MONTREAL — Deep into the darkish of Saturday night time, with scoreboard lights illuminating the 18th inexperienced, the two-time main winner stared at him with disbelief. Xander Schauffele has seen it up shut greater than anyone. He’s seen it in three continents over 5 cups. Nonetheless, his eyes bulged as the 2 embraced, tilting his head again in bewilderment, as if to ask: Who is that this man?
When you requested his four-ball teammate Sam Burns, he’d say, “The man is an absolute simply murderer.”
Captain Jim Furyk stated he’s the participant anybody would need to hit an enormous putt.
And in that second Saturday night time, because the birdie putt fell to win probably the most emotional match of the week, Schauffele remained amazed at what Patrick Cantlay can do with every part on the road.
“It’s most likely probably the most fired up I’ve been possibly in my profession,” Schauffele stated.
The U.S. received the Presidents Cup on Sunday. Once more. In what was at one level a hotly contested, back-and-forth crew match play occasion, Cantlay’s clutch play pulled the People effectively forward earlier than they ran away in Sunday singles for an 18 1/2–11 1/2 win, the most important away victory in Presidents Cup historical past. They received as a result of they’re higher, extra star-studded and presumably higher managed. It was all fairly easy.
However one thing else turned abundantly clear this weekend, which we now can maintain as gospel from right here on out.
Patrick Cantlay — the polarizing, confounding, seemingly impassive 32-year-old often called “Patty Ice” — has turn out to be one of many all-time crew golf legends. He’s a real crunch-time killer, a stoic, business-minded savage who has the uncommon, famend capacity to go toe-to-toe with the very best gamers on the planet and steal their hopes and desires within the closing moments. He’s sparked hat-waving mobs in Italy earlier than caddie-player scuffles broke out after his 43-foot birdie putt. He’s gone undefeated on the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Whilst a crew cup rookie on the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, he took down Joaquin Niemann in Sunday singles to be the official level that put the U.S. forward. And after a 4-1 week in Montreal the place he shared the whole factors lead, Cantlay can boast a 15-6-1 file in 5 crew cups.
PATTY ICE. CLUTCH!! 🇺🇸🥶
Patrick Cantlay sinks it for birdie to seal a 1UP win and the eleventh U.S. level!
📺 NBC and Peacock | #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/4CDvRcoQ9W
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 28, 2024
His contemporaries discuss him with a chuckle as a result of he actually is simply totally different. He’s articulate and considerate but additionally robotic and dry. He’s taken on a bigger position in PGA Tour politics — with some saying he’s a major voice steering the participant advisory board — and is criticized for his gradual play on the course. He’s extra notorious than common but beloved on the similar time. And as a person participant 11 months out of the yr, he’s compiled a considerably disappointing resume as a perennial top-10 participant with none main success.
With every degree the legend of Cantlay in these moments grows, the questions solely turn out to be an increasing number of legitimate about why Cantlay the person isn’t a multi-time main winner. Or why he’s hardly been within the combine in any respect.
That irritating component shouldn’t negate what we’re watching. What we’re watching simply makes us need much more.
Cantlay was not the principle character this week in Montreal. However he’s the story proper now due to the methods he silenced the principle characters. That’s the true superpower Cantlay has. There was a 24-hour stretch early within the week when some puzzled whether or not Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im had been probably the most dominant crew on the occasion, as a result of the duo dominated Cantlay and Schauffele in Friday foursomes by a 7 and 6 margin to tie the most important Presidents Cup blowout ever. However these near Cantlay say he consistently desires to face the very best, so captain Jim Furyk despatched him on the market once more Saturday morning to face Matsuyama and Im in four-ball.
And Im was taking part in like a celebrity down the stretch in a good match. It was unbelievable to look at. But each time Im thought he would win a gap, Cantlay wouldn’t give him an inch.
When Im birdied 12, Cantlay chipped in for eagle. When Im put it to six ft for birdie on 14, Cantlay put it to three ft. When Im hit it to six ft once more for birdie on 15, Cantlay made a 23-foot birdie of his personal. And when Im hit an ideal shot to five ft on 16, Cantlay made a 17-foot birdie to seal the win. Im went from a hero of the day to an afterthought, as a result of Cantlay snatched his soul.
Then got here the Kims, Tom and Si Woo. They had been the precise predominant characters of Montreal. They had been dominant and boisterous and rubbed the People the improper approach. They celebrated with violent fist pumps and shouted to rile up the group. And so they had been profitable. Till they matched up with Cantlay and Schauffele in afternoon foursomes.
Cantlay hit brutally difficult saves from unimaginable conditions within the tough. He performed the Kims’ personal recreation, making them putt quick putts as a substitute of giving it to them. And within the clutch, within the close to pitch black with the match on the road in a good Presidents Cup, Cantlay made the 17-foot birdie putt to win.
“I believe it’s fairly becoming, it being all darkish and all,” Schauffele stated. “I might barely see him on the market. Studying the putt with him was fairly entertaining, utilizing some mild from the board. He’s simply — I can let you know one factor, I’m by no means going to play him at the hours of darkness or at night time. I’ll simply watch for the morning.”
Cantlay has been one of many three or 4 most constant golfers on the planet over these six seasons, racking up 76 top-20s. However in main championships, he has not contended. He went three years with no prime 10. He’s improved just lately with six top-15s in his final 10 majors, however even amid these he by no means actually felt like he was within the combine to win it.
GO DEEPER
What to know from the USA’ Presidents Cup win
So what’s the disconnect?
It’s all hypothesis, however there’s one thing about Cantlay when it’s him vs. one other individual. Talking earlier than the Presidents Cup this week, he gave a uncommon perception into that distinction, saying:
“My favourite factor about these weeks is the aggressive nature of it and what it brings out in me. I don’t discover it till I’m on the market doing it. The moments that match play creates and taking part in for a crew and taking part in for the USA makes — it simply brings out the very best in me.”
He doesn’t even discover it till it occurs.
“I simply discover that I’m fired up far more than ordinary,” he continued, “and I believe it’s as a result of taking part in on a crew makes you care extra concerning the consequence.”
Nevertheless it’s what he stated subsequent that’s so fascinating. Cantlay — pretty or not — is named one thing as a company particular person. He fights for more cash for gamers on the board. He was once sponsored by Goldman Sachs and now has the non-public fairness agency Apollo on his cap. A lot of the pandemonium in Rome stemmed from a report of Cantlay refusing to put on a Ryder Cup hat as a result of he needed to be paid (one thing Cantlay and Staff USA denied). And as an expert golfer, his best energy is that this unexciting reliability that racks up prime finishes and loads of cash however doesn’t essentially lead to status.
In crew occasions, although, folks depend upon you.
“I believe having that crew pulling for you and realizing that the opposite guys are watching they usually have an curiosity within the match that you just’re taking part in simply elevates the stress while you’re on the market,” Cantlay stated. “And so realizing that Xander or Collin (Morikawa) or Scottie (Scheffler) are watching the match they usually’re all there they usually’re dwelling and dying with each shot, each putt, that simply provides to the thrill, and I like it.”
Perhaps it’s one thing about that weight. Perhaps it’s about it being so absolute. Skilled golf will not be win or lose. It’s win, or win rather less, or win rather less than that. Seventh place may nonetheless win you $500,000. It’s irritating, nevertheless it’s additionally an unbelievable week. Some gamers are wired in a approach that seventh place boils their blood. Others are constructed to view the world in aggregates and massive photos and perceive it’s an excellent week. Cantlay tends to fall into the latter.
“It doesn’t really feel as heavy,” Cantlay stated of “shedding” in a tour occasion. “Don’t get me improper: profitable and shedding at all times feels nice or feels horrible, however when you may have a crew and it might imply the distinction between the crew profitable and the crew shedding, I believe it’s heightened somewhat bit.”
Cantlay is 32. His golf continues to be good. Even in a comparatively down yr, he stands No. 11 on the planet on DataGolf. However home windows don’t final perpetually. Some can thrive into their 40s. Some begin fading of their mid-30s. After all, Cantlay desires to win majors and show he’s among the finest of his period, which he’s. Nevertheless it’s not inconceivable that he by no means wins a serious championship.
What won’t change, although, is what Cantlay already is. He’s a killer. He’s a drive. He’s a 15-6-1 match-play golfer who can humble the cockiest, fiercest gamers within the recreation. When the stage will get harder for everybody else, he feels most comfy. Get pleasure from it, even when the remaining stays so complicated.
(High picture: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Photographs)