Min Woo Lee has been handed a dream Presidents Cup debut as he’ll play alongside his childhood hero Adam Scott in a gap day four-ball match at Royal Montreal Golf Membership in Canada.
Worldwide crew captain Mike Weir selected the Australian pair to tackle Individuals Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala within the second match of the occasion, however the first day’s motion is not going to contain the Worldwide’s greatest participant from the final Presidents Cup, nonetheless.
US captain Jim Furyk has additionally pulled two eyebrow elevating strikes by splitting up two common pairings together with greatest mates who play all their observe rounds collectively.
Watch the Presidents Cup LIVE & Unique to Fox Sports activities, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo?Begin Your Free Trial In the present day >
SCOTT THE PERFECT PARTNER TO ‘IGNITE’ LEE
Three-time Ryder Cup winner as a participant for Europe Paul McGinley has praised the transfer to associate Lee with Scott by declaring it might “ignite” the 26-year-old on the massive stage.
Lee has constructed a repute for himself as somebody who laps up the limelight courtesy of a tied fifth end ultimately 12 months’s US Open and taking pictures a six-under 30 on the entrance 9 on Sunday at The Masters two years in the past to tie the file at Augusta Nationwide.
However McGinley believes this week could possibly be the time the world quantity 40 actually publicizes himself to the golf world like his teammate Tom Kim did at Quail Hole in 2022.
“I feel Adam would have picked Min Woo as a possible associate,” McGinley mentioned on Dwell from The Presidents Cup.
“I do know that they’ve performed a lot of observe rounds collectively this 12 months and clearly (they’re) each Australian. Scotty being the daddy determine there and the unbelievable expertise that Min Woo Lee is – he actually is a really uncooked expertise and a great one.
“I feel Min Woo has obtained the potential to be the Tom Kim of this Presidents Cup and simply be electrical. I feel he’s a really emotional, high-octane man who will go to a different stage.
“He’s a obtained an exceptional sport – discuss expertise within the sport – there’s not many, solely a handful, if that, of younger gamers in that class which might be anyplace close to the expertise of Min Woo.
“This man is able to explode by way of potential he has and sitting on the shoulder of somebody like Adam Scott might effectively be one thing that ignites him.”
An analogous sentiment was shared by Lee’s teammate and countryman Jason Day.
Day – who will play within the first match of the event alongside Byeong Hun An towards Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele – mentioned in his press convention that he believes Lee has the potential to turn into the very best participant on the planet.
“I bear in mind assembly him when he was nonetheless an beginner and a junior,” Day recalled.
“Like unbelievable sport. I really feel like – I’ve mentioned this to him level clean, dude, you’ve obtained all of the expertise on the planet to be the following greatest participant, primary.
Day impressed by Scott forward of Pres Cup | 01:09
“I feel he’s lastly understanding that there must be, like, a sure work ethic that comes with that and a sure way of life that comes with that.
“I do know him and his coach have been working very, very exhausting. His caddie Stu has been working exhausting with him. His entire crew atmosphere, I feel he’s beginning to perceive what it takes to be the very best.
“I feel he’s nonetheless younger. Hits it an absolute mile. He’s obtained an incredible sport. Actually good quick sport. I feel as soon as he begins to develop a number of the different issues – he’s not afraid of it. That’s the nice factor is he’s mentally robust, which is good.
“I’ve obtained excessive hopes for Min.”
Lee – who all the time attracts consideration on social media and has performed so this week by having the initials ‘INT’ shaved into the aspect of his head – continues Scott’s development of taking the newcomer underneath his wing.
The 44-year-old will make it six straight Presidents Cup that he has partnered in four-ball with a debutant – and the second consecutive time with a fellow Australian after enjoying with Cam Davis twice final time.
It fits Lee completely because the West Australian is closely motivated by serving to his childhood idol to lastly raise the Presidents Cup at his eleventh try.
“Somebody requested me why – who would I wish to win this for? It’s Scotty on the market,” Lee mentioned.
“He’s performed 20 occasions, and to get a W could be superb for him and for the crew, however for the Aussie boys.”
AMERICANS SPLIT UP TRIED-AND-TESTED PAIRS
US crew captain Jim Furyk has chosen to separate up Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay for Thursday’s four-ball matches regardless of the duo forming a formidable partnership for the reason that 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
Schauffele – who gained two main titles this 12 months – will as a substitute associate up with Tony Finau within the opening match, whereas Cantlay will attempt to carry it dwelling alongside Sam Burns within the remaining match of the day.
Burns had beforehand performed with world primary Scottie Scheffler ultimately 12 months’s Ryder Cup and the newest Presidents Cup however regardless of them not profitable a match collectively, former skilled golfer turned commentator Brandel Chamblee was extra shocked that Scheffler and Burns have been break up up than Schauffele and Cantlay.
“Sungjae Im and Tom Kim are the very best crew on the market on the Worldwide aspect. You take a look at their birdie output, you take a look at the world rank, you take a look at the differential in varied different statistical classes – I feel that’s going to be essentially the most compelling match,” Chamblee mentioned on Dwell from the Presidents Cup.
“Scottie Scheffler with Henley – four-balls is about birdie output particularly with this golf course being so tender. Look Henley is an unbelievable participant – prime 20 participant on the planet – it simply appears to me he could be extra comfy within the foursomes, and you’d put Scottie Scheffler on the market with somebody who has the next birdie output. Russell Henley is 93rd in birdie common – he’s amongst the bottom on that crew in birdie output.
“Sam Burns has the second most birdie output on the PGA Tour – he’s simply distinctive.”
Furyk was unwilling to share the precise purpose for transferring away from the tried-and-tested pairings however insisted that it was what he and his assistants had determined was greatest for the crew’s probabilities of getting off to a quick begin.
“We are attempting to maximise our ten guys on the course, making an attempt to maximise our potential, get the 5 teams out on the golf course,” he mentioned.
“Speaking to my assistants and statistical guys, there are a selection of various causes. We all know they (Schauffele and Cantlay) play all their observe rounds collectively; they’re nice mates; they get alongside very effectively.
“No purpose aside from making an attempt to maximise the potential of our 5 teams on the golf course.”
SI WOO KIM’S SHOCK SITTING
The Worldwide crew’s greatest participant on the final Presidents Cup will sit on the sidelines for Thursday’s four-ball in a shock choice.
Si Woo Kim gained three of his 4 matches at Quail Hole, however the Korean and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes must wait till a minimum of the Friday foursomes to characteristic at Royal Montreal for the primary time.
Mike Weir’s choice prompted debate amongst the panel of ‘Dwell from the Presidents Cup’ with Brandel Chamblee declaring he was “stunned” by Kim’s omission.
“Mackenzie Hughes has the very best quick sport of anybody right here however is struggling a bit together with his ball putting a bit however Si Woo Kim – only a good all-around sport and plenty of ardour – so I’m a bit bit stunned that he’s sitting,” Chamblee mentioned.
Fellow panellist Paul McGinley steered that Kim is a legal responsibility on the greens and that in a single day rain will lead to low scoring and calls for gamers take their alternatives with the putter.
“He’s a great ball striker however he’s a poor putter,” McGinley mentioned.
“And tomorrow with this golf course – it’s going to get moist tonight. We’re forecasting plenty of rain within the subsequent 12 hours so we might have a really moist golf course tomorrow. A moist golf course with not a lot wind – we’re in all probability going to have plenty of good scoring, and also you’ve obtained to putt effectively in case you’re going to try this. That’s not his power.”
Jim Furyk’s selections to take a seat out have been extra simple.
Brian Harmon and Max Homa have been left on the sidelines for Thursday’s motion after they arrived in Montreal struggling for type after each didn’t qualify for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship final month.
DAY ONE FOUR-BALL PAIRINGS, TEE TIMES
Match 1 – 1.35am AEST – Byeong Hun An & Jason Day versus Tony Finau & Xander Schauffele
Match 2 – 1.53am AEST – Min Woo Lee & Adam Scott versus Collin Morikawa & Sahith Theegala
Match 3 – 2.11am AEST – Sungjae Im & Tom Kim versus Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley
Match 4 – 2.29am AEST – Christian Bezuidenhout & Taylor Pendrith versus Keegan Bradley & Wyndham Clark
Match 5 –2.47am AEST – Corey Conners & Hideki Matsuyama versus Sam Burns & Patrick Cantlay