MONTREAL — By the time Max Homa made his way up to the 17th green in the day’s final match, the Presidents Cup afterparty had already begun.
The contest was over. The U.S. had won. Now, with the players having nothing left to do but celebrate, it was time to drink. The majority of the U.S. side had started that process by the time Homa reached the 17th, passing around tall-boy beers and other, less discernible drinks in aluminum cups.
By the time Homa reappeared again close to an hour later for Team USA’s victory press conference, the afterparty was in full swing.
This, it turns out, is the great tradition of the Sunday evening winner’s press conference at golf’s team events. For the only time all year, golf fans are treated to a glimpse into pro golf’s party life, and usually it’s quite the show.
On Sunday, the revelry was simple. For the first time all week, coolers were wheeled into the press room, with assistant captain Kevin Kisner appointing himself the press conference’s de facto point guard, dishing out ice cold brews as he’d done with water bottles all week. By the time the players sat down, an air of whiskey clarity was wafting through the press room.
What came next were 40 minutes of the most unhinged behavior the PGA Tour has delivered to us in some time, minutes that we will summarize below.
7 funniest moments from Team USA Presidents Cup victory press conference
1. The Bet
In-the-know golf fans will recall that Kevin Kisner and Max Homa made public a bet: If Homa holed out from anywhere, Kisner would have to take off his shirt.
On Sunday morning, Homa made good on his end of the bet on the very first hole of the day, hooping his approach shot from the fairway for a round-opening eagle.
On Sunday evening, just seconds before walking into the interview room, Kisner made good on his payment, tearing off his shirt and running into the center of the U.S. team party shirtless.
“I can’t wait to get back to that team room and run around naked for the rest of the night,” Kisner told NBC. “Go, Team USA.”
2. Max Homa on The Bet
Homa was asked about his own thoughts on the bet, and had a hilarious exchange of his own.
“Max, I was wondering, how long after you hooped that shot did you first think about Kevin paying on his bet?” a reporter asked.
“I mean, like half a second, second and a half. I looked back, and he was scampering down 9 fairway trying to run away from me, I think,” Homa said with a laugh as the rest of his teammates hooted. “He left me a good four minutes before that. I don’t blame him.