Presidents Cup preview.... Weirsy and his team set to make Canada proud..

 I have read a lot of the prognosis, most of it American, about this year's Presidents Cup about to get underway on the Royal Montreal GC on Friday.

You can get lost in all the past stats, we know USA  has dominated with in a row and 12 of the 14, we know they have great depth and more highly ranked players, are overwhelming favourites, yes its David vs Goliath again...but that's the formula that has fed Europe in the Ryder Cup forever.

Remember for years away back to 1926, the USA were just too good in the Ryder Cup to the point that it's popularity on this side of the pond was waning..

Until a guy named Seve came along in 1979, and Jack Nicklaus suggested GB&I became Europe to get his brilliance into the team, everything began to change.

There was and always will be just one Seve, but this International team is changing their status in this event, they have come very close recently, they are stocked with young guys who don't have scars from the past, and more importantly believe they now can win..

Mike Weir has been part of this event both as a gutsy, clutch player who famously beat Tiger in singles here in Montreal in 2007, and as an assistant coach, along with Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy they are following the blueprint that then captain Ernie Els laid down in 2019 at Royal Melbourne when only a furious comeback in singles resulted in a 16-14 loss under the banner of their new "Shield".

These four have done all they can to set this team up to succeed against all the odds.

A Presidents Cup victory this week by International team captain Mike Weir, left, and his players, including three Canadians, would be only the second since the event began in 1994, The job of U.S. counterpart Jim Furyk, right, is to extend his team's dominance in the event to 10 consecutive victories. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

Weirsy is not only beloved in Canada but more important respected and I mention that because his Canadian picks Mac Hughes, Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith have not fared well at all in this venue.

I believe that was then, this is now. Conners and Pendrith in particular are playing well, and I just can't see them not making themselves Weir and this country proud with their performances this week win or lose..

Also this team is loaded with the DNA of young Asian guys that are the real deal led by Tom Kim who can beat anyone on the USA team on any given day. Byeong (Ben)) Hun An, Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee from Australia, are all ready and really able to make this weekend happen, they are all established very talented pros in this new world order.

Further, veterans Hideki Matsuyama is in form as is Adam Scott who has found his game again as has Jason Day after two years in the wilderness and I believe he has something to prove.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout from South Africa will be virtually unknown to many Americans and Canadians, but not so in the International world where he has become a star, and importantly a great putter along with Mac Hughes which I believe will become a key to a great performance for this team.

There is a lot of rain in Montreal's forecast for today and Thursday so Royal Montreal will be soft, the rough will be tough, under partly sunny skies to begin the weekend, where there is no precipitation expected.

So, there you have it, my gut just is telling me, this time, here in Canada everything is in place for a famous performance in front of a sold out Canadian crowd and a huge international TV audience.

A little help from Lady Luck would also be appreciated !

They have nothing to lose and everything to gain...

I will bring you the match pairings as soon as they are announced.

Bryan Angus