The 2024 Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club saw the United States extend its dominance, capturing the trophy for the 10th consecutive time with a commanding 18½ to 11½ victory over the International team. The American squad, led by captain Jim Furyk, has maintained a winning streak that dates back to 2005, reinforcing their stranglehold on this biennial event for more than two decades.
In a competition known for its intensity, this year’s installment didn’t feel like another blowout on paper. Twenty of the 30 matches—nine of them on Sunday—went deep into the final holes, with many not decided until at least the 17th hole. Despite the close matches, the Americans managed to fill the scoreboard with red early, led by strong performances from a roster packed with star power.
Xander Schauffele, fresh off winning two major championships this season, was the first to set the tone for the Americans. Schauffele delivered four straight birdies in his singles match, cruising to a 4-and-3 victory over Jason Day, giving the U.S. an early edge. Patrick Cantlay followed suit, playing flawless golf with seven birdies, including three in the final four holes, to secure a 3-and-1 win over Taylor Pendrith.
Max Homa, though he had struggled earlier in the week, closed out the scoring with a 2-and-1 victory over Mackenzie Hughes, collecting his first point of the event. The Americans’ consistency across all five sessions, including a dominant showing on Sunday, left little room for the International squad to mount a significant challenge.
The U.S. team showed their class across the board, winning four of the five sessions. The only slip came on Friday when the Internationals posted a 5-0 sweep in the foursomes matches. However, that single session proved to be little more than a speed bump for the Americans, who quickly regained control and never looked back.
The decisive moment of the tournament fittingly came from Keegan Bradley, who returned to the U.S. team after a 10-year absence. Already appointed as the next Ryder Cup captain, Bradley sealed the clinching point on the 18th hole against Si Woo Kim. Bradley’s emotional win was a testament to his perseverance, and his teammates mobbed him in celebration, highlighting the team’s unity and pride.
For the International team, this year’s Presidents Cup was another chapter of frustration. Despite putting up a spirited fight and forcing several close matches, they were once again left empty-handed. Their lone victory in the history of the event came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, where a young Tiger Woods made his Presidents Cup debut. The Internationals, captained this year by Mike Weir, have shown they can push the Americans but have yet to break through for another victory.
As the sun set on Royal Montreal, Jim Furyk proudly raised the gold trophy, surrounded by a team dressed in red shirts. The Presidents Cup continues to be a symbol of American dominance in international golf, with no signs of slowing down. For the Internationals, the challenge remains clear: finding a way to end the U.S. reign that has lasted for two decades.
South Florida Media Comments