Mackenzie Hughes feels at home at Royal Montreal.
Although he was not selected to play Thursday’s four-ball matches to open the Presidents Cup in Quebec, Hughes did not hesitate to try to excite the Canadian public.
Hughes, one of three Canadians playing on the international team this week, opened the tournament with a classic first sip of beer.
Hughes has won twice on the PGA Tour during his career, most recently at the 2022 Sanderson Farms Championship. He was selected as captain of the International Team, along with fellow Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith, for the second time in the country’s history as host of the Presidents Cup.
Hughes isn’t the only international player embracing the Presidents Cup this week. On Wednesday, in front of only a handful of people in the crowd, Sungjae Im performed a perfect “Gangnam Style.”
Im, also a two-time Tour winner, hung out with Tom Kim on Thursday. However, the two fell into a hole early in their match against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
It will take more than a Stella and a dance to lead Team International to an upset victory this week after years of American dominance in the Presidents Cup, but vibes are high for Mike Weir’s group from the start. That has to serve a purpose.
