Quiet Crowd, Silenced Team: The International Struggles on Day One of the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup kicked off at Royal Montreal, but the energy was far from electric. With a home advantage and a Canadian crowd, the International team hoped for a strong start. Instead, they were overwhelmed by a dominant American squad, falling behind 5–0 on the opening day. The atmosphere, like the team’s performance, was flat, leaving fans and players alike frustrated.
The International team, filled with promise and featuring Canadian stars like Taylor Pendrith, hoped to spark excitement on home soil. However, the opening four-ball session ended in disaster as the U.S. raced ahead. This came as no surprise given the U.S. team’s history in the competition. They entered the tournament with a commanding 12–1–1 record in Presidents Cup history and had won the last nine Cups in a row. But the complete lack of energy on the course was unexpected.
At times, the American team seemed to have more support from the Canadian crowd than the home team. Despite close matches, the course felt more like a friendly exhibition than a fierce international competition. Even efforts to build excitement, like the grand entrance of International team players to loud music and cheering fans, couldn’t overcome the day’s flatness.
Mackenzie Hughes, who wasn’t competing on Thursday, tried to liven up the crowd by chugging a beer, and even Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky made an appearance to pump up the fans. However, rain and sluggish energy seemed to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm.
International players were quick to notice the lack of noise and support. Taylor Pendrith admitted, “We need to get louder.” His teammate, Tom Kim, was more blunt, saying, “I think it was a little too quiet today being on home soil.”
Kim was part of the day’s most dramatic moment. In his match against American star Scottie Scheffler, Kim sank a long birdie putt and celebrated passionately, hoping to fire up the crowd. Scheffler responded by sinking his own birdie and even directed a rare celebratory yell toward Kim. Despite the excitement, the International team couldn’t maintain the momentum, and Kim and his partner Sungjae Im lost 3 and 2 to Scheffler and Russell Henley.
The Internationals had their chances. In fact, three of the five matches went to the 18th hole, and at one point, the International team led in three matches. Yet, they couldn’t close the deal. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley delivered clutch birdies to extend their lead, and other U.S. players followed suit.
For the International team, the frustration is all too familiar. Australian veteran Adam Scott, playing in his 11th Presidents Cup, has yet to be on a winning team. “I’m disappointed,” Scott said after the day’s matches. “I think Min Woo and I could have won that match today. It’s disappointing that we didn’t do just a little bit better.”
Despite the rough start, the International team remains hopeful. With five foursomes matches ahead, they know it’s not over yet. “The best news is there’s tomorrow for us,” said Scott. “We’re going to have to come out, fight really hard, find that gear, win a session, and get going in the right direction.”
The Internationals will need more than just solid play on the course. They need to ignite the crowd and bring the energy that was missing on day one. If they can find that spark, the Presidents Cup could still be a competition worth watching.