After the USA squad lost the Ryder Cup last year, the task is now to retain the Presidents Cup.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup takes place across four days. There are five foursomes/alternate-shot matches on Thursday, five best-ball/four-ball matches on Friday and then four foursomes matches on Saturday morning before four best-ball matches in the afternoon. On Sunday, there will be 12 match-play matches.
Team USA has only lost this event once, and it has won it on all but two occasions — a loss in 1998 and a tie in 2003.
I've made my early bet for this event, which should once again go in favor of the Americans.
2024 Presidents Cup Prediction
USA to Win Between 1-3 (+380) + USA to Win Between 4-6 (+380)
While there is a chance that the USA squad will be way too much to handle at the top when you dive into the combinations of Schauffele/Cantlay and Scheffler/Burns, there is an outlet for the International side to make this a hotly contested battle if they can take advantage of their edge within my model past the USA's big six.
It is an interesting dynamic presenting itself, since we know the American side will take those two teams previously mentioned and showcase them heavily over the first three days.
I do love what Collin Morikawa brings to the table as an additional player who I deem to be the third-best fit for this course, but my questions begin to rise for who they pair him with for those matchups since he doesn't have a built-in partner in the same fashion as everyone else.
If you could guarantee that they place alongside Wyndham Clark or Russell Henley each day (Finau is also a nice safety partner), I would start questioning some of the edge advantages here. However, the fact that the International squad has seven of the following eight best players after my big six presents for this opening to be tighter than perceived.
My model also sees routes to fade names such as Sahith Theegala, Max Homa, Brian Harman, Max Homa and Tony Finau. So, I'm betting the USA to win between both 1-3 and 4-6 points, which equates to a +140 wager on the American squad to win between 1-6 points when done correctly.
