Canada's Conners, Pendrith hope to spark international team in Presidents Cup debuts

Finding chemistry on the eclectic Presidents Cup international team can be a challenge, but Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith are bringing their own spark to captain Trevor Immelman's squad.

Conners and Pendrith played together on Golf Canada's amateur teams before becoming teammates at Kent State University and were even the best man at each other's weddings. They'll be making their Presidents Cup debuts on Thursday as the best-on-best tournament tees off at Quail Hollow Golf Club outside Charlotte, N.C.

"To be here with him is really special, and if we have a partnership, I think we can certainly feed off of one another," said Conners before Wednesday's first-round draw. "If I hit a poor shot, I know he's going to bail me out, and if he struggles on a hole, I'm going to be giving it my all to give us a chance to win the hole.

Although Immelman split the Canadians up in the first round's draw on Wednesday afternoon, it's likely they will have a chance to play together at the PGA Tour event that sees 12 Americans face 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe.

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., will partner with South Korea's Sungjae Im against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the second match of the first round. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., will team with Chile's Mito Pereira against Tony Finau and Max Homa in the day's fifth match.

Pendrith said he's enjoying sharing the honour of playing on the international team with one of his best friends.

"To be with him is really cool and comforting," said Pendrith. "He's probably the person I've played my most rounds of golf with, ever."

Conners was an automatic selection after finishing the PGA Tour season fourth on the international team standings. He