Morikawa’s swing adjustments and performance
Collin Morikawa achieved a shorter hand path and faster ball speed through specific swing adjustments, including a half-inch reduction in his backswing sway gap. His technical changes supported a season featuring 7 top-10 finishes and a 69.6 scoring average.
Morikawa’s 2026 season included a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His swing data reveals a smaller sway gap at the top of the backswing, measuring about half an inch less than in previous years. This adjustment keeps his upper body more on top of his lower body. His hands now track more toward the sky and less around the body during the backswing. This movement results in a shorter hand path length. He also produced faster ball speed despite the shorter movement, and these technical changes support his pull-fade. Morikawa’s season statistics show 18 events and 7 top-10 finishes, including a 69.6 scoring average and a 61.0 sand save percentage. His putting average remained at 1.7. He earned 2,542 FedExCup points. I would say his technical adjustments directly facilitated his ability to remain a top contender throughout the season. Morikawa has made three Ryder Cup appearances in 2021, 2023, and 2025. He entered the tournament with 8 career wins. His 2024 season included 22 events and 8 top-10 finishes with a 69.8 scoring average. His driving distance average for the season was 306 yards.
Captain selection and team structure
Brandt Snedeker led the U.S. team at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3. The roster included automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, and Collin Morikawa. Snedeker selected his six captain’s picks during a live show on PGA TOUR Studios on September 1, after Wyndham Clark moved to the number three position in the standings following his win at the BMW Championship. The tournament consists of 30 matches over four days, including five Four-ball matches on the first day and five Foursomes matches on the second day. The first team to reach 15.5 points wins the Presidents Cup, while a 15-15 tie results in a split. I find the heavy reliance on a few top-ranked players to determine the outcome of such a massive team event to be a risk for the U.S. side. In 2024, Keegan Bradley clinched the cup by defeating Si Woo Kim 1 up in a singles match. The International team relied on Si Woo Kim to lead their points standing. The 2026 course layout provides a par 70 with a total distance of 7,548 yards. This Medinah course has hosted three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. The Medinah No. 3 course was transformed in 2022-23 by a design team including Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking, and Ashley Mead. This redesign increased the total sand area to 204,000 square feet, up from 70 bunkers to 117. The U.S. seeks its 11th win in a row.
Team bonding in the Quebec region
Team bonding in the Laval area provides many entertainment options. Agencies provide comedians to liven up a stage or music bands to add energy. Magicians, hypnotists, and mentalists supply entertainment for corporate functions or private shows. Circus artists like fire-breathers and jugglers can captivate guests. Speakers can address topics like mental health, resilience, and success during team meetings. You should consider these options if you need to entertain a large group in the Quebec region. The International team relies on players like Hideki Matsuyama, who has seven appearances, and Adam Scott, making his 12th appearance, to provide the necessary veteran leadership for the squad. Ryan Fox won The Open Championship this summer, and he is a rookie for the International side. Adam Scott makes his 12th career appearance in the event. Tom Kim has three previous appearances. The International team roster includes Corey Conners, who has two previous appearances, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who has two appearances. Min Woo Lee is also making his second appearance. Nick Taylor is making his Presidents Cup debut. Sungjae Im has four previous appearances. Can the International team overcome the depth of the American roster? Sungjae Im has four previous appearances.
