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SPORTS Wednesday 25 september 2024
The Presidents Cup needs time more than an International victory

By DOUG FERGUSON responsible for the matches
AP Golf Writer being what they are today.
MONTREAL (AP) — The Presi- Players with charisma like
dents Cup still has a long way Ballesteros are hard to find
to go before it can be de- anywhere in the world.
clared a hopeless cause. The biggest obstacle is the
Yes, the Americans have PGA Tour owns the Presidents
a 12-1-1 advantage in the Cup both teams which is
matches against an Inter- why no one who defected
national team that only four to Saudi-backed LIV Golf is
years ago began to develop allowed to play.
a true identity. They are go- The tour created these
ing for their 10th straight win matches in 1994 when the
this week at Royal Montreal. International stars (from ev-
That’s still not even a record erywhere but Europe) who
among such team competi- ruled golf Greg Norman,
tions in golf. The United States Nick Price, Vijay Singh and
won 13 in a row in the Curtis a 24-year-old South African
Cup and 12 straight in the stud named Ernie Els had no
Walker Cup. cup to play.
Long ago, the Ryder Cup Royal Melbourne in 2019
was equally lopsided, mainly might be looked upon as
due to Britain trying to rebuild turning point in the Presidents
after World War II. In the first United States team members Scottie Scheffler, left, and Collin Morikawa walk the fairway on the Cup. Els was the captain and
25 matches against Great third hole during practice at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Royal Montreal Golf Club determined to give the Inter-
Britain and Ireland (1927- in Montreal, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. nationals their own identity.
1983), the Americans led Associated Press So he created a new logo, a
21-3-1. combination of shields and
So give the latest iteration of cuts made on the PGA Tour. day to win. Then there was Sunday. badges culled from history
team matches some time. He was asked that week the South Korea in 2015 when the That’s not to suggest the Pres- that represented unity and
Because while the Presidents difference between match Presidents Cup was decided idents Cup can ever match loyalty, friendship, strength
Cup has been relatively pre- play as an amateur and a by two putts in one match the Ryder Cup in heritage and fight. The colors are

dictable over the last two professional. Chris Kirk made from 15 feet, and hype, and probably not black and gold.
decades, the competition “The field,” Woods replied. Anirban Lahiri of India missed in passion. The Ryder Cup is Even then, the PGA Tour
hasn’t suffered. The International team had from 4 feet. between two tours, and had to approve of the new
Tiger Woods shed light on this no one in the top 10 of the An argument can be made even now as most Europe- logo. There’s still no getting
when he made his Presidents world ranking and only two the Presidents Cup has been ans are PGA Tour members around two teams with the
Cup debut at Royal Mel- players in the top 20 for more competitive than the and U.S. residents, there is a same owner. Imagine if the
bourne in 1998. He had won the 2019 matches at Royal Ryder Cup. The last five edi- lot of pride and even more Internationals win this week in
36 consecutive matches in Melbourne. The Americans tions of the Ryder Cup have bragging rights. Montreal. Where would they
the U.S. Junior Amateur and countered with 10 players in been decided by five points Europe, which joined the display the trophy?
the U.S. Amateur, a record the top 20. The Americans or more. Not since Medinah Ryder Cup in 1979, also had But the competition is fine,
that might be as untouch- still had to stage a huge in 2012 has the outcome se- Seve Ballesteros. The late and it only looks otherwise
able as his 142 consecutive rally in singles on the final riously been in question on Spaniard might be singularly based on outcomes. q

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are on Spain’s roster for the Davis

Cup Finals

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal and quarterfinal round of the Davis Cup Finals,
Carlos Alcaraz were named to Spain’s ros- an eight-team event Nov. 19-24 in Mala-
ter for the Davis Cup Finals on Monday, ga, Spain.
raising the possibility of a renewal of their The other opening matchups are: defend-
“ Nadalcaraz “ doubles partnership from ing champion Italy vs. Argentina; the Unit-
the Paris Olympics. ed States vs. Australia; and Germany vs.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion Canada.
who is 38, hasn’t competed anywhere Italy will be led by No. 1-ranked Jannik
since the Paris Games, where he lost in the Sinner, who won the Australian Open in
second round of singles to longtime rival January and the U.S. Open this month. The
Novak Djokovic and paired with Alcaraz Italian roster also includes Lorenzo Musetti,
to get to the quarterfinals of men’s dou- a semifinalist at Wimbledon and bronze
bles before exiting against Americans Aus- medalist at the Olympics.
tin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The U.S. roster features Taylor Fritz, the
Nadal then withdrew from the U.S. Open runner-up to Sinner at Flushing Meadows,
and the Laver Cup while still dealing with along with past major semifinalists Tommy
health issues that have limited him to com- Paul and Ben Shelton, plus doubles spe-
peting only sparingly over the past two cialists Krajicek and Ram.
seasons. Alcaraz earned the men’s singles The Italy-Argentina winner will face the
titles at the French Open in June and Wim- U.S.-Australia winner in the semifinals, with Rafael Nadal reacts waves after the men’s doubles quarter-final
bledon in July to raise his career total to the winners of Germany-Canada and tennis competition at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024
four at the age of 21. Netherlands-Spain meeting in the other Summer Olympics, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France.
Spain will take on the Netherlands in the semifinal.q Associated Press