Brian Harman’s first experience with international match play was the 2023 Ryder Cup, where he played for the U.S. in front of huge, partisan galleries in Italy.
He expects no less enthusiasm from Canadian fans next week when the University of Georgia graduate and St. Simons Island, Ga., resident plays for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Sept. 26-29.
“I expect it to be a hostile crowd against an incredibly talented team,” Harman told the Times-Union of his first venture on a Presidents Cup team. “Canadian golf fans are very knowledgeable and they love the sport. Some people have written off the International team in the past. We can’t write them off this team.”
That’s mainly because beloved Canadian Mike Weir is the captain, and he has three countrymen playing for him, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith. Add Presidents Cup veterans such as Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Adam Scott and Jason Day of Australia, and the solid South Korean team of Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
“I expect it to be a dogfight,” Harman said. “We need to play really well. The International team has not had a lot of success [the U.S. holds a 12-1-1 lead and the only International victory was 26 years ago] but they’re hungry and they’re going to play with a lot of emotion.”
Harman had his moments in the Ryder Cup. He combined with Max Homa to win two doubles matches on Saturday, giving the U.S. a fighting chance. Homa is back on the Presidents Cup team, as are the usual team leaders, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark.
“The Ryder Cup was a huge learning curve,” Harman said. “Until you actually get there and play, it’s hard to know what you’re getting yourself into. I had an incredible time.”
Harman said he also expects the U.S. team to take on the personality of its captain, Jim Furyk of Jacksonville.
“Jim is very calm, very even-keeled but a fierce competitor,” Harman said. “I think this team will mirror that. Jim’s an excellent leader and we’ve had a lot of communication. We’ll really rally behind him.”
Harman hasn’t won since the 2023 British Open at Royal Liverpool. He came a shot away from taking Scheffler to a playoff in The Players Championship, tying for second, had two other top-10 finishes and atoned for a missed cut in the Masters by tying for 26th in the PGA and for 21st in the U.S. Open, before a tie for 60th in his Open title defense.
Harman was one spot away on the FedEx Cup points list to qualify for the Tour Championship and views the Presidents Cup as motivation to get his game in shape for 2025 — although he will play in least one FedEx Cup Fall tournament, the RSM Classic in his backyard at the Sea Island Club Nov. 21-24.
“I didn’t want my year to be over with,” he said. “I’m ready to work and get my game as good as I can.”
LIV Golf: Season ends with big Texas finish
Event: LIV Golf Team Championship, Friday-Sunday, Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas.
What’s the purse? $50 million ($14 million to the winning team).
Who won last year? The Crushers (Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri) defeated the Range Goats by two shots at Trump Doral in Miami.
How to watch on TV: CW (Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m.).
Area players entered: Cam Smith.
Notable: The competition will combine match and stroke play for three days. … The defending champion Crushers, Legion XIII and Rippers GC will receive first-round byes from the three-ball competition.
LPGA Tour: On to Cincinnati
Event: Kroger Queen City Classic, Thursday-Sunday, TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio.
What’s the purse? $2 million ($300,000 to the winner).
Who won last year? Minjee Lee blew a big lead in the final round but regrouped and beat Charley Hull with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
How to watch on TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 1-4 p.m.).
Area players entered: Auston Kim.
Notable: U.S. Solheim Cup players Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang lead the field, which also includes Lydia Ko, Charley Hull and Anna Nordqvist. … After playing in Arkansas next week, the Tour goes to Asia for four tournaments in a row, then one in Hawaii before finishing the season in Belleair and Naples in November.
PGA Tour Champions: Pebble Beach beckons
Event: Pure Insurance Championship, Friday-Sunday, Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.
What’s the purse? $2.3 million ($414,000 to the winner).
Who won last year? Thongchai Jaidee parred the fourth playoff hole to beat Justin Leonard, who hooked his tee shot into the Pacific Ocean off the 18th tee.
How to watch on TV: Golf Channel (Friday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m.).
Area players entered: David Duval, Fred Funk, Vijay Singh.
Notable: Ernie Els, K.J. Choi, Fred Couples, Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and Thomas Bjorn lead the field. … Mark O’Meara has announced his retirement and will play for the final time this week at the course where he won five PGA Tour titles. … The Champions Tour is off next week and will next play in Jacksonville at the Timuquana Country Club for the Constellation Furyk & Friends.
Korn Ferry Tour: Two steps left in Finals
Event: Nationwide Hospital Children’s Charity Championship, Thursday-Sunday, Ohio State University Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio.
What’s the purse? $1.5 million ($270,000 to the winner).
Who won last year? Norman Xiong shot 67 in the final round and defeated Curtis Luck, Joe Highsmith and Chris Petefish by four shots.
How to watch on TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 4-6 p.m.).
Area players entered (points rank): Taylor Dickson (5), Ricky Castillo (24), Danny Walker (29), Doc Redman (54), Thomas Walsh (55), Tano Goya (58), Cody Blick (63), Chandler Blanchet (80), Rick Lamb (84), Julian Suri (88), Chris Baker (91), Philip Knowles (93), Joey Garber (110), Dillon Board (114), Fred Biondi (117), Nick Gabrelcik (118).
Notable: The top-120 players on the points list following last week’s Simmons Bank Open qualified. The top-75 after this week will advance to the Korn Ferry Tour Championship at the French Lick (Ind.) Golf Resort Pete Dye Course.
What are the (golf) odds?
LIV Golf Team Championship: Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII is the favorite by Hard Rock Bet at +275. Next are the defending champion Crushers (+325) and Rippers (+400).
Pure Insurance Championship: Hard Rock Bet has installed Alker as the favorite at +475, followed by Langer (+650) and Els (+750).
Nationwide Children’s Championship: Matt McCarty is the favorite at +1400, followed by Max McGreevy at +2000).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Brian Harman will fall back on Ryder Cup experience for Presidents Cup
