How Mike Weir's Bold Presidents Cup Call Backfired On Day 3
Mike Weir chose the same pairings for both sessions on day 3, opting to sit out four players as the Internationals lost 6-2 on Saturday
The Internationals got themselves back into the 2024 Presidents Cup on Friday with a stunning 5-0 sweep to tie the score at 5-5 after two days - but a bold call from captain Mike Weir may have ended up hurting his side on Saturday.
The Internationals lost Saturday's two sessions 6-2 to trail 11-7 heading into the Sunday singles, and the Canadian's decision to play the exact same pairings for both sessions on day three ultimately returned them just two points.
It was the first time a Presidents Cup captain has gone with the exact same pairings for both sessions on day three, meaning that just eight of the 12 Internationals got a game on Saturday and all eight of them had to play 36 holes.
Jim Furyk played 11 of his 12 players on Saturday, with just five of his team playing 36 holes and only Sahith Theegala sitting out all day.
The afternoon foursomes was looking in the Internationals' favor early and mid-way through the back nine but the fatigue was clear to see as they started to make errors to let the US back in.
Matsuyama and Im lost their last three holes to go down 3&2 to Scheffler and Henley, Conners and Hughes bogeyed 18 to lose to Morikawa and Burns while Si Woo and Tom Kim lost the 18th to lose to Cantlay and Schauffele 1-down.
Taylor Pendrith hit some loose shots coming down the stretch, too, but he and Adam Scott were able to get the Internationals' only win in the afternoon.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"It was a little closer than I think we wanted coming down the stretch, and I hit some shaky shots, but we got the point, so that's all that matters" he said.
Min Woo Lee, Ben An, Jason Day and Christiaan Bezuidenhout all sat out the entire day, and the stranger aspect is that An, Day and Bezuidenhout all won their matches on Friday. Those three were the Internationals' weakest players on day two, however, in terms of strokes gained so that may well be why Weir chose to sit them.
It means that four Internationals are rested, and perhaps even lacking sharpness, heading into the singles, with Min Woo Lee having only played one session - and that was back on Thursday.
"Nothing's up health-wise with Jason. We went 5-0 yesterday and had a lot of momentum," Weir explained when questioned on his decision.
"We talked it through, and that was it. We had a plan. We had a plan for some other things too. That's why we meet and go through these things. But nothing health related that left any of the other guys out.
"We got pretty late into the evening making decisions, which we do in these team things. The captains kind of sometimes go late. So we let the guys sleep in a little bit.
"Most of the guys knew. There was a couple of guys that didn't know until they woke up, but they were going to be on the later bus, not the morning session.
"There was maybe some discussion for the afternoon. But they were let know pretty early in the day that that's the way it was going to go.
"Hats off to the US guys. They played great down the stretch. They holed some key putts. They played the 18th hole really well when those matches have been close, and that's why they have the lead right now on some of those pivotal holes."
The Internationals will look to turn around the 11-7 deficit on Sunday, with the first tee time at 12.02pm local time.
Presidents Cup Sunday Pairings
- 12.02pm: Xander Schauffele vs Jason Day
- 12.14pm: Sam Burns vs Tom Kim
- 12.26pm: Scottie Scheffler vs Hideki Matsuyama
- 12.38pm: Russell Henley vs Sungjae Im
- 12.50pm: Patrick Cantlay vs Taylor Pendrith
- 1.02pm: Keegan Bradley vs Si Woo Kim
- 1.19pm: Tony Finau vs Corey Conners
- 1.31pm: Wyndham Clark vs Min Woo Lee
- 1.43pm: Sahith Theegala vs Byeong Hun An
- 1.55pm: Collin Morikawa vs Adam Scott
- 2.07pm: Brian Harman vs Christiaan Bezuidenhourt
- 2.19pm: Max Homa vs Mackenzie Hughes
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Rio Takeda Continues Incredible Run Of Form With Lengthy Playoff Win In Home Open
Takeda added to her incredible run of form in 2024, as the Japanese star secured the TOTO Japan Classic title in a six hole playoff against Marina Alex
By Matt Cradock Published
-
What’s The Best College Golf Team Of All Time?
There have been some standout college teams through the years, but which was the best?
By Mike Hall Published
-
9 Big PGA Tour Names Not Signed Up To TGL
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's "tech-infused" league contains 24 of the PGA Tour's best players, but there are still a handful of notable absentees in 2025
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
How Much Money Rory McIlroy Has Made Every Year On The PGA And DP World Tours
Rory McIlroy is one of the highest paid golfers in the history of the sport - but how much has he won each year on the PGA and DP World Tours?
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Are The PGA Tour's Signature Events Good Or Bad For The Game?
Two Golf Monthly writers debate whether the PGA Tour's Signature Events have been a welcome addition to the sport or merely a rich-get-richer scheme
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘Step In The Right Direction’ - Peter Malnati Backs Proposed Changes To PGA Tour
Peter Malnati, who is one of the player representatives on the PGA Tour Policy Board, believes proposed changes to the PGA Tour is a good thing for the game
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
What Is Set To Change With The PGA Tour's New Pace Of Play Proposals?
Proposals are to be voted on by the PGA Tour in November to tackle pace of play - but what in particular in set to change, and how will the proposals address the issue?
By Mike Hall Published
-
'If I'm Looking At It Objectively, It Was Needed' - Pro Offers Honest Take On Proposed PGA Tour Changes
PGA Tour golfer Michael Kim admitted he "doesn't love" the proposed changes but admitted it was probably required in order to create a better product for fans and players
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Did Rory McIlroy Forecast ‘Cutthroat’ PGA Tour Changes?
The PGA Tour is set to vote on several key changes to the circuit - including the reduction of field sizes, which McIlroy called for earlier this year...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
‘To Think They’re Eliminating Jobs Is The Right Move Is Insane’ - Tour Pro Critical Of PGA Tour Proposals
Tommy Gainey has criticized proposals to be voted on by the PGA Tour that could see the opportunities to compete on it reduced
By Mike Hall Published