As if Scottie Scheffler’s year has not been controversial enough the unassuming world No 1 was involved in an on-course flare-up with his friend Tom Kim as the Presidents Cup turned all Ryder Cup.
In a contest that is usually such a pale imitation of the ultimate, and much older, biennial brawl, Scheffler did not expect the tensions to boil over on the first day of the match between Team USA and The Internationals (not including Europe), especially as he was playing against his close ally.
But Kim was evidently keen to get under the skin of Scheffler, as the home side at Royal Montreal attempted to win for only the second time in the 30-year existence of the PGA cash cow.
Granted, Scheffler was put in a jail during the USPGA in May but that was only after an enthusiastic police officer arrested him for a traffic violation, for which he was later exonerated.
Yet the Texan is regarded as the most easygoing character on Tour and Kim, playing in the opening fourballs session alongside fellow Korean Sungjae Im, was quick to rattle to the cage, rushing up behind Scheffler after he holed a long putt and screaming “come on!”
As he does, Scheffler then converted his own lengthy putt for a half and turned and yelled at Kim: “What was that?!”
With everyone aware of their relationship — at the Olympics in August, gold-medallist reduced Kim to tears with his kind words on the 18th — it seemed on the banter side of good-natured. But on the next hole, the 22-year-old Kim crossed the line.
He birdied the par four but as Scheffler lined up his putt out for a half, the Internationals walked off 50 yards to the ninth tee. Scheffler missed and the fuse was lit. In the Sky Sports booth, former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley did not approve. “That’s disrespectful in my opinion,” McGinley said. “Bad behaviour.”
The respective vice-captains, Kevin Kisner and Camilo Villegas “had words” following the incident according to another analyst. “I’m not sure what was said, but it didn’t look all that friendly to be honest with you,” John Wood, the former caddie, said.
As it was Kim’s sh–housery backfired somewhat as a slighted Scheffler and Henley rallied to emerge 3&2 winners.
Beer-swilling Hughes benched
All of which would have been music to the ears of the PGA Tour brass who want the Presidents Cup to emulate the Ryder Cup. Needle is vital as is ribaldry, but Mackenzie Hughes was short of the mark when downing a can of beer on the first tee.
The Canadian swaggered on to the first tee to prove his mettle by getting down on one knee “chugging”, as they call it over there, a Stella Artois in one go, not even pausing to burp or wipe his lips.
He was benched for the first session, but must have erroneously believed he had played a role in geeing up his home crowd. Kim showed him how to do it.
