The 2017 Presidents Cup begins on September 28 from New Jersey, where the USA play hosts to the Team International at the Liberty National Golf Club. Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman all look set to qualify for Nick Price’s team as they all rank very highly in the qualifying standings heading into the final event which offers points, the 2017 Deutsche Bank Championship.
Since the launch of the team competition back in 1994, USA have dominated the event. They have won nine of the 11 tournaments, drew in 2003 when it was held in Western Cape, South Africa, and their only defeat was in Melbourne in 1998. In 2015, USA edged a tight tournament 15 1/2 – 14 1/2 in Incheon, South Korea. Bill Haas won the final singles game against Bae Sang-Moon to ensure the American team took the trophy back to the United States with them. As of August 21, Team USA are the 1/3 favourites to win the 2017 Presidents Cup, while Team International can be backed at 11/4 to cause a surprise and succeed for the first time in the history of the tournament on American soil.

Jason Day Buoyed By Strong US PGA Performance

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It has not been a strong year so far for former world number one Jason Day, but the Australian showed signs that he was returning back to form during the US PGA Championship earlier this month in a tournament he broke his maiden Major record in back in 2015. Day finished the week in a tie for ninth in the competition won by American Justin Thomas at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a second round of 66, Day went into the weekend in second place, just two strokes behind the joint-leaders Kevin Kisner and recent WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner Hideki Matsuyama. Sadly for the Australian number one, a round of 77 on the Saturday ruined his chances of regaining the title in the final major the year.
This year’s Presidents Cup will be Day’s fourth appearance in the team event. He made his debut in 2011 and has qualified and taken part in every tournament since then. Price will be seeing the Australian as an integral part of his team so he is likely to be playing the majority of the four-balls and foursomes across the opening couple of days.

Adam Scott Set for Eighth Presidents Cup

With seven appearances under his belt in the Presidents Cup, Adam Scott is set to be the most experienced player in Team International this year. Scott was part of the side which tied with the USA in 2003 with a 17-17 scoreline. On his debut in the event, Scott contributed with three points for his side but sadly it was not enough as the hosts lost the singles matches 7 1/2 – 4 1/2 on the final day to let their lead slip.
Scott’s best finish in the four majors in 2017 was in the Masters at Augusta where he had another top-ten finish in the tournament he enjoys so much. The 2013 Green Jacket winner is looking for his first success since the 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship going into the final couple months of the 2016/17 campaign.

Leishman Aiming yo End Big Year On a High

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It has been a huge season for Australian Marc Leishman so far as he won the second PGA Tour title of his career back in March in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida. The 33-year-old lifted the trophy after finishing one shot ahead of Kisner and Charley Hoffman in a close finish on the final day of the event. Leishman also showed his liking for links golf in the Open Championship last month as he finished in the top-10 of the Major for the third time in the last four years. The bit hitting golfer from Victoria ended the four the days in a tie for sixth as once again he was in contention for the Claret Jug going into the final nine holes.
This year’s Presidents Cup will be Leishman’s third appearance for Team International. Two years ago he beat Jordan Spieth in his singles match after finishing his match one up against the multiple-major winner. Team International captain Price will be assisted by Australian Geoff Ogilvy this year as the visitors hope to lift the trophy on October 1 in New Jersey.