Presidents Cup Thursday Fourball Picks and Predictions

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest card for all five Thursday Fourball matches for the Presidents Cup. Follow Doc on X @drmedia59 for more on the world of golf 

Introduction and Overview

In the podcast's introduction, Will Doctor sets the stage by bringing his sharpest predictions for the PGA Tour event, the Presidents Cup (0:15–0:42). His energy and focus immediately engage listeners, promising a detailed breakdown of Thursday’s Fourball matches. The matchups feature top golfers from both the USA and international teams, with Doctor providing his take on the betting odds and insights.

Match 1: Xander Schauffele & Tony Finau vs. Jason Day & Byung-hun Ahn (0:42–14:57)

Doctor starts with the first match, where Schauffele and Finau are favorites at -180 on DraftKings. He questions U.S. captain Jim Furyk's decision to split Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who have a strong history together, but he supports the flexibility of pairing Schauffele with Finau. Despite Finau’s driving accuracy issues earlier in the season, Doctor believes Finau has improved and will excel on the greens at Royal Montreal.

For the opposition, Jason Day's recent struggles—finishing 33rd at the BMW Championship and failing to qualify for the Tour Championship—are highlighted. Doctor is not confident in Day's current form, pointing out his ongoing issues with driving accuracy. Ben Onn, too, has limited success in the Presidents Cup, which makes Doctor strongly favor Schauffele and Finau.

Statistical Insight: Day has underperformed in the Presidents Cup, and his driving accuracy has been problematic in 7 of his last 11 events. Schauffele and Finau, on the other hand, are in good form with Finau showing late-season improvement.

Prediction: Schauffele & Finau to win.

Match 2: Collin Morikawa & Sahith Theegala vs. Adam Scott & Min Woo Lee (14:57–24:30)

Morikawa and Theegala are slight favorites at -135. Doctor praises Theegala’s performance in the 2024 FedEx Cup and Morikawa’s solo second place at the Tour Championship. Morikawa’s consistency, with 8 top-ten finishes in 2024, makes him one of the top players in the world. Doctor, however, acknowledges Adam Scott’s determination to improve his Presidents Cup record, which currently stands at a disappointing 18-25-6.

Statistical Insight: Despite Scott’s veteran status, his poor Presidents Cup record weighs heavily, while Morikawa’s consistent high-level play positions him as a key player. Theegala’s form in recent events further strengthens their chances.

Prediction: Morikawa & Theegala to win.

Match 3: Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley vs. Sungjae Im & Tom Kim (24:30–32:00)

Scheffler and Henley are -142 favorites. Doctor supports Furyk’s decision to pair Henley with Scheffler, noting Henley’s stellar driving accuracy (5th on the PGA Tour) and top performances in major events. On the other hand, Tom Kim's form is questioned, as his recent performances have been underwhelming, finishing 52nd in the FedEx Cup standings.

Statistical Insight: Scheffler, ranked number one in the world, paired with Henley’s accuracy, makes them formidable. Conversely, Tom Kim’s struggles this season raise doubts about his ability to perform at Royal Montreal.

Prediction: Scheffler & Henley to win.

Match 4: Wyndham Clark & Keegan Bradley vs. Taylor Pendrith & Christiaan Bezuidenhout (32:00–38:30)

Clark and Bradley are favored at -112. Doctor criticizes Mike Weir’s decision to pair Pendrith with Bezuidenhout, citing Bezuidenhout’s poor form in recent tournaments. He points to Bezuidenhout’s struggles with his driver and short game, which make the pairing less competitive against the sharp form of Clark and Bradley.

Statistical Insight: Bezuidenhout’s loss of shots in four consecutive starts is a red flag. Clark and Bradley’s more consistent recent performances make them the stronger pairing.

Prediction: Clark & Bradley to win.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices