The First Look: Presidents Cup

• COURSE: Liberty National Golf Club, 7,328 yards, par 71. Built on the site of a former Hudson River landfill, the 2006 Tom Kite/Bob Cupp creation mixes spectacular views of the New York City skyline and Statue of Liberty with tricky crosswinds and demanding greens. It didn’t take long to attract the PGA TOUR, which lined up Liberty National for FedExCup Playoffs opener in 2009 and again in ‘13. The club was in line to stage THE NORTHERN TRUST this year, too, until being named as host for the Presidents Cup. Liberty National cost a reported $250 million to build, much going to site cleanup but including such amenities as a heliport, yacht services and cart paths of stone imported from Belgium. • SERIES: United States: 9 wins. International: 1 win. 1 tie.   • CHARITY: Net revenues are divided into equal shares that players and captains designate for charities or golf-related projects of their choice. The first 11 Presidents Cups generated more than $38 million in giving worldwide, impacting more than 450 outlets in 35 states and 15 nations. • U.S. ROSTER: Daniel Berger (1st Presidents Cup), Kevin Chappell (1st), Rickie Fowler (2nd), Charley Hoffman (1st), Dustin Johnson (3rd), Kevin Kisner (1st), Brooks Koepka (1st), Matt Kuchar (4th), Phil Mickelson (12th), Patrick Reed (2nd), Jordan Spieth (3rd), Justin Thomas (1st). Captain: Steve Stricker. • INTERNATIONAL ROSTER: Jason Day, Australia (4th Presidents Cup); Branden Grace, South Africa (3rd); Emiliano Grillo, Argentina (1st); Adam Hadwin, Canada (1st); Si Woo Kim, South Korea (1st); Anirban Lahiri, India (2nd); Marc Leishman, Australia (3rd); Hideki Matsyama, Japan (3rd); Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa (3rd); Charl Schwartzel, South Africa (4th); Adam Scott, Australia (8th); Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela (1st). Captain: Nick Price, Zimbabwe. • TWO YEARS AGO: Bill Haas, named a captain’s pick by his father Jay, capped a seesaw Sunday with the winning point over home favorite Sangmoon Bae in a 15.5  to 14.5 triumph in South Korea. Team USA took a one-point lead into the final day and grabbed eight early leads in singles, but the Internationals turned several matches to raise the tension in the final hour. Chris Kirk’s poor chip at No. 18 left Lahiri with a chance to snatch the cup, facing a 5-foot birdie try. But Kirk drained a 16-foot birdie and Lahiri missed his attempt, giving Kirk the point instead. That left it to Haas vs. Bae, which also went to No. 18 with a chance at a halve that would leave the competition tied. But Bae, playing his last competitive golf before two years of mandatory military service, chunked a pitch shot from short of the green that ceded the match to Haas. Grace was 5-0 for the Internationals, teaming with Oosthuizen to sweep both foursomes and four-balls. • STORYLINES: Spieth, Thomas and Johnson, who arrived at the TOUR Championship 1-2-3 in the FedExCup standings, form the cornerstones of a deep U.S. lineup. That trio has amassed 12 wins in 2016-17, including two major titles. … By contrast, the International squad has combined for eight victories, with Matsuyama winning three times and Leishman twice. … It’s a banner year for first-time participants, with 10 players in all making their Presidents Cup debuts. Thomas is among six on the U.S. roster, though Koepka did compete at last year’s Ryder Cup. Kim, who won THE PLAYERS in May, heads a list of four International rookies. … A format change that helped produce the Sunday drama in Korea will remain in play this week. Each four-ball and foursomes session was reduced by one, now five on Thursday and Friday and four each in Saturday’s doubleheader. • SHORT CHIPS: Mickelson’s next match win will be his 24th, drawing him alongside Woods for the all-time U.S. lead. The only man to play in all 12 editions was named as a captain’s pick for the second time. … Tiger Woods will be one of Stricker’s assistants at Liberty National, having served similarly under Davis Love III at last year’s Ryder Cup. It’ll be Woods’ first golf-related appearance since his latest back surgery in April. • TELEVISION: Thursday, 1-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Friday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (GC). Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, noon-6 p.m. (NBC). • PGA TOUR LIVE: None. • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.COM).

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