Will captain Mike Weir be behind the 8-ball when his International Team tries to win the Presidents Cup for the first time since 1998? The answer is a definitive “yes” as Weir was given no leeway regarding taking LIV Golf players for his 2024 team that will play in September in Canada.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, where Brooks Koepka played for the losing American team in Rome, Weir was advised against considering players like Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, or Cameron Smith from the 54-hole LIV Golf League for his 12-man team.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf League continue to be competitors in the world of professional golf, as they have not yet reached an agreement despite the “framework agreement” made last summer between Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The 2022 Presidents Cup also did not feature any LIV golfers, as the league had only been launched a few months prior with Saudi backing.
“It is an unfortunate circumstance that we find ourselves in at the moment, and currently they do not meet the eligibility criteria,” Weir expressed. “I have received confirmation that they are not eligible and will not become eligible. However, perhaps in the future, specifically in Chicago in 2026, they might be. It is truly regrettable. We genuinely desire to have the most exceptional players.”
The PGA Tour, which holds ownership of the Presidents Cup, appears disinterested in delivering the most impressive spectacle possible, considering the Internationals have long been the Americans’ easy target. Despite the passionate support of Canadian fans who will back Weir and his team at Royal Montreal, it is evident that he will be leading a team of lesser caliber compared to what he could have achieved if he had access to LIV players.
Weir emphasized the importance of having the best players overall. He expressed his desire to have all players on board, although he acknowledged the difficulty in defining what makes a player great in the current situation. Comparing it to NHL players playing only two periods with music playing, he questioned how one can accurately determine their abilities. However, despite his aspirations, Weir recognizes that the Internationals will face a disadvantage in the upcoming Presidents Cup, similar to his predecessor Trevor Immelman, leaving him with limited options to address the imbalance.
Leave a Reply