2024 Presidents Cup power rankings International Team: Sungjae Im overpowers Hideki Matsuyama
The 2024 Presidents Cup begins this Tuesday, September 24, and runs through Sunday, September 29, at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada. All the details are in place for the biennial team event, including expert predictions.
Renowned golf analyst Rob Bolton on Monday shared his list of power rankings for the players on both the International and American teams. In the first case, it is surprising that Hideki Matsuyama is behind Sungjae Im.
Two factors played a role in this analysis. On the one hand, the extraordinary record of five wins and one draw (zero losses) of the Korean in fourball and singles and on the other hand, the recent injury of the Japanese, which even led to his withdrawal from the BMW Championship.
This is the power ranking of the international team at the Presidents Cup according to Bolton:
- Sungjae Im
- Si Woo Kim
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Tom Kim
- Adam Scott
- Corey Conners
- Min Woo Lee
- Taylor Pendrith
- Mackenzie Hughes
- Jason Day
- Byeong Hun An
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Power Ranking of the U.S. Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup
The analyst also shared his vision of the power ranking of the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup. He noted that Sahith Theegala is ranked seventh on the list, which undoubtedly has something to do with his rookie status.
Bolton also ranked Keegan Bradley 11th despite his recent victory at the BMW Championship:
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Collin Morikawa
- Patrick Cantlay
- Sam Burns
- Tony Finau
- Sahith Theegala
- Wyndham Clark
- Brian Harman
- Russell Henley
- Keegan Bradley
- Max Homa
A look at the history of the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup was first played in 1994 as a biennial event opposite the Ryder Cup. It was created as an opportunity for players from non-European countries to play in a tournament similar to the one between Europe and the United States.
Since then, the event has been played at some of the world's most spectacular venues, including Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Muirfield Village and Quail Hollow Club.
The United States has won 12 of the 14 editions of the event. The international team has won only once (1998), led by Australian Peter Thomson. The American team was led by Jack Nicklaus.
The two teams also tied in 2003 in South Africa. Nicklaus captained the American team, while the International team was captained by Gary Player.
The event has changed its format several times over the years. Initially, it was played over three days with a schedule similar to that of the Ryder Cup, i.e. two days with fourball matches in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon (or vice versa) and singles matches on the final day.
Beginning with the 2000 edition, a four-day schedule was adopted, with only one team session on the first and second days, two sessions on the third day, and singles matches on the final day.