Tempers are burning, fist pumps are flying at the competition on Saturday

MONTREAL – What a day at the Presidents Cup! Our writers were on the floor at the Royal Montreal Golf Club on Saturday from Scottie Scheffler’s foggy first shot to Patrick Cantlay’s electric final putt. They meet after the round to break the deadline, which is amazing for the afternoon.

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): Hello, James. Hello, Nick. What a day of golf – and sheesh, what a last few hours! Midway through the afternoon session the US had not trailed a single game and it looked like we could be headed for a tie heading into Sunday’s singles. But hey, the way the tables turn. After an hour and a few minor scuffles, they left the session in the dark with a 3-1 win and a four-point 11-7 advantage heading into Sunday.

I think it’s worth getting in a few moments of the afternoon session; they will talk about the intensity of the day. Let’s start with the weirdest and funnest moment of the post-round press: Tom Kim’s allegations of poor play on the US team. He revealed that some American players were insulting him, although he did not say who. His opponents seem confused by these allegations. What do we make of Kim’s post-cycle pop-off?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Hello Dylan! I don’t know what scene Tom was talking about after the round, but I think it was us everything know why he said it. He had been in a thrilling, high-intensity, heavyweight title fight for the better part of four hours, and before that he had played another intense four-ball match, and finally had his soul knocked out. his body is Patrick Cantlay in the last day of the day. I don’t know if the US was cursing towards him, but I’m not sure it matters. He was upset by the result, and in that moment, it all felt personal.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Without hearing, and this is his story / they say, it is difficult to get a strong opinion here, except this: Things were hot. Clutch putts. Night festivities. Game of the night winner. I believe Kim heard somethingwhich is unfortunate, but golf and love made for great theater. In two Presidents Cup games, Kim has become the face of the event, and Team USA recognizes that.

Dethier: One notable detail from Kim’s words: his loss was new in the press. Like, it was just it happened. He was moved straight from the 18th green to the tee before he had a minute to cool down. I’m sure that was the reason why he said what he said; he saw that directly after he made those accusations and was already trying to go back.

One team behind, however, we got a chippy rivalry I didn’t expect: Scottie Scheffler vs. Hideki Matsuyama. Over the final few holes of the day the heat in that match rose between the two former Masters champions as the Americans went back and forth. What did you see there in the last game of the day?

Colgan: For all the talk Saturday night about Tom Kim, I actually thought his friend, Scottie Scheffler, had a great game Saturday afternoon. I almost fell when Scheffler and Henley closed in on Matsuyama and Sungjae Im on the last hole. Scottie was like that hot, and he seemed to take his sweet time celebrating the victory (loudly and passionately, as he had earned the right to do) before returning for a quick handshake, and cut off. Henley wouldn’t say what happened after that, but my eyes did stripped for the repeat tomorrow.

Piastowski: wow. In the last few holes there were questions in drops. An obscene shout from a fan. Police involvement. Great celebrations. The meeting. For those wondering about the level of care for the players at this event, get the answer here from the World No. 1. But the trash from the fan has no place.

Dethier: I was standing by the 16th green when that game was called off and I saw what you guys did — Scheffler hit 11. He was so fired up that even after shaking a few hands he yelled and shoved his helmet, Gronk-style, into the brim. in green. Weird declines, negative comments and big comebacks all contributed, I’m sure. There’s also this: before that match Scheffler, surprisingly, was 0-5-0 in foursomes between Ryder and the Presidents Cup. Now he’s on board in a big way.

Another guy who loved getting (and giving) trash talk today: Sam Burns! Here’s what he said afterwards:

“I think if they are going to come to me, why don’t I go to them?” That seems right to me. If people are going to shout behind the lines or whatever and say whatever they want, just because I’m inside them doesn’t mean I can’t answer for myself.

“I think there are right times for it. I think you have to let them know that you are not afraid of what they say and you are not afraid of couples laughing with their partners. They think they are telling a good joke. So, yeah, I like it.”

What do you do with Burns, the only remaining undefeated President Cuper?

Colgan: Dylan, you know I’ve been critical of Burns’ US team’s performance in the past, but me loved bring it today. He is not afraid at all at the moment, and in fact, he is not afraid of anyone at all. Unreasonable confidence plays well in game play, and Burns has it.

Piastowski: If it’s peaceful sarcasm, I’m down. The heel turn is a hoot. So is motivation. It helps you choose a side, and this week, the sides seem to be drawn.

Dethier: I thought Burns was very American, if that makes sense. Brash. Cocky. Eager and ready to retaliate. The key to being that way, I think, is to back it up on the scoreboard, and if you score like he does that’s a good start. Good play by Burns – looks like he can finish it and take it, too.

What am I missing? What else happened to add to the electric afternoon at Royal Montreal?

Colgan: Si Woo Kim’s ‘night-night’ celebration – honoring his favorite NBA player Steph Curry – is a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my days. I think Si Woo has seen his stock rise more than any other player in this tournament, and moments like that are why. Although it didn’t work.

Piastowski: This is going to get lost, but Mackenzie Hughes’ eagle hole on the 12th to pull her afternoon game even in front of her home fans, was electrifying. Hughes is one of the stars of the week here.

Dethier: I think it is difficult to convey the atmosphere properly. I can give you some good descriptive adjectives like adversary or hostile or chippy or tense or disagreeable or electric, and that leads you in the right direction. But it actually felt like a classy game, where the home crowd desperately wanted their boys to win – and appreciated the other side.

I’ll just finish with a moment to thank Cantlay, who was a man of the world at the end of both of his games today. Let’s not forget how he finished his four-ball morning: Chip-in eagle at 12, par at 13, kick-in birdie at 14, 23-foot birdie putt at 15 and 18- footer for birdie on 16, refused to give. inch to Sungjae Im and Hideki Matsuyama. He finished with six 3s in a row. And then tonight came.

I can’t wait for Sunday.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news editor and features on GOLF, writing articles for websites and magazines. He manages Hot Mic, the GOLF media stand, and applies his camera knowledge to all product platforms. Before joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, where he was a caddy (and atute looper) scholarship recipient on Long Island, where he hails from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.