CLEARY: The Presidents Cup remains compelling, showcasing Underdogs against Overlords – Empowering Sporting Journeys and Inspiring Triumphs.

Although the USA secured their 10th consecutive victory in the Presidents Cup, with Keegan Bradley clinching a 1-up win over Si Woo Kim even as five matches remained unplayed, there were still many exciting elements to enjoy about the event.

The writer raised an eyebrow, stroked his goatee, and placed the eraser end of a pencil in the groove between his upper lip and nose—an area he learned today is called a “philtrum”—before dismissing the Presidents Cup.

“Do we genuinely care if the Internationals win?” it was written. “And if not, doesn’t that make you wonder… what’s the point?”

The suggestion was: how could we, the people, become emotionally involved with a team of golfers representing countries outside both the USA and Europe?

How can we passionately and vocally support a team made up of Canadians, Australians, Koreans, and other representatives from distant continents and diverse nations?

Particularly one that constantly loses?

Naturally, the solution was to watch exceptional golf in an exciting format, played by outstanding golfers.

Well, perhaps not “cool.” Golfers generally aren’t considered cool. They are mostly seen as square-eyed sport enthusiasts—typically fit and highly committed to their discipline, much like monks devoted to a ritual gong.

However, their golf skills were exceptional.

For the weekend at least, it was a triumphant moment for golf enthusiasts at Royal Montreal. The International team became rock stars—celebrated and cheered on as our own underdogs taking a stand against the formidable opposition of the Evil Empire.

In my opinion, the highlight of the Cup was when Si Woo Kim chipped in from a hillside on Saturday. What an incredible moment that was! He and Tom Kim ran around the green like two stocky, robust third-grade rugby hookers celebrating wildly at a pub on Mad Monday.

Si Woo made an unusual ‘go to sleep’ gesture. Regardless of its meaning, we all ran around the green and pub with him, as Canadian fans in the crowd punched the sky excitedly—similar to how they’d react if Gretzky had just scored a goal in the Stanley Cup.

Perhaps not overwhelmingly excited, but still quite thrilled. It was like the energy of a stadium—very cool, intense, and visceral.

The Canadian golfers—Corey Connors, Taylor Pendrith, and Mackenzie Hughes—may not be widely recognized among international golf fans, but they certainly made an impact. They were insightful selections by the ever-composed Mike Weir.

They simply didn’t win enough games, much like the Australians and Koreans. It is what it is.

The Americans certainly contributed significantly. The world’s top players were present, dressed in their signature “Tiger Red” for the occasion, and largely delivered impressive performances. They truly are exceptionally skilled.

The Internationals donned outfits reminiscent of the “Man in Black,” Gary Player, but added small yet flashy touches of gold, similar to decorative accents on a couch at Tony Montana’s mansion in Scarface. If you catch my drift.

The colors narrated the tale. On the leaderboard, blocks of red clashed with “gold,” which color charts refer to as ‘Fuel Yellow,’ according to sources online.

Nonetheless, the Americans continued to stack red bricks.

Ultimately, as expected, the grand conclusion unfolded. Pat Cantlay’s birdie putt on Saturday afternoon delivered a decisive blow to the Kim twins and resulted in a four-point lead heading into Sunday.

Throughout the fourth day, the American singles team continued to dominate relentlessly. Unstoppable and precise, they were simply too good for their opponents.

And the local fans collectively shouted in Quebec French: buggeur.

The challenge for international supporters is that the American team, even in the absence of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Talor Gooch, Patrick Reed, and U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau among others still boasts significantly stronger players.

Like the American team, the International team cannot include LIV Golf players because the Presidents Cup is organized by PGA Tour Enterprises, an LLC—a business structure often related to financial matters.

Most days, money and self-interest dominate the world, with little regard for what truly benefits golf. In fact, money believes it knows what’s best for the sport. As long as the elites are getting paid, everything is fine—right? Surely everyone’s satisfied then?

Do you really believe Cantlay would participate in the Presidents Cup without receiving some financial incentive from company funds?

Anyway, let’s move on from the greed-heads. The Presidents Cup showcased exceptional golf and was a fantastic contest, even though it concluded with five games remaining. We supported our team as underdogs, and perhaps that narrative is compelling enough to maintain excitement moving forward.

Royal Montreal was designed to be challenging, reminiscent of a U.S. Open setup—numerous shots were played from dense rough, which would appeal to those who enjoy that style of play. There appeared to be an element of luck involved as well.

However, it was a fairly typical PGA Tour venue.

It would be great to witness it at NSW or Cape Wickham amid the wind, or on one of those treeless courses in the Nebraska sand hills. Open and linksy conditions where you can watch the ball roll onto high-stimp greens that demand a delicate touch—turn them into glass-like surfaces. Challenge their skill and composure under pressure, making even Keegan Bradley feel uneasy.