Presidents Cup: Canadian Mackenzie Hughes Chugs Beer on First Tee to Fire Up the Crowd

The Presidents Cup is off to a raucous start in Montreal, and Canadian golfer Mackenzie Hughes is already making headlines. The 33-year-old, a member of Captain Mike Weir’s International team, kicked off the tournament by chugging a beer on the first tee, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Hughes, known for his outspoken views on golf’s issues, was determined to make Weir’s team. The Internationals are heavy underdogs against the powerhouse Americans, who hold a dominant 12-1-1 record since the Presidents Cup’s inception in 1994.

The average world ranking of Team USA players is 12.4 compared to the International average of 34.4, but Weir and Hughes seem to have the underdogs ready to go.

The Power of Canadian Passion

Hughes’ beer-chugging antics, while not exactly traditional golf etiquette, captured the spirit of Canadian passion and support for the International team. The crowd at Royal Montreal Golf Club, which is hosting the Presidents Cup for the first time since 2007, erupted with cheers as Hughes downed the beer.

This spontaneous moment of energy has the potential to energize the International team throughout the competition. The team is hoping to end their losing streak against the Americans, who have won the last nine Presidents Cups.

International Team Bonding

The International team has been making a concerted effort to foster team unity. They took a trip to a Montreal Canadiens game, where they met coach Martin St. Louis and had the chance to interact with the hockey players. This experience helped the players bond across cultural differences.

Captain Mike Weir has been emphasizing team unity, drawing inspiration from NHL teams that have to overcome cultural differences to succeed.

A Look at the Pairings

The first round of the Presidents Cup is underway, with four-ball as the format. Here’s a breakdown of the pairings:

Jason Day and Byeong-Hun An (International) vs. Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau (USA)
Adam Scott and Min-Woo Lee (International) vs. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala (USA)
Sung-Jae Im and Tom Kim (International) vs. Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler (USA)
Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (International) vs. Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley (USA)
Corey Conners and Hideki Matsuyama (International) vs. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns (USA)

A Canadian Celebration

The Presidents Cup has returned to Canada, and the atmosphere is electric. With a home crowd roaring behind them and a team eager to break the American dominance, the Internationals are looking to make this a memorable week. Mackenzie Hughes’ bold move on the first tee has set the tone for a captivating tournament. Will it be enough to fuel a victory for the International team? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this is a Presidents Cup that will be remembered for years to come.