On paper, it is going to be incredibly difficult for the International team at the Presidents Cup, with six of the world’s best 11 players in Jim Furyk’s USA team at Royal Montreal.
Certainly, if the US’s best players perform over the next few days, their dominance in the Presidents Cup is likely to continue. Jim Furyk has certainly looked to fly out of the gate with his pairings on day one, with one of his top five players in each of the fourball matches.
Scottie Scheffler finds himself in match three alongside Russell Henley, while Xander Schauffele could get the chance to hit the opening tee shot of the event as he goes out with Tony Finau. Collin Morikawa meanwhile, is paired with the last player to automatically qualify, Sahith Theegala.
There is definitely the potential for one of the Americans to produce a flawless record.
American star backed to win at least four points in the Presidents Cup
And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner has suggested that he could see one of their two-time major champions doing something which he is yet to do in his Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup career.
“My man of the match or MVP for the American side is going to be Xander Schauffele. Getting out from the shadow of Patrick Cantlay, doing it on his own. I think he has an opportunity to flash just how special a player he is, sort of establish himself in that alpha role that maybe we don’t see Xander Schauffele being,” he said.
“I think Tony Finau would certainly be a good partner, if he teams up with Collin Morikawa in the foursomes, I think Xander Schauffele is going to have a good week, would not surprise me at all, 4-1 or perhaps even a little bit better.”
An unprecedented achievement for Xander Schauffele
Schauffele is always going to be a contender to play in all five matches in these kind of events because he is so consistent. But he has also added an x-factor to his game over the last year, with Schauffele adding a remarkable amount of swing speed.
So far, he has taken 10 points from his 17 matches across the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup. That includes three points from Royal Melbourne in 2019, Whistling Straits in 2021, and Quail Hollow two years ago.
Like many, last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome proved to be a massive disappointment for Schauffele. But so much has changed for the world number two in recent months, with his first two major titles now under his belt.
You would imagine that Lavner will not be the only one tipping Schauffele to be the US’s top points scorer this week.
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