Tom Kim and the Worldwide staff on Sunday at Royal Montreal.
Getty Pictures
EATING TIM HORTONS DONUTS, MONTREAL — Right here’s how the sentences and paragraphs are made.
Sunday, because the Presidents Cup headed towards its end, I used to be placing the ultimate touches on a Tom Kim piece that was making the case that he’s the face the occasion wants. He’s its lightning rod, I wrote. A little bit of an antihero. Its Ian Poulter, when you’re looking for a Ryder Cup comparability. And Kim’s doing it in essentially the most important approach: organically. His Presidents Cup actions over his two appearances are seemingly not manufactured, and he’s on his technique to being field workplace — when you’re an Worldwide fan, you like TK; when you again the pink, white and blue, you detest him; however you’re watching regardless. I’d even texted Mark Immelman, who was on the decision for the world broadcast, and he replied: “May very well be.” May very well be. I preferred that.
However then Kim apologized for some feedback he made on Saturday, and I punted on about 1,200 phrases with a purpose to cowl the information. Such is life.
I’m nonetheless sticking to my thesis, although. And try to be hoping that he maintains kind and qualifies for the following Cup, which, notably, will probably be performed at Medinah in Illinois — the place Poulter as soon as solidified his Postman moniker.
As we glance again right here on the week that was at Royal Montreal, let’s make that statement No. 1. The purpose is 49 extra, and there’s little or no doubt we’ll get there — I’m saddled up at a Tim Hortons, and the wi-fi, espresso and donuts are all scorching.
2. Timbits are a present from the gods.
3. Si Woo Kim is one other potential face of this occasion. I’m not going to overlook his ‘night-night’ celebration anytime quickly, following a pitch-in throughout Saturday afternoon play.
4. Nor will I overlook Wyndham Clark’s response, when Kim and Tom Kim misplaced to Patrick Cantlay and Schauffele on the 18th gap.
5. Nor will I overlook some on-line chippiness between Clark and the Worldwide’s Ben An.
6. Nor will I overlook that Cantlay had no clue what the celebration was all about.
“Yeah, all the fellows had been saying that,” he stated Saturday night time. “I didn’t even know what the goodnight gesture was till about 10 minutes in the past.”
7. Nor will I overlook this music, which was being performed about each quarter-hour on the first-tee build-out:
8. I don’t suppose there’s any query now that Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are the faces of the American staff. In case you’re a U.S. fan, you’ve already booked their factors; when you’re an Worldwide or Europe fan, you hope your skipper strains up your studs in opposition to ’em.
9. To that finish, I’m nonetheless marveling on the first match on Friday, when Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im whalloped Schauffele and Cantlay 7 and 6, in the future after the U.S. swept opening-day play. The U.S. was punched, then virtually instantly fell over, getting swept themselves on day two.
10. However but they rebounded, profitable the Presidents Cup convincingly. In case you’re a U.S. fan, you must hope they bottle that bounce-back potential forward of subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage. I’ve had a unfastened thought that the American failures in that staff occasion have a bit to do with an incapacity to get well when momentum switches, which inevitably occurs, particularly on the street.
11. Although I feel the largest U.S. Ryder Cup situation now’s maybe only a psychological one — are the Individuals merely urgent an excessive amount of away from dwelling, given the truth that they haven’t gained on the street since 1993? Enjoying on international soil appears to be little downside within the Presidents Cup. Certain, the European expertise stage is best, but it surely’s not drastically so.
12. A scarcity of play forward of the Presidents Cup didn’t appear to be a lot of a difficulty for the Individuals, both, although it had been a speaking level after final yr’s Ryder Cup defeat. Solely Clark, Sahith Theegala and Max Homa performed event golf following the Tour Championship.
13. The Individuals must be a lock at Bethpage. The environment will probably be a carnival, and the house staff rolls.
14. However does that bore you? the result — whoever’s taking part in in their very own park, wins.
It’s nonetheless fantastic theater, although.
15. However does the Presidents Cup bore? You additionally know the result — U.S. wins, typically by many.
On website? It’s a hoot. The play is condensed, the environment is loud, the drinks are chilly.
However on TV? Yeah, one thing wants to alter. Fixed U.S romps could enhance your American patriotism, however not rankings.
16. For one, you possibly can’t kick off Sunday play in opposition to King NFL. Golf broadcaster Shane Bacon urged a 9 a.m. begin. I completely agree.
In its most dramatic moments, this Presidents Cup delivered one thing particular
17. Bacon additionally urged placing singles in the course of the competitors. I like that, too.
18. However why aren’t issues nearer? On the 1998 occasion, Crew INT gained this factor 20.5-11.5, then it by no means gained once more.
Listed below are some ideas from Ernie Els, who this yr was an assistant captain, and has been as instrumental as anybody in build up the Internationals:
“We had been in a very golden interval there for some time. Undecided why [the Internationals have struggled]. We had lots of people within the high 10, high 15, high 20 on the planet for a protracted time period within the ’90s and early 2000s.
“It may very well be that the best way folks play now it’s robust to select up world rating factors. On the U.S. Tour, it’s very aggressive. Simply to remain on Tour, you’re doing very properly. It’s so aggressive on the Tour, the U.S. PGA Tour. Cash may be very aggressive. Individuals need to play within the U.S. It’s robust to play Europe. My day, we performed a variety of Europe, picked up a variety of rating factors.
“I bear in mind going via Dubai, and also you play properly at Dubai, you’re good to go. You’re high 10 for the remainder of the yr, mainly, and a number of the different tournaments. However that’s type of gone away somewhat bit now. Lots of our gamers had been misplaced to LIV.
“So we’re within the course of. These guys could not rank very excessive in world rating, however they’re coming. There’s a variety of good, nice expertise right here, so we’ve bought to present this somewhat little bit of time. Once they begin profitable tournaments on the U.S. PGA Tour, their actual confidence goes to return via. Give it a little bit of time.
“It was a distinct animal again within the day, however this factor’s coming, I promise you. Even the U.S. Crew, what number of gamers within the high 20 this week?
“Lots of the fellows stay right here. We’ve simply bought to present it a while. I feel the following yr or so, these guys begin profitable tournaments, the entire thing will change once more.”
19. Different strategies for the occasion?
Add again the LIV guys? It’s the simple repair, and it’ll seemingly occur if a deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia PIF will get achieved.
Huge ‘if.’
20. Add the women. I like this thought. Throughout the Presidents Cup two years in the past, I messaged Gemma Dryburgh about it. Final yr, she performed on the European Solheim Cup staff.
Presidents Cup Q&A: Greatest hero, greatest mistake, what TV viewers missed
“I positively suppose the ladies can be keen on it,” she wrote again. “I feel it will be nice for the occasion, too. I’d like to see it occur.”
21. One other massive mind thought?
Make the Presidents Cup the pro-golf season-ender. Make the occasion the final professional golf you’ll see till January.
22. Which gamers experience Presidents Cup momentum?
I feel we could be on the verge of a Sam Burns breakout.
23. May see one from Theegala, too.
24. His dad and mom, Murli and Karuna, are amongst my favourite folks in golf.
Nick Piastowski
25. On the Worldwide facet, Min Woo Lee could be on the verge of superstardom.
26. Why he sat Friday AND Saturday was a mistake.
27. My favourite second was seeing Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners win a degree on Friday on the par-3 thirteenth. The inexperienced was encased by company seating, and the duo had been correctly saluted. A profession second for each.
28. Who’s on the U.S. Ryder Cup staff?
Let’s go along with Schauffele, Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa as locks.
Let’s go along with Max Homa, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka as near-locks. Burns, Clark and Justin Thomas are shut right here. Perhaps Theegala. Solely a pair spots are left.
29. What concerning the captain, Keegan Bradley?
Right here’s Bradley on whether or not he’d choose … Bradley:
“I might love to hitch these guys and play subsequent yr. I don’t know the way that might ever be potential, however seeing what Jim did [U.S. Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk], seeing how nervous I used to be right now to play. However I’m going to push that down the street. Like I stated, if I make the staff on factors, I’ll contemplate taking part in, however exterior of that, I gained’t try this as a result of that is actually essential to me subsequent yr.
“I don’t care about my private good points of taking part in within the event; I solely care about profitable the Ryder Cup. I feel one of the simplest ways to do this is to let these boys play and allow them to do what they do. We’ll see. I don’t see it occurring, however we’ll see.”
30. Time for one more donut.
In line is a person with a Titleist hat.
31. Was this the ultimate Presidents Cup for Adam Scott? The 44-year-old continues to be displaying kind, and he’s at the moment 18th on the planet.
Listed below are his ideas:
7 hilarious moments from a drunken U.S. Presidents Cup press convention
“I feel I can play for one more couple years. I’ve come this far. If I can play in a pair extra years and contribute a degree, then I’d like to be on a profitable Presidents Cup staff. Like I stated earlier than, I imagine there’s one thing occurring with this staff internally underneath this Defend. I’d like to push alongside and provides it yet another shot if I can.”
Right here, Tom Kim interrupted.
“Let’s make it three extra. Three extra.”
Stated Scott: “Tom will play in 20 of those. He’s bought two earlier than I even performed one.
“I’ve a variety of enjoyable with these guys. I advised them at first of the week it’s them who’s motivating me and galvanizing me to make this staff. The usual of golf is so excessive, and it’s getting tougher for me to maintain up, but it surely’s them that I look to to see what the usual is that I have to compete and be on this staff.
“Hopefully I can stick with it for one more couple years.”
32. The U.S. bunch appeared united in opposition to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, who urged to Furyk forward of the Presidents Cup that an Worldwide win can be good for the occasion, contemplating the American domination of it — to which Furyk finally responded: “So it’s not like I’m killing you proper now, however f**ok you. Go f**ok your self. You possibly can quote me on that one,” he stated.
The phrases apparently had been repeated a number of occasions through the week. On Sunday, within the post-tournament press convention, Furyk and Schupak had this alternate:
Stated Furyk: “For the file, I used to be by no means indignant with Adam. I did say that no doubt, however we bought a chuckle out of it. Adam and I, we’re all the time good. We’ve texted quite a bit since. I used to be somewhat stunned you had been rooting for the opposite staff. You must stand now and take a look at all these guys. It was enjoyable.”
Stated Schupak: “I by no means stated I used to be rooting for the opposite staff.”
Stated Furyk: “You stated you had been pulling for the opposite staff to win.”
Stated Schupak. “No, I didn’t. I stated, don’t hate me, however I wouldn’t hate it if the opposite staff gained.”
Right here, members of the American staff booed.
Stated Furyk: “My favourite a part of it was when — after the primary presser once we got here in, we did our pairings, and I walked out, I really gave you somewhat fist bump, and two of my assistants advised you to go ‘F’ your self. That was my favourite.”
33. The Woody Austin, fall-in-the-water second from the 2007 occasion at Royal Montreal was replayed a handful of occasions, and final Monday, I took a take a look at the spot myself — then took off a shoe and grabbed a ball that had been resting a few ft from the sting.
The water was kinda heat.
34. On Sunday, I heard a fan shout at Burns: “Boo-urns” — which is a deep, deep, deep “Simpsons” reference. The clip is beneath.
35. A Canadian reporter had learn my story about position fashions and stated he thought the U.S. presidential election regarded “heated.”
I wasn’t too positive how to answer that one.
36. I didn’t spot Labatt on the grounds.
Sacre bleu!
37. I did have a Belle Mer, a West Coast IPA from Microbrasserie Archibold. It was pretty.
38. Listed below are a number of of my favourite reads from my colleagues on the grounds. This recap of the week from Dylan Dethier was wonderful.
39. This piece from James Colgan that questioned the decision-making of Worldwide captain Mike Weir was wonderful.
40. Our wrap-up video, shot and produced by Emma Devine, was wonderful. You possibly can watch it beneath.
41. A day after Tom Kim and Taylor Pendrith questioned the gang noise, I had enjoyable measuring decibel meters. You possibly can learn that story right here.
42. Final Monday, I requested readers for Montreal meals suggestions. Listed below are a number of of the responses.
“Gibby’s in previous Montreal is a superb previous world steakhouse. It’s been a number of years since I’ve been there, however probably the greatest steaks in my life!”
43. “Attempt Modavie in Outdated Montreal. Mussels et frites particularly good!”
44. “Our favourite metropolis on the planet. (We have now Canadiens season tickets and stay within the U.S.)
The Burger Bar on Crescent Avenue (just under Sherbrooke Avenue); Hurley’s Irish Pub (additionally on Crescent Avenue, towards the underside of Crescent); Nil Blue Ethiopian restaurant, owned by two pricey associates of ours; Dieu du Ciel up on the Plateau, it is usually close to the Jean-Talon Market, which is massive and really cool.”
45. “Go to Magnificence’s for breakfast. Most well-known dish is the mish mash.”
46. “Schwartz’s, after all”
47. “It’s best to strive Le Membership Chasse et Peche in Outdated Montreal. Excessive-end eats at a fraction of the Toronto/NYC expense.”
48. Sadly, due to work, I bought to solely one of many spots through the week. Gibby’s was excellent. The meals. The service. The vibe. So good.
49. However Monday night time, after this text publishes, I’m heading to Dieu du Ciel to toast the week.
50. I gained’t overlook an interplay with a shuttle driver. On Monday night time, he advised me that he’d by no means performed golf. It was too costly.
“However you and I,” he stated, “we’ll in the future play in heaven.”
Sounds good, my pal.
Editor’s be aware: I additionally wrote observations on the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. You possibly can learn the Masters story right here, the PGA Championship story right here, the U.S. Open story right here and the Open Championship story right here.
