Thursday’s opening session is complete at Medinah, and there is a lot to take away before Friday’s alternate-shot matches.
The Americans looked shaky at times, but they still got the better of the International Team. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns survived a close one against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im, while Justin Thomas and Jackson Koivun handled their business.
Presidents Cup Round 2 Bet: Buying Jacob Bridgeman on Friday
The bigger surprise for me was Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay. Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim finished the season in fantastic form, and they looked much more comfortable together.
I also did not love the Cameron Young-Xander Schauffele pairing. They ran into Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, two Japanese players who are very comfortable together, and the American side never really found a rhythm. I would be surprised if Young and Xander are sent back out together in the same setup Friday.
Now we get alternate shot, and there is one golfer I am buying immediately.
Presidents Cup Round 2 Bet: Jacob Bridgeman
There are not many golfers on the planet playing with more confidence than Bridgeman right now.
He won the Biltmore Championship just days before the Presidents Cup after entering Sunday five shots back and firing a bogey-free 10-under 61 to win by two. Bridgeman finished the week at 26-under and led the field in Strokes Gained: Total, Strokes Gained: Putting and birdies.
That is exactly the type of form I want entering alternate shot.
Foursomes can get uncomfortable fast. One bad tee shot puts your partner in trouble, one loose iron forces somebody else to scramble, and every short putt feels a little heavier because you are playing for two people.
Bridgeman is coming in absolutely rolling. He also sat out Thursday, which means he enters Friday fresh after getting a full look at how Medinah played during the opening session.
Bridgeman will be paired with Russell Henley against Hideki Matsuyama / Sungjae Im in Friday’s alternate-shot format.
The Bet
Jacob Bridgeman / Russell Henley -115 to beat Sungjae Im / Hideki Matsuyama
I’m buying confident golf. Bridgeman is coming off a final-round 61, his second win of the season and one of the hottest putting stretches on Tour.
Alternate shot can get weird, but I want the guy who currently looks like he expects every good thing to happen.
Give me Bridgeman and his partner in Round 2.
