The Canadian crowd is turning heads and ensuring the home team dominates the Presidents Cup on Friday

MONTREAL — “That’s right in three-putt range,” one fan roared as Russell Henley sized up his 25-foot throw for birdie on the 18th^Th Hole that would have given the US team just under half a point on the second day of the Presidents Cup.

“Gosh, I thought Canadians were supposed to be nice,” shrugged a member of the American team just before Henley’s putt drifted to the right of the hole. Just moments later, Si Woo Kim hit a 15-footer, completing an unprecedented swing in the foursome session for the international team. The Rest of the World hadn’t won an alternate shot session at this event since 2005 and had never come close to winning in this format.

Not only were the partisan stands at the Royal Montreal not particularly nice, they were loud and full force on Friday, a loud turnaround from a surprisingly subdued scene on Thursday.

“I would say the audience was with us from the start. “We were definitely aware of the big celebration that was in front of us, knowing that some of the guys were going to win holes,” said Corey Conners, who teamed with fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes in the defeat on Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau led the second day with a 6:5 win. “For me, it definitely made me want to get some of those cheers for us.”

After a hugely disappointing Thursday that saw the U.S. team take a seemingly insurmountable 5-0 lead, the Canadian crowds delivered from the opening tee, which was crowded, partisan and rowdy.

The scene on the first tee was reminiscent of what has become the norm at the Ryder Cup but was almost nonexistent at the Presidents Cup — at least when the international team hosted the games. When the games are played in the United States, like two years ago at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, the American crowd rooted for the home team. But for the international team, Friday felt like a celebration.

For probably the first time in the 30-year history of the Presidents Cup, the international team experienced a real home game.

“They were much more energetic today and had more spectators,” said International captain Mike Weir. “I thought maybe half of Montreal took the day off. The crowd was huge and really energetic from the first hole. It was fantastic.”

While the international team didn’t give the home crowd much to cheer about on the first day, with the team holding a ten-hole lead in the five games, there was a noticeable difference on Friday, when galleries lined almost every fairway and pelting ensued US team with surprising viciousness.

“They were incredible today. They definitely did it,” said South Korean Tom Kim, who called on fans on Thursday. “Obviously these guys had to go out and play. I sat outside, but I think the audience plays a big role.

“I think the reason we were able to play so well today, aside from those guys going out and playing, was because our fans supported us. I think it gives you momentum, it gives you energy. They simply played a big part in our victory today.”

There were many moments for the international team when the Presidents Cup was played outside the United States, with Weir’s singles victory over Tiger Woods on the final day of the 2007 Games – also played at the Royal Montreal – near the top of the highlights. But this event, like most, was dominated by the Americans and ultimately Weir’s exploits amounted to little more than empty calories.

The crowds at the Royal Melbourne in Australia (1998, 2007, 2011 and 2019) and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in South Korea (2015) were big and loud, but there was always the feeling that the galleries were there for Woods and the others Americans should watch stars just as much as they should cheer on the home team.

When Ernie Els, the 2019 national team captain, designed the shield as the team’s logo, he hoped to have a flag that his team could play for and fans could cheer for. On Friday at the Royal Montreal, that vision became a reality.

Whether the international team can continue its inspired play and win for the first time since 1998 will depend on Weir’s players believing in that vision, as well as a surprisingly partisan and aggressive Canadian gallery.