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Presidents Cup 2017: Breaking down the U.S. and International teams (and why the match could be close)

September 24, 2017
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Stan Badz/Getty Images

The popular narrative heading into this week's Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club has been the potential for another lopsided American victory in an event dominated by lopsided American victories. And there are reasons why U.S. captain Steve Stricker should be optimistic about his 12-man squad's chances. There's little question the U.S. team has golfers who have played closer to their peak form in 2017, suggesting they're games are in better shape for the rigors that await in the shadow of New York City. The U.S. side's average World Ranking is 15.5 compared to the Internationals 31.6, an indicator of the home team potentially being sharper entering the competition.

But before simply handing over the trophy to Stricker's crew and concluding that the Presidents Cup is permanently broke, consider a few statistics that don't necessarily predict a walkover. For one thing, the U.S. had six rookies playing in the event, none of whom have any Ryder Cup experience either. By way of comparison, International team captain Nick Price has just four rookies on his roster.

Additionally, of the six veterans on Stricker's team, the "experience" they bring can be viewed through a skeptical lens. Consider that their combined record in the event is only 38-36-16, barely above .500. Even more surprising is the combined singles record of the returning U.S. players in previous Presidents Cup: 4-12-4. Again, by way of comparison, the International team's returning golfers have combined for a 11-9-2 singles record.

This hints that if the International side can keep the matches close heading into Sunday, the potential for an upset surely exists—and the likelihood of a lopsided win will float away in the nearby Hudson.

Here's a breakdown of the individual players on both Presidents Cup rosters:

UNITED STATES

FedEx St. Jude Classic - Final Round

Andy Lyons

Daniel Berger, 24
PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 24
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Steve Dykes

Kevin Chappell, 31
PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 25
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Warren Little/Getty Images

Rickie Fowler, 28
PGA Tour wins: 4
World Ranking: 7
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 1-3-0
Foursomes: 1-1-0
Four-Ball: 0-1-0
Singles: 0-1-0


RBC Canadian Open - Final Round

Vaughn Ridley

Charley Hoffman, 40
PGA Tour wins: 4
World Ranking: 23
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Dustin Johnson, 33
PGA Tour wins: 16 (1 major)
World Ranking: 1
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2011, 2015)
Overall record: 4-4-1
Foursomes: 3-0-1
Four-Ball: 0-3-0
Singles: 1-1-0


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Streeter Lecka

Kevin Kisner, 33
PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 26
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Richard Heathcote

Brooks Koepka, 27
PGA Tour wins: 2 (1 major)
World Ranking: 11
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


Matt Kuchar 2017

Andrew Redington

Matt Kuchar, 39
PGA Tour wins: 7
World Ranking: 13
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 4-7-2
Foursomes: 1-3-2
Four-Ball: 3-1-0
Singles: 0-3-0


FedEx St. Jude Classic - Round Three

Andy Lyons

Phil Mickelson, 47
PGA Tour wins: 42 (5 majors)
World Ranking: 30
Presidents Cup appearances: 11 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 23-16-12
Foursomes: 11-6-3
Four-Ball: 9-5-6
Singles: 3-5-3


U.S. Open - Round Two

David Cannon

Patrick Reed, 27
PGA Tour wins: 5
World Ranking: 20
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 1-2-1
Foursomes: 0-2-0
Four-Ball: 1-0-0
Singles: 0-0-1


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GLYN KIRK

Jordan Spieth, 24
PGA Tour wins: 11 (3 majors)
World Ranking: 2
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-4-0
Foursomes: 3-0-0
Four-Ball: 2-2-0
Singles: 0-2-0


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Mike Ehrmann

Justin Thomas, 24
PGA Tour wins: 6 (1 major)
World Ranking: 4
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


TEAM
Average age: 31.4 (30 without Mickelson's 47)
Average PGA Tour wins: 8.5 (5.4 without Mickelson's 42)
Average World Ranking: 15.5
Combined Presidents Cup Record: 38-36-16
Combined Foursomes record: 19-12-6
Combined Four-Ball record: 15-12-6
Combined Singles record: 4-12-4


INTERNATIONAL TEAM

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Sam Greenwood

Jason Day, 33, Australia
PGA Tour wins: 10 (1 major)
World Ranking: 6
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 4-8-3
Foursomes: 0-4-2
Four-Ball: 3-2-1
Singles: 1-2-0


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Andrew Redington

Branden Grace, 29, South Africa
PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 37
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-4-0
Foursomes: 2-1-0
Four-Ball: 2-2-0
Singles: 1-1-0


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Getty Images

Emiliano Grillo, 25, Argentina
PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 59
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Mike Lawrie

Adam Hadwin, 29, Canada
PGA Tour wins: 1
World Ranking: 46
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


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Ian Walton/Getty Images

Anirban Lahiri, 30, India
PGA Tour wins: 0
World Ranking: 68
Presidents Cup appearances: 1 (2015)
Overall record: 0-3-0
Foursomes: 0-1-0
Four-Ball: 0-1-0
Singles: 0-1-0


PGA TOUR Q School

Jeff Golden

Si-Woo Kim, 22, South Korea
PGA Tour wins: 2
World Ranking: 36
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


BMW Championship - Final Round

Andy Lyons

Marc Leishman, 33, Australia
PGA Tour wins: 3
World Ranking: 15
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 3-4-1
Foursomes: 1-2-1
Four-Ball: 0-2-0
Singles: 2-0-0


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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Hideki Matsuyama, 25, Japan
PGA Tour wins: 5
World Ranking: 3
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 3-4-2
Foursomes: 1-2-1
Four-Ball: 1-1-1
Singles: 1-1-0


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Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Louis Oosthuizen, 34, South Africa
PGA Tour wins: 1 (1 major)
World Ranking: 22
Presidents Cup appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
Overall record: 5-3-2
Foursomes: 2-2-0
Four-Ball: 3-1-0
Singles: 0-0-2


Valspar Championship - Final Round

Sam Greenwood

Charl Schwartzel, 33, South Africa
PGA Tour wins: 2 (1 major)
World Ranking: 27
Presidents Cup appearances: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 6-7-1
Foursomes: 0-4-1
Four-Ball: 4-2-0
Singles: 2-1-0


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Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Adam Scott, 37, Australia
PGA Tour wins: 13 (1 major)
World Ranking: 23
Presidents Cup appearances: 7 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
Overall record: 13-17-5
Foursomes: 6-6-2
Four-Ball: 3-8-3
Singles: 4-3-0


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Minas Panagiotakis

Jhonattan Vegas, 33, Venezuela
PGA Tour wins: 3
World Ranking: 38
Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie


TEAM
Average age: 29.9
Average PGA Tour wins: 3.5
Average World Ranking: 31.6
Combined Presidents Cup Record: 39-50-14
Combined Foursomes record: 12-22-7
Combined Four-Ball record: 16-19-5
Combined Singles record: 11-9-2