The 15th Presidents Cup will take place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec. The oldest club in North America is about to make history. Twelve players from the United States will compete against 12 International team members.

The Presidents Cup format is different than the Ryder Cup. The matches start on Thursday, Sept. 26 with five four-ball matches. Also known as better ball, these matches have four balls in play. On Friday, five foursome matches will be contested. Commonly called alternate shot, these head-to-head competitions involve teams of two alternating shots to determine the outcome. Saturday, we will see four-ball matches in the morning and foursomes matches in the afternoon. The Presidents Cup will conclude on Sunday with 12 singles matches.

Win your match and earn a point. There are 30 points in play and the first team to 15½ points wins the Cup! A large part of our Presidents Cup power rankings suggests specific pairings. (How else can we predict a player’s value in team matches than to emphasize certain pairings?) Of course, that gives you multiple reasons to agree or disagree with my predictions. The U.S. is heavily favored and should be. The average World Ranking for Team USA members is 12th, and the International team is 34th, but somehow these matches are always close. The Internationals have more Presidents Cup experience, but if you consider the Americans play a Ryder Cup on the off year it more than evens out.

The International side has one road to success: Canada has to come out. Crowd support can create match momentum, and the fans need to fuel their play. That’s the only way I see these matches coming down to the wire on Sunday. Let’s hope they do because not only would that create amazing theater, but it would also further cement the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the history of our great game.

Key:

• Age: The Presidents Cup adds an extra day, but these matches are mentally and physically tough. Age is definitely a factor for some captain’s choices.
• OWGR/Data Golf: Neither one is perfect, but the two together tell a very accurate story of performance consistency and trend.
• Presidents Cup appearances/record: Experience plays a significantly role in the international team matches. Prior match experience and career records are two factors the captains must consider.
• Notes: A quick outlook on each player’s value to the overall team’s path to victory. We are not always looking for the best players (although that helps). Being a great partner or locker room leader can have a significant impact on success as well.

24. Min Woo Lee

Octavio Passos

Age: 26OWGR: 40. Data Golf: 49Appearances: Rookie. Record: N/A

Unfortunately, one player has to be ranked 24th. Lee lacks the approach acumen and putter prowess to make a huge impact here. He’s a top-five driver of the golf ball on tour, but Royal Montreal only has two par 5s and a couple “driver” holes. Without any consistency on approach, Lee is not a good foursomes fit. And ranked 80th on tour in Birdies or Better Percentage, can Min Woo really make an impact in four-ball play? There are tough choices for Captain Mike Weir on where to place the always electric Chef Min Woo.

23. Brian Harman

Jamie Squire

Age: 37OWGR: 19. Data Golf: 34Appearances: Rookie. Record: N/A

Harman was going to be a secret weapon in Rome, and he finished the week 2-2-0 contributing with his only partner Max Homa. Homa is the next player on these Power Rankings. For Harman to contribute in Montreal, those two will need to be repaired. Although Harman’s putter and match-play doggedness are great, the U.S. roster is extremely deep. Brian ranks 115th in GIR percentage and 94th in BoB percentage. He fits this course, but the real question is how often he will see it.

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22. Max Homa

Rob Carr

Age: 33OWGR: 25. Data Golf: 92Appearances: 1. Record: 4-0-0

In two Ryder/Presidents Cup appearances, Homa is 7-1-1. A lone bright spot in Rome, Homa’s rookie run in Charlotte at the last Presidents Cup was epic (4-0-0). Homa’s successful record in match play comes from his ability to drive the ball. His summer slump started when he lost his accuracy off the tee. Royal Montreal will be a driving test. It’ll be tough to trust the sixth captain’s pick after a missed cut in Napa two weeks ago, a course Homa is very comfortable on. With a max of one team pairing and Sunday’s match, Homa’s value ranks him lower than previous team events.

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21. Byeong (Ben) Hun An

Rob Carr

Age: 33OWGR: 35. Data Golf: 33Appearances: 1. Record: 1-2-2

An is another great driver of the golf ball. Much will be made of the Americans’ length and advanced in strokes gained/off the tee numbers, but the reality is the International side is equally as good. Sadly, Royal Montreal offers little opportunity to separate with the long ball. An’s best overall contribution will be scoring. He leads the Internationals in BoB percentage. Find him the right four-ball partner, and they can possibly win a couple points.

20. Mackenzie Hughes

Age: 33OWGR: 60. Data Golf: 41Appearances: Rookie. Record: N/A

Captain Weir has a bunch of birdie machines, and Hughes is fifth on the PGA Tour in putting. Hughes is also ranked 115th in SG/tee to green. With a steady partner, he’ll make a plethora of birdies, but the inconsistent ball-striking limits him to four-ball team play. To beat the favored American side, one of these two Canadian players (Hughes or Taylor Pendrith) will need to help fuel a foursomes run. A shorter golf course will help Hughes keep it in play off the tee, but beyond that, Mac will need a serious lift from the Canadian crowd to improve his proximity on approach.

19. Taylor Pendrith

Age: 33OWGR: 44. Data Golf: 25Appearances: 1. Record: 0-4-0

Pendrith can be a vital instrument against the Americans. One of the best putters on tour (ranked seventh), he is also very long off the tee. Another with tremendous home-crowd Canadian support, Pendrith will need it to push away the memories of going 0-4-0 in Charlotte. Taylor’s fit also comes in four-ball. A PGA Tour win this year and excellent play all summer will help, but ultimately can he contribute to more than just birdie or bust?

18. Russell Henley

Age: 35OWGR: 14. Data Golf: 7Appearances: Rookie. Record: N/A

This is the most interesting player on the American side. Henley could go 5-0, or they barely use him. He sits at 18 because as a rookie, he probably won’t get more than three chances to prove himself. Truth is, Henley could play in any format and excel—his ball-striking is that good. Ranked top 25 on tour in SG/tee to green and top five in fairways hit, Henley is a foursomes star in the making. I wouldn’t be surprised if Captain Jim Furyk paired him with his Georgia teammate Harman and watched those two bulldogs wear out the International side.

17. Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Age: 30OWGR: 45. Data Golf: 39Appearances: 1. Record: 1-0-1

Bezuidenhout is an above average ball-striker and world-class putter. How many four-ball players can one side have? Technically he did not lose any points in Charlotte, so I like his confidence coming in. I also like Bezuidenhout’s fit on a positional golf course. Above a couple of other International four-ball players, C-Bez could crack the foursome matches and provide extra value. Unlike the Canadians, he will be coming in under the radar, which definitely suits his personality.

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Age: 29OWGR: 50. Data Golf: 37Appearances: 2. Record: 4-3-0

The lead International team point scorer in Charlotte was Kim (3-1-0). Kim’s individual win over Justin Thomas on Sunday was one of the most passionate Presidents Cup singles matches we have ever seen. A ball-striking machine, Kim can handle foursomes and with a steady four-ball partner can score aggressively. Kim will need a new foursomes partner, but with his accuracy off the tee and on approach, I bet there will be a line of guys ready to take Cam Davis’s place.

15. Jason Day

Age: 36OWGR: 33. Data Golf: 27Appearances: 4. Record: 5-11-4

Day has endured too many losing President Cup matches. His short game and putting should make him a building block player for the International side. Years of losing weighs heavy on him and the rest of Captain Weir’s veterans. Unlike a few others, he missed Charlotte in 2022. Maybe a match off will rejuvenate his ball-striking and along with fellow Australian Adam Scott, they can lead the black and gold to victory. As a former No. 1 player in the world, Day can definitely do it.

14. Tony Finau

Age: 35OWGR: 21. Data Golf: 19Appearances: 2. Record: 2-3-2

Finau and Max Homa went 2-0 in foursomes in the last Presidents Cup. Finau’s ball-striking remains elite, but is Homa’s game decent enough to support him? Finding another partner shouldn’t be tough considering Big-T is a top-five ball-striker on tour. The putter concerns (ranked 139 on tour) keep him off the four-ball roster but throw him with another ball-striker like Keegan Bradley or Collin Morikawa and watch him go undefeated in alternate-shot again.

13. Keegan Bradley

Age: 38OWGR: 13. Data Golf: 40Appearances: 1. Record: 2-2-1

“Captain” Bradley has quickly become the figurehead of American team golf. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. A recent FedEx Cup playoff win, and a playing Bradley will be very motivated to produce in advance of Bethpage’s Ryder Cup next September. Keegan competed in all five matches in his previous Presidents Cup appearance (2013). If I were Captain Furyk, I’d play him four or even five times again. It’s obvious Bradley wants the ball, and until he proves me wrong, I’d keep giving it to him.

12. Sam Burns

Age: 28OWGR: 18. Data Golf: 13Appearances: 1. Record: 0-3-2

Talk about a true four-ball specialist. Burns is the perfect four-ball partner for World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The steady Scheffler will allow Burns to fire at the flagstick. Watch Burns make six or seven sub-par scores alongside his steady friend. I see Sam going 3-0-0 in these matches and proving a very important pairing for Scottie. Use your team appropriately, and they will play far beyond their potential.

11. Corey Conners

Age: 32OWGR: 37 Data Golf: 18Appearances: 1 Record: 0-4-0

This is a big week for Conners. Outside of Adam Scott, no player will have more pressure placed on them to lead the International side. Conners is the best Canadian player and can play all five matches. The putter is a little shaky, but the ball-striking is excellent and allows him to compete at a very high level with a faulty flatstick. Carrying the Canadian crowd’s expectations will be tough, but I believe Conners can do it and come out with a winning record. Conners is an impeccable ball-striker and on a classic course like Royal Montreal, he will have an edge.

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Age: 26OWGR: 11 Data Golf: 24Appearances: Rookie Record: N/A

Theegala has had a breakout season in 2024. He didn’t win this year, but he finished third in the FedEx Cup standings! The biggest reason for Theegala’s success is his ball-striking improvement. I see him handling the pressure-packed Presidents Cup and using that current form to make a positive impact as a rookie. Give this star a bigger stage and turn on the lights; fourball, foursomes, let’s go.

9. Wyndham Clark

Age: 30OWGR: 6. Data Golf: 23Appearances: Rookie. Record: N/A

The highest ranked rookie on our Presidents Cup power rankings is also the only debutant with a win this year on tour. Clark climbed out of a spring slump and played great to close the season. He also admitted he wasn’t ready/sharp for the Ryder Cup in Rome. I believe he will come in better prepared and that will lead to a ton of sub-par scoring. He’s top-five on tour for BoB percentage, and Clark is one of the best putters on the American side. On a team full of amazing ball-strikers, flatstick finishers are very valuable.

8. Adam Scott

Age: 44OWGR: 17 Data Golf: 11Appearances: 10 Record: 18-25-6

Scott finished the season with five straight top-18 results. Two of those tournaments he finished runner-up and also had a top 10 at Royal Troon. No doubt the leader of the International side, Scott must play all five matches and end with a positive record. Adam’s form proves he can. Give him Si Woo Kim in foursomes, and one of the many possible four-ball partners on this team, and he can go 3-1 or better. At 44, I don’t see fatigue as a factor. No one knows when their last match will come, especially Adam. I think a spirited Scott leads the way for captain Weir.

7. Sungjae Im

Age: 26OWGR: 20. Data Golf: 16Appearances: 2 Record: 5-3-2

The International team is top heavy with talent. Forget the analytics, and play your best players. Im is another versatile star on the home side. Im finished seventh in FedEx Cup points this season. I would lean on that consistency if I were Captain Weir. Only two players on the International team have a winning Presidents Cup record; Sungjae and Si Woo. Put Im to work and play as many holes as you can. The Internationals need to extend matches. Play every hole possible. Sungjae can successfully wear out his American competitors, and that trait is extremely valuable.

6. Patrick Cantlay

Age: 32OWGR: 9 Data Golf: 10Appearances: 2 Record: 6-3-0

So much success depends on pairings. Cantlay will play comfortably with one of the two best players in the world. Cantlay and Xander Schauffele can easily play all five matches and carry home a winning record. In doing so, the Americans keep the crowds in check and win by attrition. Patrick’s power is helping Xander play beyond his potential. By working together, the two most well-rounded players in the field are almost impossible to beat. Cantlay’s value is great because he increases the success of Schauffele at the same time.

5. Tom Kim

Age: 22OWGR: 23. Data Golf: 28Appearances: 1. Record: 2-3-0

Kim ended his season abruptly in Memphis. Sent home from the FedEx Cup playoffs rather quickly, Kim has had plenty of time to rest prior to the Presidents Cup. The emotional team leader in 2022 as a rookie, he only took home two points. Well rested, I’m not worrying about him being ready. Kim knows the top players will be called upon to carry the International side. Royal Montreal is a great fit for his accurate game. Kim has two wins on tour this time of year, so watch for the young star of the home side as he gets the Canadian crowd going from the first tee.

4. Hideki Matsuyama

Age: 32OWGR: 7. Data Golf: 6Appearances: 5. Record: 7-10-5

The 2021 Masters champion had two wins and 10 top-15 finishes in 2024. The highest-ranked player on the International team needs to be careful with his physical health. Matsuyama remained injury-free most of the season and played consistently well as a result. Ranked third on the PGA Tour in SG/tee to green, Hideki can hang with the best on the American side. And he couples that with the tour’s best short game, which will be vital in foursomes. Matsuyama is also seventh on tour in par-4 scoring. That’s an edge as Royal Montreal has 12 of them.

3. Collin Morikawa

Age: 27OWGR: 4. Data Golf: 4Appearances: 1. Record: 2-1-0

Matches are won with accuracy and putting. Morikawa always had the accuracy, but this year he found a flatstick and short game. Those two keys helped him accumulate 14 top-25s in his past 15 starts! Limited to just foursomes in Charlotte, Morikawa’s game is now very capable to handle all five matches. I’m sure Captain Furyk will use match analytics to limit fatigue, but I would roll out one of the U.S. team’s top-three players five times. Give him Finau in foursomes and Clark in four-ball, and Collin will give his team three points or more.

2. Scottie Scheffler

Age: 28OWGR: 1. Data Golf: 1Appearances: 1. Record: 0-3-1

Perhaps a shock not to see him first, but I placed Scheffler second in our Presidents Cup power rankings for a couple reasons. He has yet to find that comfortable pairing for both formats of team play. Match play also requires an opportunistic putter, and Scheffler is ranked ninth on the American side in flatstick prowess. Scottie also created a significant perception gap between he and his competitors this year. That never served Tiger well in team events. All of Scheffler’s partners will feel tremendous pressure to perform like him. Furyk was one of Tiger’s best parings. As captain, Furyk can fall on that experience to find the best teammate(s) for the No. 1 player in the world.

1. Xander Schauffele

Age: 30OWGR: 2. Data Golf: 2Appearances: 2. Record: 6-3-0

What a difference a year makes. Leaving Rome, Schauffele had several questions to answer. The two-time major champ took control and produced a career season. The transition in his game is by far the biggest success story of 2024. With a proven and comfortable playing partner in Cantlay, the most well-rounded player on the planet should sweep through these matches. Anything can and probably will happen in Canada, but I bet Schauffele wins four points and lights up another victory cigar in the media center on Sunday.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com