Taylor Pendrith was making other plans when he learned that he’d be taking on a new role for the International team as an assistant to captain Geoff Ogilvy at this week’s Presidents Cup.
asserted
he → make → Cup
“I was actually planning my mother-in-law’s surprise 60th birthday party, and I’d missed a call from Geoff because I was setting things up,” said Pendrith on Monday.
asserted
Pendrith → plan → Monday
“I went out and took the call, and he told me the news, and I went back in and told my wife, and she was shocked.
asserted
she → go → wife
It’s not something that at this point in my career I was thinking about, but obviously I’m super honoured and proud to to be in this role and be here with the guys.”
asserted
I → ’ → guys
Unlike hockey, the captain and his assistants don’t play in the Presidents Cup but act more like coaches, following play in golf carts and relaying information from pairing to pairing.
asserted
captain → play → pairing
As a result, the captains and their assistants for the best-on-best tournament that sees the top American golfers on the PGA Tour take on the elite from around the world — minus Europe — are older players who are retired or semi-retired.
asserted
who → see → world
For example, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., captained the International side at the 2024 edition at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
asserted
Weir → captain → Club
Immelman had been CBS’s lead golf analyst for a year, and Ogilvy only played in one PGA Tour event that year.
asserted
Ogilvy → play → event
Only Villegas, who was 42 at the time, had played a full season in 2024.
asserted
who → play → 2024
Indeed, when play teed off at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago on Thursday morning he officially tied Ian Baker-Finch for the youngest-ever captain’s assistant.
asserted
he → tee → assistant
“It was a huge goal of mine to make the team as a player, and I just didn’t have a great year on the golf course,” said Pendrith, who was 95th on the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the season.
asserted
who → make → season
”(Ogilvy) had a secondary prize for me, and wanted me to be an assistant captain.
asserted
me → have → me
Obviously, it’s something that I can’t say no to.
asserted
I → ’ → that
“I want to be a part of the team.
asserted
I → want → team
It’s my favourite week of the year, so I accepted, and it’s been really fun.”
asserted
it → ’ → year
Pendrith has played in the last two editions of the biennial event.
asserted
Pendrith → play → event
He was shut out in his four match play appearances at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., in 2022 but earned two points in five chances at Montreal in 2024.
asserted
He → shut → 2024
“It’s a pressure that you can’t really produce in practice,” said Pendrith.
asserted
Pendrith → ’ → practice
“It’s such a big week.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
You’re playing for more than yourself.
asserted
You → play → yourself
You have your team and all the countries that are represented on this team.”
asserted
that → have → team
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is playing in the Presidents Cup for a third time and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is making his debut.
asserted
Taylor → play → debut
Taylor said he was pumped to have Pendrith as part of the captain’s staff.
asserted
he → say → staff
“To pick his brain with his experience playing in this twice and now being there for us, anything he can do to help us being an assistant captain it’s huge, especially for me being my first time,” said Taylor.
asserted
Taylor → pick → us
“It’s a familiar face, someone I’m very comfortable talking to and being around and I’m definitely going to take his advice whenever I can.”
Pendrith said his advice for Taylor and fellow International team rookies Ryan Fox of New Zealand, Nico Echavarria of Colombia, and Ryo Hisatsune of Japan was simple.
asserted
advice → ’ → Japan
It’s it’s so much fun being here with the guys in the team room and all of that, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself,” said Pendrith.
asserted
Pendrith → ’ → yourself
“Obviously, everybody wants to do good and play well and get points for the team and do well for their teammates, but to just really enjoy it and have fun because it is a pretty special week.”
asserted
it → want → fun
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
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