Opinion & Analysis

Presidents Cup grades: the International team

Published

13 years ago

Oct 7, 2013

Captain Nick Price’s squad availed themselves on Sunday, erasing most of a six-point deficit and avoiding embarrassment at Muirfield Village. Ultimately, though, the International team didn’t do enough to win this year and didn’t generate nearly as much excitement on the final day of the competition as the American flag-waving streaker.

Jason Day and Graham DeLaet led the way for the International side, both picking up 3.5 points to help the cause. On the other end of the spectrum, Richard Sterne and Branden Grace brought up the rear. Both players were 0-4-0 for the competition, failing to win a single point.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the losing side fared in Dublin, Ohio.

Jason Day: Foursomes: 0-1-1; Fourball: 2-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 3-1-1 Grade: A

Although he didn’t win a foursomes match, Jason Day was a standout on the International team, winning his Sunday singles match handily over Brandt Snedeker. The Australian, at only 25, is establishing himself as a big game player on Tour and should be a stalwart in future Presidents Cups. Certainly, the European Ryder Cup team wishes he was from Britain, rather than a former colony.

Graham DeLaet: Foursomes: 0-1-1; Four-ball: 2-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 3-1-1 Grade: A

Along with day, Canadian Graham DeLaet was a standout for the International squad. The cup rookie brought energy and excitement, holing bunker shots and pitches to salvage points for his side.

Ernie Els: Foursomes: 2-0-0; Fourball: 0-2-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 3-2-0 Grade: B

The veteran was steady in what could be his final Presidents Cup appearance. His singles win over Steve Stricker set the stage for the International comeback that came up short.

Angel Cabrera: Foursomes: 1-0-0; Fourball: 0-2-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-2-0 Grade: B

Cabrera’s handling of Phil Mickelson in their singles match was the Argentinian’s most significant contribution to the International squad this year.

Charl Schwartzel: Foursomes: 0-2-0; Fourball: 1-1-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-3-0 Grade: B

A marginally surprising win over Keegan Bradley in singles was Schwartzel’s main achievement this week. The fact that Schwartzel and friend Louis Oosthuizen didn’t fare better remains is still puzzling.

Brendon de Jonge: Foursomes: 2-0-0; Fourball: 0-2-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 2-3-0 Grade: B

It might not be pretty, but Brendon de Jonge’s swing secured two wins for the International team in a competition where the golfer was pressed into service five times. Ultimately, the captains pick rose to the occasion before running into the Dufner buzzsaw.

Adam Scott: Foursomes: 1-1-0; Fourball: 0-1-1; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-2-1 Grade: B-

Winner of his singles match, Adam Scott was paired with rookie Hideki Matsuyama, which was always going to be a tough task. The veteran controlled what he could, and played much better than his record indicates. However the win-loss-tie total is the ultimate measuring stick.

Marc Leishman: Foursomes: 1-1-0; Fourball: 0-1-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-2-0 Grade: C+

Leishman defeated Matt Kuchar is singles play to salvage what was an otherwise average showing. He showed an ability to perform under pressure that validates Price’s decision.

Louis Oosthuizen: Foursomes: 0-2-0; Fourball: 1-1-0; Singles: 0-0-1; Overall: 1-3-1 Grade: C

Paired with Charl Schwartzel, Oosthuizen did manage to take down the formidable duo of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson. Other than that, though, the South African looked uninspired, but at least his back and neck held up.

Hideki Matsuyama: Foursomes: 1-1-0; Fourball: 0-1-1; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 1-3-1 Grade: C

The rookie was beaten badly by Hunter Mahan and didn’t do enough when paired with veteran Adam Scott. Ultimately, he didn’t fall on his face and delivered an average performance and Muirfield Village.

Richard Sterne: Foursomes: 0-2-0; Four-ball: 0-1-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-4-0 Grade: F

The first of two golfers with the dubious distinction of not winning a point, Sterne showed a bit of tenacity in battling Tiger Woods on Sunday, earning him the coveted degree of F.

Branden Grace: Foursomes: 0-1-0; Fourball: 0-2-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-4-0 Grade: F

Branden Grace was, in a word, awful. He was unfortunately the worst player on either squad this week.

Related Topics:Presidents Cup

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

2 Comments

tony

Oct 9, 2013 at 7:04 pm

I watched Brandon Grace play on Saturday, and thought he was doing pretty well against a team that was on fire. I just checked the scoring, and he was 5 under thru 15. An F…..really. In tem competition, your playing partner has an impact on your performance.

As an Aussie living in Canada, it would have been good to see the international team play a little better, but some of the shots hit on the weekend (especially by US players) were awesome.

Reply Report comment
Steve

Oct 7, 2013 at 10:23 pm

You lost me here Ben. How in the world can Matsuyama get a better grade than Spieth for the weekend? AND Oosthuizen? You couldn’t even find something good to say about him except that he was healthy lol. Then with Scott you said he “played much better than his record indicates. However the win-loss-tie total is the ultimate measuring stick.” Yet you ranked de Jonge and Schwartzel (both 2-3 to Scott’s 2-2-1) ahead of him. My order without going too in depth would be:

Top Tier: Day, DeLaet, Els
Next Tier: Some order of Cabrera, Scott, and Leishman (he didn’t play great, but he was able to take down Kuch who was hitting it well most of the weekend)
Next Tier: Some order of Schwartzel, de Jonge, and Matsuyama
Bottom Tier: Oosthuizen
Buried waaaaay below bottom Tier: Sterne and Grace (Sterne gets to be second to last because he took Tiger to 18)

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