2013 Presidents Cup: Weather May Force Monday Finish

With day two at the Presidents Cup being called for darkness late on Friday afternoon, the prospect looms that there may be a Monday finish that could possibly get pushed into Tuesday. Rain and lightning again forced a delay on Friday that left four of the six matches on the golf course at Muirfield Village that will need to finish on Saturday morning before they can set up Saturday’s matches. More bad weather is on the way for the weekend, so expect more delays.

Team USA still holds a one-point lead after darkness halted play late on Friday. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley easily defeated Jason Day and Canadian, Graham DeLaet 4 & 3. The match should have been over earlier, but Phil and Keegan got a little sloppy late in the match and allowed it to go to the 15th hole before they could get it closed out.

Team International evened the day up with a victory from Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge over Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan. Brendon de Jonge is quickly becoming the International star of this competition as a Captain’s Pick rookie. They beat Team USA 4 & 3 and closed them out at the 15th hole as well.

Brendon de Jonge played well down the stretch during the FedEx Cup playoffs and earned a spot on Nick Price’s team. deJonge is from Zimbabwe, as is Nick Price. He is a very good ball striker, and was able to make some key putts when the veteran Els struggled with his flat stick.

Four matches are still on the golf Course in Dublen Ohio, and will resume around 7 AM on Saturday. The Saturday format changes a little. There will be only five matches for each session, which will include a Fourballs match in the morning, and another Foursomes match in the aftrnoon. This will give both teams a chance to rest some of the players who aren’t playing as well.

I think as we approach the halfway point of this tournament, everyone is surprised at how well the international team is hanging in. On paper, the American team was by-far the favorite with only one true rookie on the team with Nick Price having seven true rookies. Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker, and Jason Dufner are Presidents Cup rookies, but all three played on the Ryder Cup team last year. Only Jordan Spieth is a true rookie.

There is a major storm system moving across the country that will more than likely cause stoppages, and delays. So if you are like myself, and love this kind of golf, you will have to hang in there and have faith that they will eventually get it in.

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