The United States defend the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow this week in a match that has, indisputably, been affected by the advent of the breakaway LIV tour.
Trevor Immelman’s International side (the rest of the world outside Europe and US) are chasing what would be only their second win since the cup’s inception in 1994.
Ordinarily they might have been an attractive bet, had the likes of Open champion Cameron Smith, the exciting Chilean Joaquin Niemann and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer been available for selection.
But all three have moved to Greg Norman’s Saudi Arabian-funded start-up and with the Presidents Cup being a PGA Tour event, they are no longer welcome. Add to that list Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman and Branden Grace.
The US are also missing big hitters. Dustin Johnson, who won all five matches at the last Ryder Cup, is on the ineligible roster along with Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, but the effect on Davis Love III’s team is less marked.
“Our first 12 is really good, and our second 12 is really good,” Love noted ahead of the match which starts in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.
