Team USA secured an 18.5-11.5 win over the International team in the 2024 Presidents Cup, marking their 10th consecutive victory in the biennial event. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley clinched the decisive point for the United States in Canada. Former major champion Rich Beem reflects on Team USA’s dominance, the International team’s missed opportunities on home soil, and how the U.S. can carry this momentum into next year’s Ryder Cup.
The Presidents Cup is becoming more competitive, and the International team is beginning to carve out its own identity. They brought plenty of excitement this week!
America had a phenomenal start on Thursday, sweeping 5-0, leading many to think, “this could be over already.” But the Internationals made an impressive comeback, achieving their own clean sweep against Team USA, which nobody expected.
However, Mike Weir made a misstep on Saturday by not adjusting some of the pairings for the afternoon foursomes. He may regret that decision, but it’s clear they had a strategy going in.
Playing Adam Scott in a fourth consecutive match on Saturday afternoon, at age 44, was a mistake. He must have been exhausted, and even Scott admitted that night he was tired. Weir also placed him too low in the singles lineup. A well-rested Scott, had he skipped Saturday afternoon’s session, might have been better suited for one of the top three matches.
The International team has plenty of talent, but the depth of the U.S. squad is overwhelming. While anyone can win on any given day, sustaining that level across four days is a different challenge.
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