It is not the Ryder Cup – but the Presidents Cup can still throw up moments of tension rarely seen on the golf course.
Rather than Europe, an International team from the rest of the world get the chance to take on the USA every other year.
The Americans almost always boast a significantly stronger teamGetty
With just two golfers inside the world’s top 20, and a number of their best representatives on LIV Golf ineligible to compete, it is hardly a fair fight for the International team.
They have a shocking 1-12-1 record, succumbing to the Americans’ dominance on all-but two occasions since the event’s conception.
Nevertheless, in their last two outings, the Internationals have shown signs of life.
Team USA, under the guidance of Tiger Woods, needed an almighty comeback to retain the cup in 2019, last time it was on International soil.
Then, despite a thrashing on Thursday and Friday back in 2022, when America hosted, the Internationals held their own on Saturday and Sunday to claim the majority of the remaining points on offer.
They were inspired by two South Koreans: Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
Together, they took down one of the USA’s strongest pairings – Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay – on Saturday.
Then Si Woo Kim was sent out first in Sunday Singles to take on matchplay specialist Justin Thomas, who had a perfect 4-0-0 record up to that point.
With the Internationals needing to overturn a four-point deficit on the final day, the top match simply had to swing their way.
And it did, after a pulsating match which saw Thomas get a taste of his own medicine.
Justin Thomas vs Si Woo Kim in 2022 showed that the Presidents Cup can have that fire tooGetty
There was no love lost between the pair during the top matchGetty
The American, known for his passionate celebrations in team events, was visibly annoyed when Si Woo Kim refused to concede a short putt at the ninth, which Thomas claimed was only a foot-and-a-half long.
Both men traded birdies and fist pumps before tensions almost boiled over at the 15th.
After Thomas sent the crowd wild with a long par putt, Si Woo Kim followed him in with a seven-footer and proceeded to ‘shush’ the crowd.
Thomas had already started walking to the next tee, but turned around to see why the crowd were suddenly booing.
And his face turned to thunder when he saw Si Woo Kim’s antics on the green.
“I think JT is taking this match personally,” the TV commentator said.
The South Korean would win two of the remaining three holes to claim a 1-up victory, although the Internationals would ultimately fall short in a 17.5-12.5 defeat.
And Thomas admitted that, walking off the the 15th green, he was not happy.
“Honestly, at the time, I was pretty pissed off,” he said afterwards.
“It’s one of those things, I think when you’re in the moment, when you’re on the other side of it, it’s something that gets you motivated, gets you pumped up a little bit.
“I mean, he hit the shots and made the putts better than I did the last three holes or, really, the last nine holes when he needed to. So I can say whatever I want about it, but he beat me.
Si Woo Kim taunted the American crowdPGA TOUR
And Thomas clearly didn’t like itPGA TOUR
“So he has the upper hand on me.”
Thomas was later able to reflect positively on the match, giving all the credit to his opponent when responding to a fan on social media.
“Haha I loved it,” Thomas explained. “Sometimes you get yourself pumped up.
“He beat my ass down the stretch though! Was a great match. He made some great putts.
“It was [an unreal back nine from Si Woo Kim]. Dude had some stones.”
Unfortunately for Thomas, he will not get the chance to exact revenge on Si Woo Kim after being left off the team for the upcoming Presidents Cup in Canada.
talkSPORT 2 will bring you live coverage of the match, starting at 10pm on Thursday.
