together (Team Most Popular), I think they will set the stage for the rest of the Cup. The crowds they will attract will be quite overwhelming for whoever is matched up against them. Otherwise, it will be the bottom few guys of the Internationals vs the experience of the Americans.
Brian Whittaker
Final Score: United States: 22, International: 12. The Americans are 3-1-1 in the previous five meetings of The Presidents Cup. Although they are recovering from the defeat at last year’s Ryder Cup, all three of the US President Cup wins have been at this year’s venue, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Lake Manassas, VA.
Biggest Point-Getter: Kenny Perry. He was the biggest point getter two years ago and seems to be having a good season driving the ball.
Biggest Disappointment: Phil Mickelson, I’ve never really viewed him as being a team player. Also, 6-12-5 record isn’t very impressive to me. Tiger Woods will be worthless in four-ball once again. Josh, don’t underestimate Fred Funk. He may not be the biggest point-getter but I feel that he adds to the team’s chemistry.
Key Matchup:. International players have only 16 combined Presidents Cup appearances versus the 23 combined Presidents Cup appearances by the US players. So it comes down to Experience vs. Inexperience.
Donald MacKenzie
Final Score: United States: 18.5, International: 15.5. The U.S. team is too strong and deep, the Internationals will miss Ernie Els, blah blah blah. This is international match play golf. That means no sure things. And it means that the U.S. will underachieve. In the end, Team USA has the firepower to overcome a serious case of malaise against the spunky Internationals.
Biggest Point-Getter: Fred Couples. I bet ol’ Boom-Boom brings home three points for his side. Given that he’ll probably only play in three matches, I think that’s a fine farewell to international team competition for him.
Biggest Disappointment: The fact that The Presidents Cup still exists. Can’t we just fold this into the Wendy’s Three-Tour Challenge and the Lake Nona-Isleworth snoozefest? Instead of phoning it in this weekend, Tiger and the U.S. boys should be starting to think about next year’s Ryder Cup grudge match.
Key Matchup:. Tiger Woods vs. the clock. Throughout the week, one thought will fill Tiger’s mind: “Is it Sunday night yet?” I guarantee his favorite moment of The Presidents Cup will be when his jet goes wheels-up and is headed out of West Virginia.
Jeff Smith
Final Score: United States: 17.5, International: 16.5. My gut tells me not to expect too much out of the Americans because of their lack or perceived lack of unity but I still think they have too much firepower to let this one slip away. Furyk, Perry, and Couples are the glue that will hold the Americans together.
Biggest Point-Getter: This is Tiger’s year to turn it on in a team event. He’s proven his new swing, is the player of the year in waiting, and should be relaxed and focused enough to contribute in a positive way.
Biggest Disappointment: Vijay’s putter is his present arch-nemesis and he can’t put his team on his back and carry them even if his putter gets hot. Second biggest disappointment is that the Americans are so darned aloof at team events.
Key Matchup: Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell vs. anyone. Both of these guys are hotter than a pawn shop pistol and could provide the momentum to rally their team to victory.
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here and call it a win for the Imports. The reason being, everyone on your staff has already called it a victory for our “Home Grown” lads this weekend. It’s not that I have anything against our boys, but you never know what could go down on any given Sunday. I got a feeling Deep Bucket (Vijay Singh) will come through with a little help from his friends Mr. Appleby and Mr. Scott. But who knows, maybe the outcome of the cup will be decided between the roars of praise vs. the jeering of disregard from the fans themselves and how much, or, if at all, either impact the players’ focus. Nevertheless, this year’s cup is sure to be the bee’s knees.