MONTREAL - For all the talk of bonding through bus trips and ping-pong, and for all the efforts to make sure the chaps are attired with the same colored socks, shirts, and sweater vests, golf remains the ultimate individual game that revolves around distinct personalities.

Even at a team event such as this week's leaders Cup.

Oh, sure, Phil Mickelson, here at Royal Montreal Golf Club for his 13th international team competition as a pro, can suggest "there has not been one team where we haven't had the greatest time," and Vijay Singh, who has played in all six of the prior leaders Cups, can boast that "this week we are all Canadians," in an effort to show team solidarity for the rabid Canadian fans, but always what dominate these affairs are the individual story lines.

Ryder Cup. leaders Cup. Makes no difference. The individual combustion always matters at these competitions. It was evident yesterday on the eve of the seventh leaders Cup between the Homeland and the International Team. Consider that when the pairings were announced for today's opening session of six foursome matches, hardly any talk was wasted on which side seemed to have the advantage.

Instead, tongues started wagging about match No. 2, which features Mickelson vs. Singh, or why US captain Jack Nicklaus didn't put out Tiger Woods against Rory Sabbatini, or whether Nicklaus or Gary Player, the International Team captain, would commit to a Sunday singles match between Woods and Canadian Mike Weir.