The 5-0 dressdown on Thursday has put the team selection process under scanner. Currently, no LIV golfers are eligible for the International squad. “It is a shame,” captain Mike Weir said a few months back while announcing his decision to exclude LIV Golfers. “I’ve been told they’re not eligible. They’re not gonna be eligible but hopefully going forward, maybe in Chicago in 2026, they are.” 

And, after Thursday’s humiliation, some fans are certainly clamoring for it. Joaquin Niemann has the strongest case to make. The Chillean’s past record isn’t sparkling – he raked in half a point from four matches – but he certainly doesn’t lack passion. “I do believe we (the Internationals) have a strong team, but it could be an even stronger team. I’d love to see the Americans lose,” Niemann said just weeks ago.

Then there is Ripper GC captain, Cameron Smith and South Africans, Louis Oosthuizen, and Dean Burmester. In the 2019 iteration, Smith halved one foursome, lost another 2&1, and then defeated Justin Thomas in the singles. 

There is also the case of Abraham Ancer. Although not in the top ten in LIV’s standings, the Mexican secured 3 points from a possible five in his only Presidents Cup appearance. Quite naturally, netizens feel having a few players from LIV Golf would’ve bolstered their chances.

Fans want LIV golfers to be included in the Presidents Cup

Some believe that keeping Niemann, Oosthuizen, and Smith out of the International squad has tilted the odds more in the USA’s favor. Each of the American players are inside the top–25. The number is four in Mike Weir’s side. Whereas, the average world ranking for the International squad is 34.4 vis-à-vis 12.4 for red, white, and blues.

“It was a one sided event before LIV but keeping several of the best intl guys out of the event made it completely unwatchable,” one user tweeted. Barring a few occasions, the Presidents Cup has always seen the Stars and Stripes overpowering their rival. In fact, Solheim Cup captain, Stacy Lewis, suggested that it should be converted to a mixed-gender event to spice things up.

Either that or bring LIV golfers in, say some fans. “Internationals far more impacted by the exclusion of LIV players. Fix that and make it a mixed event to give a point of difference and it could be awesome,” one user wrote. 

Seconding that, many lamented that the merger dilemma is causing the PGA Tour more harm than LIV Golf. “Unfortunate how the Tour has let its own property suffer, but it’s minor compared to other mistakes made over the past few years.” Some, still, disagree.

While the International squad is now five points behind, the matches were closer than it looked on the leaderboard. The highest margin of victory remains 3&2 for the American side. Three matches were settled on the final hole, and the other on the penultimate hole.

Team USA came to Royal Montreal boasting a record of 12-1-1. “The internationals won 1 Presidents Cup ever. This is nothing to do with Liv (sic!),” one of them commented. Another wrote, “Hideki is better than any international player liv (sic!) has.” 

There is certainly an argument to be made after Matsuyama’s current form; he won twice this year. But overall, a few big names from LIV Golf would’ve deserved a captain’s nod if only rules allowed.