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Expert picks: Man of the match

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Americans
I'm going to be a homer here and go with the U.S. team. Both teams look awesome on paper, but with the names Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson all wearing the red, white and blue -- along with their play of late -- I don't know how you could bet against the Americans. Plus, for some reason the Americans have fared far better in the Presidents Cup than the Ryder Cup in recent years. In the six Presidents Cups played, the U.S. has four wins, one loss and one tie. In the last six Ryder Cups, Team USA has one win and five losses. I can't figure it out either.

Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Americans
For the long-term viability of this competition the International team (1-4-1) needs a big victory at Royal Montreal. Captain Gary Player's problem is that since the British Open the veteran trio of Stuart Appleby, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, who should manhandle most of the U.S. side, have combined for more missed cuts (five) than top 10s (one). Add the lackluster play of Mike Weir, who Player probably needs to put in the lineup in most sessions to keep the hosts happy, and the U.S. has an even greater advantage than fielding the top four players in the world.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Internationals
On paper, they're the better team for sure. At least that's what Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and even several of the International players were saying on Tuesday at The Presidents Cup. Both teams have four players inside the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking -- with the U.S. actually having the top four players on the list -- but top to bottom the International team is stronger and has the home field advantage with the crowds behind Canadian Mike Weir. The last two Presidents Cups have been close, with one ending in a tie and the other favoring the U.S., but the U.S. hasn't won outside the United States in a team competition in 14 years and the uber-talented Internationals seem to have found the team chemistry to dethrone their Royal Montreal Golf Club foes.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Americans
By a putt. Isn't that always the case? They make them at Presidents Cups and they'll watch a pile of them fall in here. And, yes, it will go down to the last few holes. Once again, isn't that always the case? The only question? Which player will do it?

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Internationals
It just means more to them.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Internationals
The International Team has something this week that they have only had twice before -- a home field advantage. In 1998 in Australia, they whipped the U.S. Team. They halved the matches in South Africa in 2003, the only other time the competition was held outside the US. If you think that Canada may be a more neutral site than these other two you have never seen Mike Weir play north of the border. He is more than a sports figure up there -- he is a national hero. The only person that Gary Player could have put on the team that would have had a greater impact on the fans is Wayne Gretzky, and don't be surprised if he shows up to root for his buddy.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Americans
Look for an extremely close match once again. The International Team may appear stronger, top-to-bottom, but I will put my faith in the red, white and blue. It's hard to pick against a team that has the top four players in the world --- particularly when that lineup includes the elegant Tiger Woods and the excitable Phil Mickelson with the enormously solid Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk to lend stability.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Americans
The two sides are evenly matched, so you have to give any edge to the side that has Tiger Woods. Duh. The Americans can break two streaks this week against the talented International Team, winning away from home for the first time in a team event since the 1993 Ryder Cup and winning in Canada for captain Jack Nicklaus, who had seven runner-up finishes at the Canadian Open but never won it.

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