As the Presidents Cup draws closer, five Canadian golfers are vying for a spot on the International Team, set to compete on home soil next month. However, team captain Mike Weir, a fellow Canadian, acknowledges that it’s unlikely all five will make the cut.
Weir’s International Team will feature six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks. With less than two weeks remaining to finalize the automatic qualifiers, no Canadian golfers are currently in the top six. Corey Conners leads the Canadian contenders at No. 7, followed by Nick Taylor at No. 11, Adam Hadwin at No. 12, Taylor Pendrith at No. 13, and Mackenzie Hughes at No. 15.
“Of course, I have great affection for all these players. They’re all outstanding,” Weir said during a virtual summit. “But, as much as I’d love to see all five make the team, it’s just not feasible.”
Historically, no more than two Canadians have been on a single International Team since the competition began in 1994. This biennial event pits an International Team against a powerhouse U.S. squad. Weir, who became the first Canadian to compete in the Presidents Cup in 2000, will have to make some tough decisions.
In addition to performance metrics, Weir will consider potential pairings and matchups against U.S. players. If the selection process ended today, the automatic qualifiers for the International Team would include Hideki Matsuyama, Tom Kim, Im Sung-jae, Jason Day, Adam Scott, and An Byeong-hun.
Weir, who made history by winning the 2003 Masters, is preparing himself for the difficult conversations ahead. “The hardest part of being captain, as I’ve heard from past Ryder Cup captains like Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, is telling those who didn’t make the team,” Weir admitted. “It’s tough to deliver the news, but the reward comes in informing those who did make it.”
As Weir navigates these challenging decisions, he remains focused on building the strongest team possible for the Presidents Cup, ensuring that every choice is made with the ultimate goal of victory in mind.
