Kevin Kisner hits out at Camilo Villegas after Presidents Cup spat

It was an opening day to forget for the international team at the 2024 Presidents Cup.

A 5-0 whitewash at the hands of the US leaves Mike Weir with a mountain to climb in Montreal.

The opening fourball matches were one-sided throughout, with Tom Kim the only home player grabbing attention.

That was all for the wrong reasons, though.

Kim, 22, and his playing partner Sungjae Im, vacated the 8th green early, leaving Scottie Scheffler to putt out.

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The South Korean pair walked to the next tee box and the move didn’t go down well.

Golf Channel’s Paul McGinley commented: “That’s bordering on bad behavior. That’s disrespectful in my opinion.”

It sparked a war of words on the course, as Kevin Kisner – one of Jim Furyk’s captain’s assistants – confronted his opposite number, Camilo Villegas.

Kisner later told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis that he warned the Colombian about the ‘bush league’ tactics.

“They took gamesmanship too far and over the line on sportsmanship and lose some integrity,” the American said.

“I thought it was pretty bush league and I told Camilo that if that’s the way they want to do it, then game on. If you can p**s off my No. 1 player in the world, then I’m all for it.”

Meanwhile, John Wood – team manager of the US Ryder Cup team – was on Golf Channel duty and offered more details of the fiery exchange.

“When Kim and Im walked off the eight green, it looked like Villegas instigated it,” Wood explained.

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“He said let’s go and they walked over there. After that hole, the American vice-captain with this group is Kevin Kisner and it looked like he and Camilo had some words.

“I couldn’t hear what was said but it didn’t look that friendly to be honest with you.”

Scheffler and his playing partner Russell Henley won the match 3&2, bringing it to an end on the 16th green, where the fallout continued.

According to Lewis, Villegas asked Kisner: “Why are you being so sensitive?”

“Because I play by the rules,” Kisner hit back, to which Villegas disagreed with.

After the match, Kisner sent a text to Brad Faxon, which read: “If you’re going to do that, then it’s game on.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.