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Fore Things From The Presidents Cup ????

Every other year the golf world is treated to the Ryder Cup’s red-headed stepchild, the Presidents Cup. It’s all the fun of team competition minus the tradition, history,  and rivalry between Team USA and Europe.

Instead, it’s been the International squad (excluding Europe) trying their hand against the U.S. beginning in 1994, and since then it’s been a red, white, and blue bloodbath. The Internationals have won only once (in 1998 and tied in 2003 but we all know that doesn’t count). Meanwhile, the U.S. has ripped off 10 cups, including seven straight.

Unfortunately for the INTLs, this past weekend at Liberty National was no different. It was a good old-fashioned butt-whooping with Team USA winning 19-11 under the watchful eye of Lady Liberty. In fact, it was basically over on Saturday afternoon with the Sunday singles matches being just a formality.

Wait…before we go any further, did you know Liberty National overlooked the New York skyline?

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-skyline-of-new-york-city-is-seen-as-rickie-fowler-and-news-photo/855247696

Now since we got that straight, here are four takeaways from the 2017 Presidents Cup:

Team USA is good…like really good.

It may have taken 20+ years to get to this point, but one thing is for sure, this Team USA is a force to be reckoned with. Legends of the game like Brett Wetterich, Vaughn Taylor, and J.J. Henry have now been replaced with the likes of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson. Not a bad trade…and the results are immediate. Who would’ve thunk it!

Starting with the 2015 Presidents Cup, the U.S. made like Stella and started to find their groove. That then carried into the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine where they emerged victorious for the first time since 2008. Task force and all, Phil and the gang were back!

However, this past week’s romping not only proved they are gelling even more, they have the potential to be one of the best teams ever assembled in match play history. Just ask Johnny Miller! Granted the International side wasn’t exactly stacked, something about being up 14.5-3.5 on Saturday evening’s got to count for something.

To take a line from the great Shakira, these 2017 Presidents Cup records don’t lie:

Screen Shot 2017-10-02 at 5.09.18 PM.png

The next 20 years are going to be fun!

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-u-s-team-celebrates-with-the-trophy-after-they-defeated-news-photo/856412318

Grandpa Phil

Phil Mickelson and Team USA go together like FIGJAM and toast. Lefty has been on every Presidents Cup squad since its inception in ’94 and even though he hasn’t won on Tour since 2013, whether he was going to make this team as a captain’s pick shouldn’t even have been a debate.

Per the usual, Phil saw the [Presidents] cup half full and made the most of his time in Jersey City winning 3.5 points bringing his career total to 26 wins, passing Tiger Woods in the process for the most all time. Plus he gave us unbelievable selfie which should be framed somewhere in the White House:

As the elder statesman of the team, Phil got the full treatment from the younger guys on the squad, some which he’s legitimately old enough to be their dad:

Now the young guys call you Grandpa, right?
PHIL MICKELSON: I didn’t know that. That must be behind my back, yeah. Must be.

And he also seemed to rekindle an old flame:


phil money

Team Celebrations

Come for the match play, stay for the celebrations. While they weren’t quite as emphatic as Rory bowing or Patrick Reed going full Patrick Reed during the Ryder Cup, there were a few gems that need a second look.

Bash brothers! 

Phil and Kevin Kisner went old school with a dance from the 1986 comedy classic Three Amigos. Ironically most of the guys on the team weren’t even born when it came out!

Sure, the Internationals got roasted but that didn’t stop South Korea’s Si Woo Kim from taking a page out of PReed’s playbook shushing the crowd even though his team was down by more than a touchdown.

We see you, Si Woo….

The Winning Press Conference

Few things are better than a winning team press conference and Sunday evening’s festivities did not disappoint. With Daniel Berger clinching the final point early on Sunday, Team USA was popping bottles well before the last match concluded and their boozy antics were on full display at the podium. Here are some of the gems, courtesy of Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Hold on. I’ve got a question for Jordan. I’ve got a question for Jordan. How does it feel to be 0-5 in singles?

JORDAN SPIETH: I’ve won four of five of those team events, so it is what it is, Bud (high-fiving.)

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I’ve just got to give him, you know, have to give him a little jab. Golden Child here, Golden Child here needs a little jab every once in a while, just to bring him back down to reality.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I feel like there was 11 young players and just one old one (laughter) (looking at Phil).

With the 2017 Presidents Cup in the books, it’s official: we’re onto the Ryder Cup!

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Tiger Woods & Steve Stricker Named Ryder Cup Vice Captains - Two Inches Short
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[…] captain while Furyk, Stricker, and Woods served as vice captains. Of course Stricker captained the U.S. Presidents Cup squad to a 19-11 romping at Liberty National in […]

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