“Joke event” – Hank Haney doubles down on Presidents Cup criticism

It appears that Hank Haney has absolutely no love whatsoever for the Presidents Cup.

Earlier this week, Tiger Woods’ former coach said the International team “will need every advantage they can get and every lucky break just to make this watchable”, adding that “nothing matters when you are so severely overmatched”.

After watching Jim Furyk’s United States side – chasing a tenth consecutive victory in the biennial clash – race into a 5-0 lead after the opening day, he doubled down with a withering assessment.

“What an absolute joke of a tournament this is,” wrote Haney on X (formerly Twitter).

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There is, of course, some important context that’s required here. The Presidents Cup is a PGA Tour-owned event and Haney has a complicated relationship with the US-based circuit.

Three years ago, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against the tour by Haney following his sacking by SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio following remarks he made about female golfers.

Of course, it may well be the case that he just doesn’t like the Presidents Cup.

Notwithstanding Haney’s comments, there can be no escaping the fact that continued American dominance is not a good thing for the event.

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Speaking to reporters at Royal Montreal earlier this week, however, International team captain Mike Weir said he felt no extra pressure to deliver a home win in order to re-energise the event.

“I haven’t thought about that,” he said. “That’s not on my radar. All of us that have been a part of this know how big it is. Jim knows how close it’s been the last few years. It’s a tight, intense competition.

“The score the last bunch of years has gone the US’s way, but they’ve been very competitive matches.

“I think it’s heading the right direction no matter what happens. There’s been nothing from the tour like, ‘You guys had better win’ or something like that.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor