CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Trevor, what’s the vibe like in the team room this afternoon — or tonight when you left — versus the first couple days?
It was a simple enough question lobbed in the direction of International team captain Trevor Immelman — but his answer could have gone any number of ways.
He began very literally.
“Pretty hungry. It’s been a long day,” he said. That made sense. Double sessions are exhausting. So are emotional roller coasters. But Immelman had a plan for that. Whatever the results, Immelman has had a plan for just about everything. “Don’t know if you smelled the Braai — I’m going to use the South African word. It’s South African evening tonight. So we specially brought in South African grills, and we’ve got some open fires going out on the range, and the boys are hungry, ready to eat.”
He continued. “The vibe is …” and then he trailed off. Paused. For a few seconds. Then a few more. Nearly 20 seconds passed before he chose the right word. How could he?
It’s been a week for Immelman’s squad. They arrived at Quail Hollow Club with heads held high, eager for the challenge of taking on the star-studded American team. And they’d gotten off to a disastrous start. Despite several close matches, they’d lost Thursday’s session 4-1. Despite several more they’d lost Friday’s session 4-1, too. They’d begun the week as hopeful underdogs. Now they were beaten, facing an insurmountable lead.
You could imagine the images racing through Immelman’s head as he searched for that word. Of the morning session, in which veteran leaders Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott rallied from 2 down to 3 up by winning five consecutive holes for a much-needed point. Of emotional leaders Tom Kim and K.H. Lee, who teamed up to take down World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and worthy partner Sam Burns. Of that same Tom Kim, who went directly from the end of that match to the first group of the afternoon and somehow kept his energy cranked to 11 until the very final hole, where he made a putt he’ll remember forever. Of Scott and his younger countryman Cam Davis celebrating a clutch birdie — and a clutch point — on the 18th green, as the sun fell behind the bleachers, knowing they’d given their side a fighting chance. Of months and years of preparation and anticipation that had led to this moment, the team meet-ups and bonding sessions, the captains’ planning and strategizing, all of it disrupted by LIV defections and a fractured International player base.
At last, Immelman found his word. “The vibe is hopeful,” he said. “The vibe is hopeful. Today was a big step for a very young and inexperienced team. Eight rookies. We’ve had a lot thrown against us, and we’re here competing against the best on their home turf.”
