One of the most remarkable scenes on a fairly flat first day at the Presidents Cup came on the seventh green at Royal Montreal after Scottie Scheffler matched the birdie of Tom Kim.
USA have put themselves in the best possible position after the opening day of the Presidents Cup, with Jim Furyk’s men winning all five fourball matches. It is particularly alarming for the Internationals given how much better they have traditionally been in that format.
Fine margins decided the day, with the US winning 1 up in three of the matches. Their most comfortable victory came in the third match, with Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley beating Tom Kim and Sungjae Im 3&2.
The US were 2 up on the seventh tee, with both Kim and Scheffler leaving themselves with long birdie chances. With that, Kim clearly felt that he was about to win the hole when he found the bottom of the cup. The South Korean evoked memories of Quail Hollow two years ago with his passionate celebration.
Scottie Scheffler produces stunning moment on opening day at the Presidents Cup
But perhaps he should have waited until the world number one had hit his putt. Scheffler had almost turned to Kim before the ball had even dropped, and he proceeded to shout: ‘what was that?’ at his good friend.
Scheffler is not known for emotional outbursts on the golf course, so it was potentially a side to him that few golf fans have seen. In fact, it seems that even some close to the 28-year-old were stunned by his response, with on course reporter John Wood saying on Sky Sports (26/9; 19:23) what his father’s reaction had been.
“There’s definitely a little chippiness which, to be honest, this crowd needs right now. It’s been a bit subdued for a team event so far,” he said.
“[Kim] is trying to get them involved. I was on the back of the green with Scottie Scheffler’s dad on that last green and he goes, ‘that was so unlike Scottie to react like that’.”
Events like this need moments like that
It is likely to be one of those moments which is remembered for years and years. One of the most amazing scenes in recent Ryder Cup history came when Rory McIlroy knocked in a mammoth putt in his match with Patrick Reed in 2016. The Northern Irishman completely embraced the moment and gave some stick to the crowds.
Reed then stepped up and holed his own lengthy putt to secure the tie on that hole, with the Hazeltine crowd understandably amazed by what they were seeing. That incredible passage of play ended with the two players acknowledging the brilliance of the other on their way to the next tee.
And it did appear that it was because Scheffler and Kim are such good friends that they felt able to create that superb moment on Thursday.
The Internationals certainly now need to hope that Scheffler has no reason to produce a similar reaction on Friday.
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