01셰플러 오후 경기 결장, 미국팀에 변수 발생
프레지던츠컵 대회 기간 중 진행된 오후 세션 매치업에서 미국팀의 간판 스타이자 세계 랭킹 1위인 스코티 셰플러가 출전 명단에서 빠지는 깜짝 발표가 나왔다.
대회 초반 세션에서 좋은 컨디션을 보였던 셰플러가 전략적 판단 혹은 컨디션 조절 차원에서 오후 경기에 나서지 않기로 결정되면서 현장에선 큰 놀라움을 자아냈다.
셰플러의 공백으로 미국팀은 에이스 없이 나머지 선수들로만 오후 포볼 또는 포섬 경기를 치러야 하는 상황에 놓이게 됐다.
이번 라인업 변화가 양 팀의 승부 향방에 어떤 영향을 미칠지, 그리고 셰플러가 향후 세션에는 정상적으로 출전할 수 있을지에 관심이 집중되고 있다.
02Original (English) — PGA TOUR
MEDINAH, Ill. – The U.S. Team needs a comeback at the Presidents Cup, and it will attempt to do so without Scottie Scheffler in Saturday afternoon Foursomes.
Scheffler was not one of the eight Americans Captain Brandt Snedeker selected for the second Foursomes session, a surprise twist in an already eventful morning. Scheffler is notably 1-8-0 in the format, a puzzling record for the world’s No. 1 golfer.
“Scottie’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders carrying Team U.S.A.,” Snedeker said. “I think it’s time for us to carry him for a session.”
The U.S. trailed 8.5-5.5 through three sessions, cutting the deficit by one point in the morning Four-ball.
That one point came courtesy of Scheffler and Burns, who won their morning match 2 and 1 over the Japanese duo, Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, though it was hardly convincing. The Internationals led 1-up after 14 holes with the Americans growing increasingly frustrated with their form. The match turned at the 15th, when Scheffler poured in a 21-foot birdie putt to win the hole and unleashed an impassioned fist pump. From there, Burns put on a show. He stuck it 4 feet on the par-3 16th, leading to a birdie and a 1-up lead. Burns did the same at the par-4 17th, dropping his approach inside 5 feet and holing the putt to end the match with three straight holes won.
Much of that late charge came after Snedeker was required to submit his picks for the afternoon. The pair only took Scheffler’s score on six of 17 holes in the morning Four-ball.
While Scheffler was sidelined for the afternoon, Burns was not. Snedeker paired Burns with Wyndham Clark for the final match of Saturday afternoon. It comes after Scheffler and Burns played the first three sessions together.
Saturday marked the first time Scheffler sat a session at the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup since Saturday afternoon at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. Scheffler has been benched only one other session in his Presidents Cup career (Saturday afternoon in 2022).
“We're always prepared for anything,” Scheffler said upon receiving the news. “I've played a lot of golf this year. I'll just sit there and cheer the boys on.”