Brandt Snedeker Urges US Team to Start Fresh at Presidents Cup
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
MEDINAH, Illinois: US Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker wants his players to approach this year’s competition as a fresh challenge despite the United States’ long record of success in the event.
The American team spent Monday’s practice session in three groups at Medinah, with the players enjoying a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the tournament.
However, Snedeker believes the team must avoid relying on the United States’ past dominance.
Snedeker Calls for a Fresh Start
The United States has won almost every Presidents Cup since the competition began, with the Internationals’ only victory coming in Australia in 1998.
That defeat came 26 years ago, and three of the 24 players competing this week were not yet born when the Internationals recorded their historic win.
Snedeker acknowledged that the American record is an obvious topic of discussion but said his players must treat the tournament as a new beginning.
He wants the team to consider itself 0-0 at the start of the competition and focus on meeting the standards expected of them.
Strong American Lineup
The United States enters the tournament with considerable depth in its squad.
Ten of the 12 American players are ranked inside the world’s top 25, giving the team a strong lineup on paper.
Patrick Cantlay is ranked 28th but has developed a reputation for performing well in major team competitions.
The other player outside the top 25 is 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, who recently helped Auburn compete for another NCAA championship.
Internationals Face Familiar Challenge
The Presidents Cup brings together the United States and an International team made up of players from around the world, excluding Europe.
The Internationals will once again look to challenge the Americans and end a long wait for another Presidents Cup victory.
For Snedeker and his players, the focus will be on starting the competition without relying on previous results and treating each match as a new contest.
