‘Presidents Cup Victory’... It Depends on the Taeguk Warriors

Royal Montreal Clash on the 25th, US Team's 9th Consecutive Win
Korea's Im Sungjae, Kim Juhyung, An Byeonghun, Kim Siwoo Participate
US's Scheffler, Schauffele, Morikawa Strongest Members
Kepka, DeChambeau, Smith LIV Players' Absence a Variable

An intercontinental golf showdown is about to unfold.

The International team members Siwoo Kim, Juhyung Kim, and Sungjae Im (from left) lead the charge for the Presidents Cup victory.

This is the 15th Presidents Cup. The United States team and the International team, excluding Europe, will battle for pride. The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec, Montreal, Canada, will be the battleground on the 25th (local time). Established in 1994, the tournament is held biennially. Up to 2022, 14 editions have taken place. The U.S. team holds a dominant record with 12 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. The International team has suffered nine consecutive defeats since their victory at the 1998 Melbourne, Australia event. This is everything about the Presidents Cup that will captivate golf fans worldwide.

◆Presidents Cup Player Composition= Each team fields 12 players. The International team for the Presidents Cup automatically selected 6 players based on world rankings. The remaining 6 were chosen by the captain's recommendations. Im Sung-jae, Kim Joo-hyung, and An Byeong-hun secured their spots through world rankings. Additionally, Kim Si-woo was selected as a captain's pick by Mike Weir (Canada). Kim Si-woo joined the Presidents Cup by surpassing Cam Davis (Australia) and Adam Hadwin (Canada), who had better world rankings.

Gambler Kim Si-woo will participate in this year's Presidents Cup as a captain's pick.

South Korea has 4 players among the 12 on the International team. One-third of the team consists of Korean players. Analysts say this decision reflects the high regard for the fighting spirit and unity Korean players have shown in recent Presidents Cups. Alongside them are three Australian players (Adam Scott, Jason Day, Min-woo Lee), three Canadian players from the host country (Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes), and one player each from South Africa (Christiaan Bezuidenhout) and Japan (Hideki Matsuyama). The team ace is world No. 7 Matsuyama.

◆International Team ‘Korean Dominance’= Korea remains central this year as well. A record-tying four players made the roster. In the 2022 tournament, Im Sung-jae, Kim Joo-hyung, Kim Si-woo, and Lee Kyung-hoon also participated. Captain Weir explained his selection of Kim Si-woo, saying, "Not only has he posted outstanding records at the Presidents Cup, but his extensive experience will benefit our team. His ability to perform at his best under pressure is a great asset for us. Having observed him closely, I know well how exceptional his skills and consistency are."

Ahn Byung-hoon (left) and Adam Scott from the International Team are expected to show fantastic chemistry at this year's Presidents Cup.

The International team places high expectations on Kim Si-woo and Kim Joo-hyung. Kim Si-woo is making his third appearance following 2017 and 2022. In the 2022 event, he earned the most points for the International team with 4 wins, including a singles match victory over then-U.S. team member Justin Thomas. Kim Si-woo expressed his determination: "Since I was young, I have always watched the Presidents Cup and wanted to compete against the world's best golfers. I hope to contribute to the team and win this year."

Kim Joo-hyung made a strong impression in his debut in 2022. He showed a competitive spirit, scoring eagles in two consecutive matches and emerging as a top star. An Byeong-hun, who competed alongside Kim Joo-hyung at the Paris Olympics, played in the 2019 Melbourne, Australia event. He recorded 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, with the U.S. winning the match 16-14. An Byeong-hun confidently stated, "The International team has quite good skills. I believe we have many chances to win. This time, we will try to beat the U.S."

The US team, having built a formidable lineup, is aiming for a 10-match winning streak at this year's Presidents Cup.

◆U.S. Team Builds ‘Formidable Force’= The U.S. team, facing the International team, has become even stronger. They are the ‘Goliath squad.’ World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, along with Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, and Seamus Power, secured automatic selection. Captain Jim Furyk picked Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, and Max Homa as captain’s picks. Notably absent are regular participants Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

Scotty Scheffler, the gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, is the ace of the U.S. team at the Presidents Cup.

The U.S. has enjoyed victory for 25 years straight. Scheffler is the ace, showcasing peak form. He has amassed an impressive 7 wins this year, including winning the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs final event, the Tour Championship. He also claimed titles at the Masters and The Players Championship. At the Paris Olympics, he won the gold medal. His earnings this year total $54,228,357 (approximately 72.1 billion KRW).

The supporting cast backing Scheffler is also formidable. World No. 2 Schauffele is a ‘big match’ specialist, having won two major championships in 2024: the PGA Championship and The Open. Joining them are world No. 4 Morikawa and No. 6 Clark. Among the 12 U.S. team members, 8 are ranked within the top 14 worldwide, making it a ‘super-luxury squad.’

◆Match Format and LIV Golf Non-Participation Variable= Each team fields 12 players, competing in a total of 30 matches. The first day features 5 foursomes (two players alternate shots with one ball), followed by 5 four-ball matches (each player plays their own ball, and the better score per hole counts for the team) on the second day. The third day has 4 four-ball matches in the morning and 4 foursomes in the afternoon. The final day consists of 12 singles match plays. A win earns 1 point, a draw 0.5 points. Securing 16 points over four days clinches the championship.

Brooks Koepka (left) and Bryson DeChambeau, members of LIV Golf, cannot participate in this year's Presidents Cup.

There is a variable again this year. LIV Golf members, sponsored by Saudi Arabian capital, are not allowed to participate. The U.S. team is missing ‘big match’ specialist Dustin Johnson, ‘Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau, and ‘major hunter’ Brooks Koepka. The International team also excludes Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (both Australia), Joaquin Niemann (Chile), Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, and Brandon Grace (all South Africa) due to their transfer to LIV Golf.

Presidents Cup Championship Trophy