Spieth in good company at PGA Championship

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THE OVERVIEW JERSEY CITY, N.J. – His International team will not be the rooting favorite this week at Liberty National, but Captain Nick Price can’t think of a better place to play the Presidents Cup on enemy soil. “Of all the cities you want to play in for the Internationals, this is the best one because it’s the most cosmopolitan city in American and made of so many ethnicities,â€� Price said of the New Jersey-New York area. “We are hoping we’re going to get a lot of support out here.â€� Price’s most experienced player, Adam Scott, is not holding his breath. “I really hope that is the case,â€� said the Aussie, making his eight Presidents Cup appearance. “However, I think the crowd will drown out whatever support we do have. But I do hope as many Internationals come out and support us as possibly can.â€� Of the 11 previous Presidents Cup, six have been played in the U.S. The Americans have won each time, by an average margin of 5.8 points. Just once has the winning margin been less than three points. The most significant factors in the Americans’ dominance has been their superior depth and talent level, not necessarily the hometown support – although Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee says there’s a 5-point differential between the home and visiting teams. Given that the New York metropolitan area is hosting the Presidents Cup for the first time (and has not hosted a Ryder Cup since 1935 when nearby Ridgewood Country Club was the venue), players and captains expect the atmosphere this week to be ramped up. “The crowds here are the best; they really are,â€� said Phil Mickelson, who has played in every Presidents Cup. “I think it’s going to be a wonderful advantage that we are going to try to use and very well may need to bring out our best, to keep us going when we’re down and to push us forward when we’re up.â€� Added U.S. Captain Steve Stricker: “It’s going to be a very vocal crowd. We have one of the most beloved guys on our team from the New York fan base and that’s Phil. This guy is a legend out there and he gets so much support.â€� A year ago at the Ryder Cup, the pro-American crowds at Hazeltine provided too much support – at least in terms of some fans crossing the bounds of good taste against the Europeans, forcing tournament officials to appeal for a more civilized approach on the final day. The Presidents Cup has not been faced with such issues, and both sides hope to keep it that way. “Hopefully the fans are fair and cheer for good golf,â€� Rickie Fowler said. “Yeah, they’re going to cheer for the U.S., probably louder and more often, but just appreciate the good golf that everyone is going to get to see this week.â€� The Internationals are bracing for the pro-U.S. atmosphere. “I think we’ve just got to go out there and just embrace it,â€� said Jason Day. “We can’t really get too into what’s being said or who they’re cheering for. We’ve just got to try to stay in our lane.â€� Besides the friends and family members behind the ropes this week, the Internationals can also count on having the Fanatics, the group of Australian-based fans who have become an integral part of recent Presidents Cups. They will be outnumbered by the U.S. fans but they won’t be any less enthusiastic. “A lot of people that maybe have had the Presidents Cup on their bucket list for the last 10 or 15 years,â€� said International assistant Geoff Ogilvy. “New York, that’s the one you go to — especially at Liberty. I think we’ve got a chance that the crowd will be as balanced as we could have it in the U.S.â€� And maybe there will be some good-natured back-and-forth between the green-and-yellow Aussie Fanatics and the red-white-and-blue Americans. “I’m very interested to see how that dynamic plays out this week,â€� Scott said with a wicked grin. THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER 1. Adam Scott Will the win-one-for-Scottie battle cry provide the necessary motivation to push the Internationals to the upset? 2. Justin Thomas From a form standpoint, the FedExCup champ is firing on all cylinders. From an energy standpoint, well, it’s been a grind recently. 3. Phil Mickelson Even without winning a match, Mickelson could be the MVP of this team. Of course, points would help too. THE FLYOVER In the last three Presidents Cup, there have been 98 matches played – and just 10 of them have failed to reach at least the 15th hole. If that trend holds, that means approximately 90 percent of the 30 matches at Liberty National will end between holes 15 and 18. With a rerouting of the holes for this event, two of the final four closing holes will be par 3s (the 219-yard 16th and the 193-yard 18th). Asked what he thought of having a match finish in a par 3, U.S. Captain Steve Stricker said, “I think it’s a unique way to end the match, when there is no drive involved. You’re going to peg it into the tee and it’s who is going to handle the pressure and hit a great iron shot in there.â€� Here’s a look at the closing four holes this week. THE LANDING ZONE When Liberty National hosted FedExCup Playoffs events in 2009 and 2013, the closing hole was a par-4 of nearly 500 yards that ran near the bay leading out to the Hudson River and showcasing the nearby Statue of Liberty. Thanks to the rerouting, that hole can expect to be played in nearly every match this week, as it’s now the 490-yard 14th. In 2013, the hole played to a stroke average of 4.195, making it the fifth hardest hole on the course. A demanding tee shot into a variety of wind conditions will test the player; International veteran Charl Schwartzel was one of a handful of players who took a penalty shot on the hole in 2013. Here’s the scattershot chart of all tee shots that year. WEATHER CHECK Potentially challenging wind conditions on the first two days. Rain a possibility on the weekend. That’s the forecast entering this week’s Presidents Cup. The temperatures should be pleasant, but Saturday’s two-session day also has the highest probability of showers. Here’s a look at the four-day forecast. Click here for the latest weather conditions from Jersey City, New Jersey. SOUND CHECK Everyone is going to be nervous on that tee… It will certainly sort the men out from the boys early on. ODDS AND ENDS 1. QUICK START NEEDED. The Internationals can point to their lack of production in Foursomes as a key reason they’ve struggled in the Presidents Cup. They haven’t outpointed the U.S. in Foursomes in the last nine Presidents Cups, and have only split the points once. Given that Foursomes is the traditional first-day session, that makes it imperative to get off to a decent start and at least avoid a big early hole. “Every year, the Americans come out and do that to us,â€� said Jason Day. “So we have to kind of do that to them and really try and put some pressure on them early.â€� 2. THE FIRST-TIMERS. The International team has just four of them. The Americans have six. So, advantage Internationals? Perhaps, although expecting players such as Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka to suffer rookie jitters seems a bit far-fetched. “If you want to call Justin Thomas a rookie, I get it. It’s his first time playing the event,â€� said Phil Mickelson. “The guy is Player of the Year, he’s won five times. I ask more questions around him than I try to deliver.â€� Still, the Internationals are hopeful. “We’ve got, I think for the first time ever, almost less rookies in the team than the American team,â€� said Branden Grace. “You know, that is a big plus for us.â€� 3. UNLV SHOWDOWN? The possibilities of Sunday Singles matchups already has begun, and discussions early in the week centered on former UNLV golfers Charley Hoffman and Adam Scott. Hoffman, the 40-year-old Presidents Cup first-timer, said he might offer up the request to U.S. Captain Steve Stricker. Scott said he’s also brought up the pairing. “Look, I’m happy to play anyone, but I did congratulate Chuck on getting in the team and mentioned that we might have to have a showdown, reminiscent of our days in college,â€� Scott said. A message from our sponsor: United MileagePlus members, you can use your award miles to enjoy the Presidents Cup from the comfort of the United Airlines Fairway Club, located on the 15th green. You and a guest will enjoy complimentary food and beverages while watching the top PGA TOUR players compete. Limited quantities available on-site.

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