Jack Nicklaus must think he’s playing the New York Mets in late September or going against a squad coached by U.S. Women’s Soccer goalie-switching genius Greg Ryan. In other words, Nicklaus has to believe he’s facing something truly pathetic that only deserves pity not fear.

For one day into the Presidents Cup, Nicklaus is already laughing at the International team.

There is no other way to describe the Captain America’s decision to order Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin to concede a four-foot putt to Vijay Singh on the 18th hole, allowing the Internationals to slink away from day one with a half point. Nicklaus said he felt like it was the right thing to do for Singh’s playing partner Mike Weir, who’s treated like a special-needs kid because the Cup is being held in Canada.

Please. That would be like Steve Nash deciding to stop throwing bounce passes when he’s playing the Knicks. You don’t let up just because your opponent appears pitiful and in Weir’s case doesn’t deserve to be here on merit.

Did Appalachian State stop scoring on Michigan?

Even Mickelson didn’t seem down with the decision until he remembered he’s Faker Phil and it’s Jack Nicklaus.

“Captain Nicklaus said for us to do it. If it was up to me I don’t know,” Mickelson told AFP before completely reversing course.

“It was the right call,” Mickelson continued. “Vijay wasn’t going to miss that putt anyway. He hasn’t missed one like that in four or five years.”

Apparently, Mickelson didn’t watch any of the FedEx Cup either.

Today’s Vijay could have easily missed that putt. And Nicklaus should have let him take it. You call it the honorable thing to do? I call it a slap in the face of an Internationals squad that was already being embarrassed. They need Captain America’s pity to get a measlely half point?

It will be interesting to see if Jack’s honorable slap riles up the Internationals. And what if the U.S. somehow ends up losing the whole thing by half a point?

For all the drama and more smug Jack, remember to check out Jeff White’s live reporting from Montreal on WorldGolf.com throughout the weekend.

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