Presidents Cup: Odds, tips and predictions

Royal Montreal Golf Club prepares to host the Presidents Cup, with the Internationals looking for a second victory in the competition.

Mike Glasscott: Presidents Cup Tips

Correct Winning Score: International 14-16 USA (12/1)
Winning Team: USA (2/5)
Top USA Scorer: Xander Schauffele (11/2)
Top International Scorer: Corey Conners (10/1)
Top USA Wildcard: Tony Finau (9/2)
Top International Wildcard: Si Woo Kim (15/4)

Royal Montreal Golf Club (Blue Course) course guide

Founded in 1873, Royal Montreal Golf Club is the oldest golf club in North America.

Earning the Royal designation in 1884, the current Blue Course was designed in 1959 by Dick Wilson but renovated by Rees Jones in 2004-05.

The Par-70 tips at 7,413 yards and features just 15 feet of elevation change. Bentgrass/Poa annua fairways and greens are framed by lush, thick Kentucky Bluegrass, 71 bunkers, and four water penalty areas across six holes.

The course hosted the 2007 Presidents Cup, won by the U.S. team 19 ½ to 14 ½, and the 2014 RBC Canadian Open, won by South African Tim Clark. Of the 24 players participating this week, only Canadians Taylor Pendrith (T43) and Corey Conners (MC), amateurs at the time, have experienced this course in tournament conditions.

With fairways averaging 30 yards in the landing area, the tree-lined Blue Course has room to work it off the tee. Hitting the 5,000 square foot targets ranked 12th-most difficult on TOUR in 2014. Getting up and down and holing putts did not provide a similar challenge. The course ranked 27th-most difficult of 48 played that season.

Adding 260 yards and tightening up the Bentgrass/Poa putting surfaces should produce a challenge fit for a Presidents Cup. Two Par-5 holes are split on the inward and outward nines but neither play longer than 577 yards. Half of the Par-3 challenges tip at 231 yards (No. 5) and 229 yards (No. 13). Nine of the 12 Par-4 holes play 440 yards or better.

While ball-striking always travels, finding players who can hole putts to save pars and cash birdies never hurts in the team format.

The Presidents Cup preview

The U.S.A. leads the series 12-1-1.

The first two events were played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, both won by the red, white, and blue.

The first event hosted by the International Team, the 1998 edition at Royal Melbourne, was won by the home side 20 ½ to 11 ½.

The 2024 edition will feature two 12-man teams competing for 30 possible points. Round 1 on Thursday will feature five four-ball matches. Round 2 on Friday will feature five foursome matches. Saturday’s first session will feature four four-ball matches in the morning, with four foursome matches in the afternoon. As is tradition, all 12 players will play a singles match on Sunday.

If both teams have 15 points after all 30 matches conclude, the event will be declared a draw, and the Presidents Cup will be shared.

Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Sahith Theegala, and Russell Henley are the four Americans debuting this week. Clark and Harman were on the Ryder Cup team last year in Rome.

Only two International players, Mackenzie Hughes (Canada) and Min Woo Lee (Australia), will play for the first time.

All 12 Americans are ranked in the top 25 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Led by No. 7 Hideki Matsuyama, only three International players (Adam Scott, No. 18, Sungjae Im No. 21) are ranked inside of the top 25 OWGR.

Internationals Adam Scott (10th), Hideki Matsuyama (6th), and Jason Day (5th) are the only three players who have competed in more than two Presidents Cups regardless of nationality.

With a result this week in any match, Australian Adam Scott will become the all-time points leader for the International team.

U.S. players to consider:

Scottie Scheffler (9/2 for top American point scorer): It’s amazing to consider he won only half a point in four matches at Quail Hollow in 2022. The 2024 version should have more to say, but four of the five matches are a team game. His partner (Sam Burns?) or partners will need to hole a few putts.

Xander Schauffele (11/2): In nine Presidents Cup matches, he’s won six points, including going 2-0 in singles. The San Diegan nicks it for me.

Patrick Cantlay (7/1): In nine Presidents Cup matches, he’s won six points, including going 2-0 in Singles. So has his frequent partner, Schauffele.

Sahith Theegala (11/1): Ranking eighth in SG: Total, his full bag sees him gain shots in all five categories. With four top-10 paydays in his last seven events, I would expect a heavy contribution in his first start.

Max Homa (11/1): The man who won four points (4-0) at Quail Hollow in 2022 has struggled to replicate positive results recently, even on some of his favourite tracks. Looking to pay Captain Furyk back might not be the pressure his game needs now. Careful.

Tony Finau (14/1): Serving as a Captain’s Pick for the second time, he big hitter from Utah he is aware of what comes with the territory. Unlike 2025 Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley, he will not be concerned with the details, only the golf. His power tee-to-green should translate well on a demanding ball-striking layout.

International Players to consider:

Hideki Matsuyama (6/1 for top International point scorer): The two-time winner on TOUR will have a target on his back from his opponents and should see a heavy dose of Schauffele-Cantlay across the tee box.

Sungjae Im (6/1): Making his third Cup appearance, the Korean won 3.5 points in 2019 and returned with 2.5 more in 2022. Partnerships with Si Woo Kim or Tom Kim could be fruitful again. He’s never lost in singles in two tries.

Adam Scott (15/2): Matsuyama? Min Woo Lee? Jason Day? Some? All? None? The Aussie stalwart has seen and done it all in this competition and his experience in the clubhouse and in the fairway will be a massive factor.

Si Woo Kim (10/1): After getting his feet wet in 2017, the more finished product went 3-1 at Quail Hollow and provided the bright spot in a firm defeat.

Corey Conners (10/1): The Canadian’s best result of the season was solo sixth at his national open in June. The next best finish was T7 two weeks ago in wine country in the tune-up for the Presidents Cup. A Captain’s pick, the Ontario native will need to reverse the 0-4 from 2022 to give his side a chance to win for only the second time.

Mike Glasscott

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