Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all were in attendance on Thursday for the start of the Presidents Cup, making the opening of the event "spirited, memorable and, well, presidential," according to Mark Herrmann of NEWSDAY. The three former Commanders in Chief all "received loud ovations and all posed with the actual cup." The theme of the day for the American team was "hail to the chiefs." U.S. golfer Jordan Spieth: "It was really cool of them. It’s very rare that you get three presidents in one place. Very rare. We should feel lucky for that" (NEWSDAY, 9/29). GOLF.com's Dylan Dethier wrote under the header, "Presidents Obama, Clinton And Bush Steal The Show At Presidents Cup." When the presidents arrived to the first tee at Liberty National, the "bleachers shook." The trio "strolled in casually Thursday afternoon, waving to the crowd, each in his own Presidents Cup polo" (GOLF.com, 9/28). GOLF DIGEST's Alex Myers noted Bush talked with Tiger Woods, while Clinton "discussed course strategy with Phil Mickelson" and Obama offered "words of encouragement" to Spieth. They all "mingled with those lucky enough to be inside the ropes." All three "watched intently as players" hit their first tee shots (GOLFDIGEST.com, 9/28).
CHANGE OF PACE: In Newark, Steve Politi writes major sporting events too often are "preceded by these over-the-top productions with musical acts and unnecessary glitz." The Presidents Cup "went the understated route, and if you were lucky to be sitting in the horseshoe seating area around the tee box, you'll probably remember it for a while." The presidents' arrival led to a "raucous ovation from the red-white-and-blue wearing crowd who had been cheering 'U-S-A!' moments earlier" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/29). ESPN.com's Jason Sobel noted there were "no cries of derision from the gallery." There was "no sense of the social unrest that has unfolded at other sporting events in recent weeks" (ESPN.com, 9/28).
