Jim Furyk on shock pairing split at Presidents Cup

United States Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk has joked the reason he decided to split up the traditional pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay for the opening fourballs session was because ‘they just don’t really like each other anymore’.

Furyk, 54, made the shock call to break up the customary Schauffele-Cantlay pairing at a press conference on Wednesday.

Both US captain Furyk and International captain Mike Weir were joined by their assistants as they announced their pairings for the Thursday fourballs.

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Schauffele and Cantlay are best friends and they have typically played very well together ever since their team debut at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

They have a 6-5-0 record in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup combined.

But Furyk has taken the bold decision to split them up on the first day of action at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada.

Schauffele has been sent out with Tony Finau in the first fourballs match on Thursday.

They will face Jason Day and Ben An.

Cantlay will join Sam Burns in the final match against Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners.

Furyk knew what was coming his way but instantly defended his decision.

“What went into the decision to split them?” Furyk said ofCantlay and Schauffele.

“I mean, it’s little known, they just don’t really like each other anymore. They don’t get along very well.

“No, we’re trying to maximize our — if you’ve got eight guys or 10 guys on the course, we’re trying to maximize your potential, get the best five groups you can get out there on the golf course.

“I think, talking to my assistants and talking to our statistical team, there’s a number of different reasons, probably don’t — obviously we know those guys play all their practice rounds together, they’re great friends, get along very well.

“No reason other than trying to maximize the potential we have for the five groups on the golf course.”

Scroll below for the Thursday fourballs matches at the Presidents Cup…