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Jim Furyk, Mike Weir ready for Presidents Cup pressures

"Jim Furyk and Mike Weir Prepared for the Demands of the Presidents Cup"
Jim Furyk, Mike Weir ready for Presidents Cup pressures | Picks n' Previews

There are various types of pressure facing the two captains at this year's Presidents Cup, whether they openly acknowledge it or not.

Jim Furyk's role is to continue the U.S. team's dominance in the event, aiming for a 10th consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Mike Weir is leading the International squad at Royal Montreal in his home country of Canada, with three Canadian players on the team.

During their joint press conference on Tuesday, two days before the competition begins, Furyk and Weir sat side by side.

\"Jim is aware of how close the matches have been in recent years. It's a tight and intense competition,\" Weir stated. \"Yes, the U.S. has come out on top in terms of score, but the matches have been highly competitive... I believe the event is moving in the right direction regardless of the outcome. Of course, we are competitive and want to win, but we are not adding any extra pressure to elevate the event.\"

Weir, the first Canadian to captain the International team, is leading his team at a fitting venue, Royal Montreal, which also hosted the Presidents Cup in 2007. Weir played in that event and was the top scorer for his team with 3 1/2 points, but the Americans ultimately won 19 1/2-14 1/2.

Weir mentioned that he has not yet spoken with the three Canadian players on his team - Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, and Taylor Pendrith - about what to expect, but he may do so in the future.

\"Playing at home in front of your own fans is a unique experience,\" Weir said. \"When I was here in 2007, I used that energy in a positive way. I didn't see it as pressure, but rather as an opportunity to embrace the moment. I may never have this chance again to play in front of my home country fans, so I just tried to enjoy it. That will likely be my message to the team - have fun and embrace the experience.\"

An International win would only be the second since the event began in 1994, and it could revitalize a one-sided competition that is not as popular as the Ryder Cup.

However, last week, an American reporter posed this idea to Furyk, who responded with multiple expletives, emphasizing how important winning is to any competitor.

\"I would say it's an extremely emotional week. There are ups and downs,\" Furyk added on Tuesday. \"The U.S. Team may have a run, then the International Team may have a run. It's like a roller coaster throughout the week. These players use a lot of energy... A lot of it is just reminding them that it's a marathon, not a sprint. It's a week-long event, so make sure to save some energy for the end and pace yourself along the way.\"

Furyk may also have something to prove for himself. He was the U.S. captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup, where Team Europe dominated the Americans in Paris, winning by seven points.

He believes that the U.S. team plays \"a little more relaxed, a little more freely\" at the Presidents Cup.

\"So I'll make some changes,\" Furyk said. \"I'll lead this team differently. I'll draw from some positive experiences we've had in the past.

\"The most common question I get asked about the 2018 Ryder Cup is if I could go back and do something differently, would I? The first time I heard this question, I laughed. My answer was simple. How arrogant would I have to be to say, 'Nope, we didn't win, but I wouldn't change a thing'? Of course I would. I would go back and make changes.\"

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