17th July 2024; Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland; The Open Championship Practice Day 3; Angel Hidalgo throws a ball to the crowd on the 18th green
"Friday Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, Americas Bring The Noise on Presidents Cup Day 1; Angel Hidalgo Leads in Spain.
Americans Rolling With Day One Sweep
The 15th Presidents Cup is off and running at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, and the U.S. team was on fire, racking up all five points on Thursday. Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau led the charge by taking down the International squads Jason Day and Byeong Hun An. Team play rookie Russell Henley and World #1 Scottie Scheffler crushed it in match 3 with a 3-and-2 victory over South Koreans Tom Kim and Sungjae Im.
Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala, who went out in match 2, kept the momentum going with a thrilling one-up win against Aussies Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns delivered another win for the U.S., beating Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners 2-and-1. The new "Captain America," Keegan Bradley, along with Wyndham Clark, clinched the day's final point with a closely fought one-up victory over Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Team USA Captain Jim Furyk and International Captain Mike Weir made their picks for day two shortly after completing the day's matches.
Match 6. 1:05 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.) vs. Hideki Matsuyama/Sungjae Im (International)
Match 7. 1:19 p.m.: Sahith Theegala/Collin Morikawa (U.S) vs. Adam Scott/Taylor Pendrith (International)
Match 8. 1:33 p.m.: Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.) vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout/Jason Day (International)
Match 9. 1:47 p.m.: Wyndham Clark/Tony Finau (U.S.) vs. Corey Conners/Mackenzie Hughes (International)
Match 10. 2:01 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (U.S.) vs. Si Woo Kim/Byeong Hun An (International)
As predicted, Team USA looked solid as a rock coming into the day, but going 5-0 was a bit of a surprise as it is historically an infrequent occurrence in high-stakes team play. Today was only the third time the Americans swept on day one. Tom Kim is, without a doubt, the emotional team leader for the Internationals, but he will indeed have some work to do to spark the comeback needed from his teammates.
Individually, the entire American squad did their part on Thursday, but the man coming into this week who had many eyeballs on him was the 2025 Ryder Cup, Captain Keegan Bradley...and he did not disappoint. Bradley nailed a jaw-dropping 35-foot hole-out birdie on No. 13, and from that moment on, the U.S. Team never looked back. To top it off, Bradley sealed the deal with an electrifying 19-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
In a post-match interview, Keegan summed up his emotions on the day.
The Americans are indeed satisfied with the day's outcome, but a comeback is always in the mix in a President or Ryder Cup, and anything can happen coming to the finish line.
And in Spain...
The 2024 Open de España at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid kicked off on Thursday, and boy, oh boy, did Angel Hidalgo, big-hitting Spaniard, soak it all in and deliver an impressive opening round.
Hidalgo led the day with a sensational six-under-par 65, giving the local fans plenty to cheer about. That front nine? Just a blistering 30 strokes was all Angel needed on the outward half. Despite a couple of hiccups toward the end, Hidalgo managed to hold onto the lead, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement.
His performance might've been the highlight, but let's not forget about the tightly packed leaderboard. Julien Guerrier, Sepp Straka, and Sam Bairstow all posted a respectable 67, keeping the pressure on Hidalgo. And lurking just a shot further back was none other than the three-time champion, Jon Rahm, with a solid 68.
Hidalgo's shot-making was something to behold. A brilliant approach on the first, a bold play on the par-five second, and an audacious chip-in on the seventh were just a few of his highlights.
"I played really, really good today. It's a long time since I stroked the putts as well as today," Hidalgo said.
There's nothing like the energy of playing at home, and Hidalgo soaked up every bit of it.
Now let's shift gears to Jon Rahm – with past victories in 2018, 2019, and 2022, Rahm is practically royalty at this event. And he didn't disappoint. After a couple of frustrating bogeys, he came alive with birdies on the fourth and eighth and a stunning finish on the 18th.
"I made really good par putts on six and 11 that saved the round. Had a great finish, and I find myself with a great score that is rather unexpected," Rahm reflected.
Let's not overlook the contenders hot on their heels. Guerrier managed a battling 67 thanks to an eagle on the seventh and a flurry of birdies. Straka had a front nine where he couldn't miss a shot, but the back nine tested him. And Bairstow's round was highlighted by a mixture of birdies and an eagle, showing he's up for the challenge.
Other notables include Adri Arnaus and Ashun Wu at three-under, with Spaniards Luis Masaveu and David Puig alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Sam Jones at two-under. Defending champion and my pick for the week, Mathieu Pavon, closed at one-under, proving that this leaderboard is as unpredictable as it is thrilling.
So, what's the takeaway? Buckle up, folks! With three rounds to go, this is shaping up to be one heck of a tournament. Hidalgo may have the lead, but with seasoned pros like Rahm in the mix, the competition is far from over. Stay tuned – this is going to be a wild ride!
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
