Presidents Cup Captains Ernie Els and Tiger Woods will unveil their partnerships next week at the Presidents Cup. In case they need any last-minute advice (hint: They don’t, certainly not from us), the PGATOUR.COM staff writers offer up five predicted partnerships for both the International and U.S. Teams at Royal Melbourne. U.S. Team BEN EVERILL’S PREDICTIONS Xander Schauffele-Bryson DeChambeau (Four-Ball) – It is hard to commit to having DeChambeau play alternate shot given his individuality but in Four-Ball, Schauffele could be a great partner for him. They both have such a competitive will to win and might even try to outdo the other. Patrick Reed-Patrick Cantlay (all) – They have proven themselves a good duo at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and have a level of comfort that will put them in good stead. Tiger Woods-Gary Woodland (Four-Ball) – The Woodies. I’m not convinced that Woods will play in the Foursomes despite experience in the format but I can see him having fun with Woodland, who is not one to try too hard to impress his captain. Rickie Fowler-Justin Thomas (all) – Seems like this one might be a slam dunk given the pair are good friends and were successful together at Liberty National. Matt Kuchar-Webb Simpson (Foursomes) – If you are looking for a steady alternate shot option this one appears a no-brainer. They might beat you down with solid pars and have enough birdies in them to roll anyone. SEAN MARTIN’S PREDICTIONS Webb Simpson-Tony Finau (Foursomes): Last season, Simpson finished in the top 20 in every Strokes Gained category except Off-the-Tee. You let the long-hitting Finau tee off on half the holes and you have a well-rounded team. Plus, with a combined nine kids between them they’ll have plenty to discuss between shots. Rickie Fowler-Justin Thomas (all): They were a hit during the 2017 Presidents Cup, so there’s no reason not to reunite them. Matt Kuchar-Gary Woodland (all): They partnered to win the 2011 World Cup. Kuchar stuck around to congratulate Woodland after his U.S. Open win. Their chemistry makes them a good fit, and I’m sure Kuchar wouldn’t mind borrowing Woodland’s length off the tee. Xander Schauffele-Patrick Cantlay (Foursomes): They’re both economical with their words and dangerous with the clubs. I think they’d complement each other well. Tiger Woods-Patrick Cantlay (Four-Balls): They’ve known each other since Cantlay was an amateur, having played together at the 2011 Frys.com Open. They’re represented by the same agency. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pair up. MIKE McALLISTER’S PREDICTIONS Rickie Fowler-Justin Thomas (all): A formidable partnership two years ago at Liberty National. No need to overthink it. Tiger Woods-Patrick Reed (Foursomes): Didn’t work a year ago in Paris, but Tiger’s rested now and Reed’s in better form. Dustin Johnson-Gary Woodland (Four-Balls): Big bombers who each ranked inside the top 15 in birdie average last season. Webb Simpson-Bryson DeChambeau (Four-Balls): The veteran Simpson could be the super-steady partner for DeChambeau. Xander Schauffele-Patrick Cantlay (all): Seems like a natural pairing given their similar demeanors. CAMERON MORFIT’S PREDICTIONS Tiger Woods-Gary Woodland (all): They enjoyed each other’s company at The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, they have a healthy mutual respect, and they both enjoy winning at Pebble Beach. Do similar last names count for anything? Rickie Fowler-Justin Thomas (all): This is the one partnership that I would put money on happening. They’re good friends, they’re friends of Tiger, and they earned two wins and a halve together at the ’17 President Cup. Dustin Johnson-Tony Finau (Four-Balls): A team that could overwhelm the competition with its power, D.J. and Finau rock the tee and make a bunch of birdies. Not sure about them in Foursomes, though. Patrick Reed-Patrick Cantlay (all): Team of Patricks, who have found success at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, is the second most likely, after Fowler and Thomas. Familiarity and mutual respect runneth over. Matt Kuchar-Webb Simpson (Foursomes): Two former winners of THE PLAYERS Championship are classic point-to-point players who will rarely if ever leave the other in a terrible spot. Veterans are plenty familiar with each other. International Team BEN EVERILL’S PREDICTIONS Marc Leishman-Cameron Smith (all): These two will play all four sessions together as a successful pairing who were T2 at last year’s World Cup and who can harness the crowd for Els and his team. Louis Oosthuizen-Abraham Ancer (all): The experience of Oosthuizen and the fire of rookie Ancer could make an incredible pairing. Ancer plays Australian conditions well, giving Oosthuizen a steady rock to fire with. Adam Scott-Joaquin Niemann (all): Scott has long been a guy to bring rookies into the fold and although that was originally set to end this time with a likely Jason Day pairing. Now that his fellow Aussie is out, the of Niemann could be a great replacement. Big crowds will fire Niemann up also. Hideki Matsuyama-Sungjae Im (all): To unlock the best of Matsuyama in this format, he needs someone to talk to. Im is not fluent in Japanese but has played on the Japan Tour and speaks one language they both understand — birdies. Byeong Hun An-Adam Hadwin (all): Two guys who played really nice consistent golf though the fall should also complement each other in team play. Hadwin’s putting and An’s ball-striking could make a nice combination. SEAN MARTIN’S PREDICTIONS Adam Scott-Cameron Smith (all): This is one to get the Australian fans riled up. They’ll have the home crowd behind them, and this will give Scott to take the young Aussie under his wings. Scott’s strong ball-striking and Smith’s nifty short game should make for a great combo. Louis Oosthuizen-Marc Leishman (Four-Balls): Captain Els may want to spread out his veterans and pair them with rookies, but I could see these two veterans pairing up now that Oosthuizen’s long-time partner, Branden Grace, isn’t on the team. Byeong Hun An-Sungjae Im (Foursomes): Foursomes is the format that demands the most communication, so it would make sense to pair the two South Korean players together. They’re also two of the hottest players on the International Team, so that would make a strong pairing. Abraham Ancer-Joaquin Niemann (all): Two strong ball-strikers will make for a formidable team around Royal Melbourne. Hideki Matsuyama-Adam Hadwin (Four-Balls): They earned a half-point against the indomitable Spieth-Reed team in 2017. That’s a good enough reason for them to reunite this year. MIKE McALLISTER’S PREDICTIONS Marc Leishman-Cameron Smith (all): Expect this all-Aussie partnership to be the emotional fulcrum for the International Team. Haotong Li-C.T. Pan (Four-Balls): They’ve spoken to each other about playing in the Presidents Cup, so it wouldn’t be a surprise. Adam Hadwin-Abraham Ancer (Foursomes): My NAFTA special. Plus, Hadwin (among Els’ best putters) is a nice balance to Ancer (terrific off the tee). Adam Scott-Hideki Matsuyama (all): Scott’s last Presidents Cup partnership win was with Matsuyama in 2013. Els desperately needs his supergroup to lead by example. Sungjae Im-Byeong Hun An (Four-Balls): Both ranked inside the top 45 in birdie average last season, so there is plenty of upside. CAMERON MORFIT’S PREDICTIONS Adam Scott-Marc Leishman (all): I originally had Scott playing with Jason Day, which was a lock, but now he’ll wind up with another countryman with no shortage of experience in this event. Cameron Smith-Adam Hadwin (Four-Balls): They make a lot of birdies and fulfill the need to pair a rookie (Smith) with a veteran (Hadwin). Not sure how well they know each other, but that’s always an issue with the International Team. At least they speak a common language. Sungjae Im-Byeong Hun An (Foursomes): With Jason Day out, Captain Els has seven rookies, so at some point he will likely put two together. Im and An are unusually steady players (loads of top-10s), which plays well in this format. Niemann and Hadwin (Foursomes): The steady, confident Hadwin can help usher in excitable, wide-eyed rookie Niemann. Scott or Leishman could do the job but one has to assume they will be paired with each other, or Cameron Smith. Oosthuizen and Ancer (all): Get ready for the surprise hit on the International Team. After the veteran Oosthuizen helps rookie Ancer calm his nerves, the fiery, cocksure Ancer will rev up low-key Oosthuizen nicely.
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