The
Presidents Cup Oct. 3-6 • Muirfield Village Golf Club
Patriotism, pressure-packed putts and 24 of the world’s best golfers all will be present at Jack’s place to determine if the United States Team can continue its dominance over the International Team.
Published Sept. 26, 2013, by
Photo by Joshua A. Bickel/ThisWeekSPORTS
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The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Page A2
September 26, 2013
Overview
International Team looks for luck in Dublin
By DON DELCO THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Less than an hour after the venerable green jacket was first slipped onto Adam Scott’s shoulders last April, the firsttime major winner cited one of the main reasons he became the 2013 Masters Tournament champion. It started at the 2009 Presidents Cup. The Presidents Cup, which pits 12 golfers from the United States against 12 International golfers – excluding European countries – will be played for the 10th time when it arrives at Muirfield Village Golf Club from Oct. 1-6. In the four years since 2009, Scott has gone from a captain’s pick to the Masters champion and top-ranked player on the International Team. He is one of the team’s veterans, having played this event six times. But none was as special as 2009. “My game was in a bit of a rut, and I wasn’t enjoying it,” said Scott, in the pressroom at Augusta National last spring. “(International Team captain) Greg (Norman) had a lot of faith in me and he gave me a pick. I didn’t want to disappoint him. “He automatically put me into world-class situation of playing. There’s no hiding in a Presidents Cup.You have to go out there and you’re playing against the best players in the world. I used that as a real motivator.” The International Team could use some motivation. In the previous nine Presidents Cups, the Americans have won seven times (1994, ’96, 2000, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11), the International Team won once (’98) and there was a tie (’03). Nick Price, 56, is a threetime major winner and a fivetime International Team member. The native Zimbabwean has taken over for Australian Greg Norman as the International Team captain. Norman was captain the previous two Presidents Cups, both won by the Americans. “The great thing about the Presidents Cup is that there’s no money on the line,” Price said. “This is pure golf. This is pride. We want to compete and we want to try to win the Cup. “We’ve kind of had a tough time so I’m trying to figure out how we turn that tide.” Thanks to the consistent success of the U.S. Team, there has been little change to its leadership. Fred Couples, 53, won the 1992 Masters and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year. He has guided the Americans to their last two Presidents Cup victories. Unlike the International Team, the American team is quite acquainted with team play. The Ryder Cup dates back to 1927 and places the Americans against a team from
– Hideki Matsuyama of the International Team – has not played in at least one Memorial Tournament. Woods’ five wins at Muirfield Village is followed by teammates Kuchar, who won the event last June, and Stricker, who won it in 2011. International Team member Ernie Els won the Memorial in 2004. “I really enjoy the course,” said Kuchar, who has five top10 finishes in eight appearances at the Memorial. “This course just fits my eye really well. It tests every club in your bag and the greens are some of the quickest we play all year on the PGA Tour.”
Challenge for the International Team
U.S. Team captain Fred Couples (left), PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and International Team captain Nick Price answer questions during a news conference. It’s the third time Couples has been captain and the first for Price. FRED SQUILLANTE/THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Europe. Last year, the Europeans overtook U.S. Team and its 10-6 lead on the final day in what has been described one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history. “The Presidents Cup is different, and I don’t know if there is anything for us to prove to try to regain due to our lost Ryder Cup,” U.S. Team member Matt Kuchar said. “Nobody likes losing. We want to continue our winning tradition the U.S. has had in the Presidents Cup.” Kuchar is one of nine players on this year’s Presidents Cup team that also played in last year’s Ryder Cup. The others are Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods. “I like the Presidents Cup format better,” Kuchar said. “More guys get to play, it is over four days instead of three and 10 of the 12 guys play each session instead of four guys sitting each session. “It is more fun to have more guys out there playing and competing. I’m very excited to be apart of this team again. I expect there to be a lot of great support from the folks in central Ohio.”
Event takes turn at Jack’s place
Memorial Tournament. “I always felt No. 16 wasn’t a bad golf hole, but just a way p.m. and concludes with a 10-minute to get from 15 green to 17 tee,” fireworks display. Nicklaus said. “I just felt like Thursday, Oct. 3 it was a bland hole. •Gates open: 8 a.m. “We figured holes Nos. 15, •Six four-ball matches: Tee times 16 and 17 are where most of 11:30 a.m.-12:40 p.m.* Four-ball the matches are going to be. consists of two players from one There was a method to our team against two players from madness.” another team. Each player plays his own ball. The lowest score deterNext, the driving range was mines the score for that team. The redesigned to help its drainage match winner is determined by the and extend it to a maximum total number of holes won, not by length of 288 yards to more cumulative score. than 300 yards. Friday, Oct. 4 “The drainage was so bad,” •Gates open: 8 a.m. Nicklaus said. “We found golf •Six foursome matches: Tee times 1:10-2:05 p.m.* Foursomes, also balls back from the Solheim known as alternate shot, consists of Cup and even balls with my two-man teams that will use one ball name on it.” taking alternate shots until the hole Finally, the clubhouse was is completed.Team members decide re-done just before the start of who tees off on even-numbered holes the Memorial last June in an with the other player teeing off on effort to improve the experiodd-numbered holes.The match winner is determined by the total numence for fans and players. Nickber of holes won, not by cumulative laus’ goal was to provide a score. sanctuary for the players, playSaturday, Oct. 5 ers’ guests, club members and •Gates open: 6:30 a.m. sponsors. •Five four-ball matches: Tee times Traditionally, Nicklaus has 7:33-8:29 a.m.* focused on catering to the play•Five foursome matches: Tee times ers and as a result, the Memo1:21-2:05 p.m.* Sunday, Oct. 6 rial Tournament is one of the •Gates open: 7:30 a.m. more popular stops on the PGA •12 singles matches: Tee times Tour calendar and always 12:04-2:05 p.m.* Scoring consists boasts a strong field. of individual holes won, halved (tied) “(Nicklaus) wanted to have or lost. Golfers play each hole as they a dramatic finish, which would under stroke play, but the golfer worked out OK for me last with the lowest score on a given hole receives one point. If there is a tie, year,” said Woods, who chipped the hole is "halved." Each member in on No. 16 en route to his of the U.S. team will be paired against record fifth Memorial Tournaa member of the International team. ment victory in 2012. “This is If the competition is tied at the end a great venue. The fans are of singles play, it will be deemed a absolutely incredible, and they tie and the U.S. and International come out in droves.” teams will share The Presidents Cup. •Closing ceremony: Approximately “Ohio golf fans and Ohio 30 minutes after the completion of sports fans have always welplay, the Presidents Cup will be officomed the PGA Tour with open cially awarded to the winning team arms,” Price said. “I have great at the Presidents Cup Fan Experimemories playing in Ohio. ence area, located just outside the (Muirfield Village) is a wongates at Muirfield Village, adjacent derful venue and a great fit for to the driving range. This is open to a Presidents Cup. Jack has done the public and does not require a ticket for entry. a phenomenal job to that golf *Of note: Daily tee times are approxcourse. Over the years, all the imate. guys just love playing in the Memorial.” become one of the more diffiOf the 24 competitors in this cult holes during the annual year’s Presidents Cup only one ddelco@thisweeknews.com
At a glance Below are the teams, the schedule and scoring format of the 2013 Presidents Cup where 34 match-play style pairings will occur. A match's winning team earns one point and a tied match results in a half-point apiece. In order to win the Presidents Cup, the winning team needs to accumulate no less than 17.5 points by the end of play Sunday. U.S. TEAM •Captain: Fred Couples •Assistant Captains: Jay Haas and Davis Love III •Competitors: Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods INTERNATIONAL TEAM •Captain: Nick Price •Assistant Captains: Shigeki Maruyama, Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone •Competitors: Angel Cabrera, Jason Day, Brendon de Jonge, Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Branden Grace, Marc Leishman, Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott and Richard Sterne SCHEDULE Tuesday, Oct. 1 •Gates open: 8 a.m. •International Team photo: 9:30 a.m. at the driving range •International Team practice: Begins at 10 a.m. •U.S. Team photo: 10:30 a.m. at the driving range •U.S. Team practice: Begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 •Gates open: 8 a.m. •U.S. Team practice: Begins at 9:30 a.m. •International Team practice: Begins at 10:30 a.m. •Opening ceremony: Beginning at 5 p.m. at Columbus Commons in downtown Columbus, it includes an official introduction of the U.S. and International teams, speeches by Jack Nicklaus and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, a video message from President Barack Obama – the honorary chairman of the 2013 Presidents Cup – a performance by The Ohio State University Marching Band, a concert by country-music artists Rascal Flatts from 8:30-9:30
Muirfield Village Golf Club was announced as the host of the 2013 Presidents Cup on June 3, 2010. It is the only course in the world to host a Ryder Cup (1987), a Solheim Cup (1998) and now a Presidents Cup. Almost immediately, course founder and designer Jack Nicklaus set to work to improve hole No. 16, the driving range and the clubhouse. First, in 2010, the par-3 16th was completely redone. A large pond now guards the length of the green on the left and the more horizontally to the teeputting surface was turned ing ground. It has quickly
The challenge for Price is the same as the previous four captains. How does he get players from places like South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe to bond? Experience in a team setting is limited for members of the International Team, which is comprised of five South Africans, three Australians and one player each from Argentina, Canada, Japan and Zimbabwe. Graham DeLaet (Canada), Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe), Branden Grace (South Africa), Marc Leishman (Australia), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Richard Sterne (South Africa) are all making their first appearance. “I’m happy with our team,” Price said. “What we lack in experience, we make up for in enthusiasm.” In order to begin team bonding, Price met with a group of International players last June at the Memorial. Scott, who at that point was secured of making his sixth Presidents Cup appearance, talked to a group of players about what it is like to play in this event. “(DeLaet) was so fired up after listening to Adam,” Price said. “He said he was determined to make the team and he’s matured and learned how to play the game so well. It’s so infectious to the team. “With all the youngsters, we won’t be too short of the enthusiasm.” The International Team’s only win came in 1998 when the event was held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. “We play 95 percent of our golf outside of our home country,” Price said. “There’s going to be some bias toward American players, but us international players we’re used that in many respect. “It’s going to be a fabulous week. Ohio and Columbus golf fans are going to be treated to some wonderful golf.”
September 26, 2013
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
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Player Profile
Australian Day finds home in central Ohio
By DON DELCO THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
A few years ago, Jeg Coughlin III settled in next to Jason Day at the Muirfield Village Golf Club’s driving range. Coughlin III, now a junior at Village Academy and a member of the boys golf team, was swinging away on his bucket of practice balls. “I remember thinking that it is pretty cool I’m hitting balls next to Jason Day,” Coughlin III said. “He then came up to me and told me that I had a great swing and that we should play sometime.” Coughlin III has since played several holes with Day when the PGA Tour pro is in central Ohio. Around the same time Day struck up a conversation with Coughlin III on the range, he was just settling into the area. Day bought a house in Westerville and joined Muirfield Village. “We lived in Fort Worth, Texas, before this,” Day said. “We were looking to start a family. My family is back home in Australia and her family is up here. We could move anywhere we wanted. I said to her that we should move back to Ohio.”
Conflicted fans follow Day
Day finds himself in a unique situation at this year’s Presidents Cup. Day, who is from Beaudesert, Queesnland, Australia, will be representing the International Team. He also married to a woman from the Mansfield area, lives in Westerville and is a member at the host course. Luckily for Day, he’s already experienced the pressure of a Presidents Cup. In 2011, Day qualified for his first Presidents Cup, which was being contested in his home country at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. He finished 1-3-1 and the U.S. Team won 19-15. “It was a very long week,” said Day, 25. “I played 34 holes on Saturday in pouring raining from start to finish. We then went to dinner that night. By Sunday, I was totally wrecked. I was fried. Physically I was almost done. As a rookie, you don’t understand how long the week spans out.” Two years later, the Presidents Cup isn’t in his home country, but in his adopted hometown. “It’s quite nice that my wife will handle the off-the-course side of things,” Day said. “With my wife being from an hour north of (Columbus), there will be a lot of family members. It’s going to be exciting to see them all out there cheering me on.” The support will be strong for Day, but that’s where it stops for his friends and family in central Ohio. “Of course, being American
something International Team captain Nick Price has noticed. Traditionally, the Australians and South Africans have been called upon to lead this team. Day is in his second stint as a member of the International Team. He may not have the major championship victories like teammates Ernie Els with four, Angel Cabrera with two and Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, who each has one. But most golf pundits consider Day winning a major championship to be inevitable. Until next April at Augusta National, Day's pursuit of a major title is on hold. For now, Day is hoping to lead the International Team to its first Presidents Cup win since 1998. According to Day, the team is off to a good start with Price as the captain. “He wants to involve all the team members,” Day said. “That’s the best way to bring a Jason Day will be playing for the road team on his home course. The native of Australia, who lives in Westerville and is a member team together is to listening to what every single member has of Muirfield Village Golf Club, is looking to lead the International Team to its second victory. JOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTS to say. He’s been a very I'm rooting for the U.S.,” now a rookie on the PGA Tour. into the weeks of majors,” Day more about grinding out those involved captain. I know he Coughlin III said. “Jason is a In October of 2009, the two said. “I know what clubs I need 10-foot puts and make sure to wants us to do well and win a good buddy, and I wouldn’t married and in July of 2011 to hit off each tee, what club keep yourself in it.” Cup.” want anything except for him they welcomed their first child. to expect to hit into the greens At the MemorialTournament Since moving into the area, and what to expect around the to play good. He’s had a good last June, Price held a meeting From rookie to year, and I don’t expect any- the Australian golfer has assim- greens. I feel comfortable and with potential International key team member Team members that included thing but great golf from him. ilated to the Buckeye state. Ellie I just have to then go out, stay I don’t see how he can’t do Day, who is more active on hungry and play golf. Day’s strong performances well.” social media than her husband, “Major championships are in the major championships are DAY >> A7 has tweeted pictures of him in scarlet and gray, wearing a Romantic road Cleveland Indians hat and to the PGA Tour standing outside German VilDay is in his sixth season as lage restaurant, Barcelona, on a full-time member of the PGA a “date night.” Tour. “It’s been great ever since In 2007, Day earned his way we’ve moved here,” Jason said. onto the Tour thanks, in part, “Columbus is a great city and to two Web.com events in Ohio. a great place to raise a family.” Day became the youngest player by two years to win a Contention Web.com Tour event at 19, comes quick when he posted a record 16under-par at the Legend FinanAway from his new home, cial Group Classic at StoneWa- Day is making a name for himter Golf Club in Highland self on the PGA Tour. Heights. The following week In his rookie year, Day finhe tied for fifth at the inaugu- ished with six top-25 finishes ral Nationwide Children’s Hos- in 28 starts followed by a 48thpital Invitational at Ohio State’s place finish in the FedExCup Scarlet Course. standings his sophomore seaDay was playing well the son. same time that Ellie Harvey In 2010, Day won the HP was back in his life. When Day Byron Nelson Championship. was 17, he was in Twinsburg While that remains his only with his golf coach and caddie win on the PGA Tour, Day has Colin Swanton, who was start- challenged when the stakes ing a golf academy. Day and were the highest. Swanton would frequent a Three months after his win, Twinsburg restaurant where Day finished tied for 10th at Day struck up a friendship with the PGA Championship at Harvey, who worked nights Whistling Straits. It was a sign after attending cosmetology of things to come. school during the day. In 2011, Day finished tied Two years later, Day was for second at the Masters Tourback in northeast Ohio for a nament and had a solo second Web.com event when he ran at the U.S. Open at Congresinto Harvey at a graduation sional. This year, Day had a party of a mutual friend. solo third-place finish at the The two rekindled their Masters, tied for second at the friendship. Harvey attended U.S. Open at Merion and tied the final round of the Legend for eighth at the PGA ChamFinancial Group Classic and pionship at Oak Hill. Day and the following week she drove fellow countryman Adam Scott down to Columbus where the were the only two players to two had their official first date. finish in the top 10 in three of Six months later Ellie was this season’s four majors. traveling with Day, who was “I prepare very well going
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
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September 26, 2013
Guide to the Muirfield Village Golf Club
Team captains offer their insight to course By DON DELCO THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Fred Couples and Nick Price may be opposing captains for this year’s Presidents Cup, but the two have shared numerous tee boxes, fairways and greens during their time atop PGA Tour leaderboards. About 12 years ago, both were playing two-and-a-half hours north of Columbus at the World Golf Championship NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron. On the morning before a mid-tournament round, Couples and Price arrived at the practice range. Couples and his caddy, Joe LaCava, were having “a bit of a go” as Price put it in his Zimbabwean accent. So, Couples and Price decided to swap caddies for the coming round. “There was a time I was struggling a little bit with a lot
of things,” Couples said. “I was wearing Joe out. He would have ran to anybody.” With their new caddies in tow, Couples shot a 66, Price shot a 67. Both players moved into the top 10. After lunch, Price returned to the practice range with his original caddy, Jimmy Johnson. “Well, how was it,” Price asked. “It was OK,” Johnson responded. “What’s the difference for caddying for Fred?” “Well, he’s about a half-club longer than you. Doesn’t hit as many shots and he likes to cut the ball.” Price kept prodding. “What was the biggest difference caddying for Fred and me?” Johnson looked Price straight in the eye and said, “The quality of the women in
The Captains NICK PRICE •Age: 56 •Birthplace: Durban, South Africa •Residence: Hobe Sound, Fla. •Captain overview: Price is in his first season as the International Team captain, taking over for Greg Norman. He’s also played in five Cups (1994, ’96, ’98, 2000 and ‘03). Price finished with 18 victories on the PGA Tour, five on the European Tour and he has four on the Champions Tour. Price is a three-time major winner. He won the PGA Championship in 1992 and 1994 and won the British Open in 1994. In 2003, Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In nine appearances at the Memorial Tournament, Price’s best finished was 10th in 1995.
the gallery.” Price told this story sitting along side Couples at Muirfield Village Golf Club last October, a year before the start
FRED COUPLES •Age: 53 •Birthplace: Seattle •Residence: La Quinta, Calif. •Captain overview: Couples is making his third consecutive appearance as the U.S. Team captain, as he led the Americans to victories in the last two matches in 2011 and 2009. He’s also played in five Presidents Cups (1994, ’96, ’98 and 2005). Couples is a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1992 Masters Tournament, and an eight-time winner on the Champions Tour. Earlier this year, Couples was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 22 appearances at the Memorial, Couples won the event in 1998 and finished alone in second in 2004 and 2005.
of this year’s Presidents Cup. The close friendship these two share was evident. That friendship will take another competitive twist at the Presidents Cup.
“Fred and I go back a long way,” Price said. “Thirty-odd years. Obviously Fred and I have been counterparts. We’ve played so much golf together over the years. He’s been a great friend, and I know he’s going to be a tough adversary.” Couples is in his third consecutive stint as U.S. team captain. He is 2-0. Price is in his first year, replacing Greg Norman. Couples and Price are familiar with Muirfield Village Golf Club. Couples, who will turn 54 on Oct. 3, has played in 22 of the 37 Memorial Tournaments. He won the event in 1998 and finished second in 2004 and 2005. In all, Couples, has 14 PGA Tour wins, three on the European Tour and eight on the Champions Tour. His lone major championship was the 1992 Masters Tournament. He was inducted into the World
No. 1
No. 2
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.091 Eagles: 1 Birdies: 42 Pars: 264 Bogeys: 73 Double Bogeys: 3 Triple Bogey+: 0
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.023 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 69 Pars: 242 Bogeys: 66 Double Bogeys: 6 Triple Bogey+: 0
Nick Price, International Team Captain: No. 1 is a fairly straightforward hole, slight dogleg to the right. The ideal angle into the pin is from the left side of a generous fairway. For most guys it’s probably a 3-wood off the tee and a short iron into the green.
Fred Couples, U.S. Team Captain: It’s a very good driving hole to a green that’s protected by a couple bunkers with water to the right side. It’s a very good second hole for any Presidents Cup. Four would be good here. Birdie will win the hole.
Par 4, 470 yards Overall rank: Ninth toughest
Golf Hall of Fame this year. Price appeared in nine Memorial Tournaments. His best finish was 10th in 1995. In all, Price has 15 wins on the PGA Tour including three major championships – the 1992 British Open and the British Open and PGA Championship in 1994. Both players have expressed their adoration of Muirfield Village Golf Club, which Golf Magazine recently selected it No. 27 among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S. and No. 48 in the Top 100 Golf Courses in the world. About a month before ascending to central Ohio for the Presidents Cup, the captains took some time to give their thoughts on each hole, of which you will find throughout this section. ddelco@thisweeknews.com
Par 4, 455 yards Overall rank: Second toughest
Nick Price
Fred Couples
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The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
September 26, 2013
Page A5
Past Presidents Cups
U.S. Team dominating International squad
By DON DELCO THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Established in 1927, the Ryder Cup served as the premier biennial men’s professional golf team event between the United States and Great Britain. In 1979, thanks in part to a suggestion from Jack Nicklaus, the Americans’ opponent expanded to include all of Europe. Still, top players from topnotch golfing countries like South Africa, Australia, Asia and Canada were excluded. That is, until the PGA Tour announced the Presidents Cup in the early 1990s. The first event, which drew inspiration from the Ryder Cup, was held in 1994. While the Presidents Cup still featured the Americans, they would complete against a team comprised of top players from around the world, excluding Europe. “The basic reason for the creation of The Presidents Cup was because players outside of Europe and the United States did not have the opportunity to participate in that kind of format on that kind of stage,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. “And that was the basic driving reason of The Presidents Cup.”
Two days after falling face-first into a pond adjacent to the 14th hole at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2007, U.S. Team member Woody Austin returned wearing a diving mask. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Originally, Presidents Cups were designated to be played on even years while Ryder Cups were held during its traditional odd years. The Sept. 11 attacks canceled the 2001 Ryder Cup and the schedule needed adjusting. Ryder Cups are now even years with PresChris DiMarco celebrates after sinking a birdie putt to give the idents Cups taking the odd U.S. the victory in 2005. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO years. Below are brief recaps of the This year’s event at Muir- grown since 1994, and I think past nine Presidents Cups. field Village Golf Club is the it’s become one of the greatest 10th installment. So far, the events in golf,” Nicklaus said. 1994 U.S. has dominated, going 7- “I’m delighted that Muirifeld •Final score: U.S. Team 20, Village has the opportunity to 1-1. International Team 12 “The Presidents Cup has host it.”
No. 3
with Hale Irwin, Jay Haas and Jim Gallagher, Jr. winning the first three matches. Fred Couples clinched the U.S. Team’s victory with a tap-in birdie on No. 18 to defeat Nick Price 1 up.
1996
•Final score: U.S. Team 16 1/2, International Team 15 1/2 •Site: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club •City: Prince William County, Va.
PAST >> A11
No. 4
Par 4, 401 yards Overall rank: Fifth easiest
Par 3, 200 yards Overall rank: Third toughest
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.112 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 52 Pars: 255 Bogeys: 62 Double Bogeys: 10 Triple Bogey+: 4
Price: This is a wonderful short par-4 where you’ll see most players probably hitting a 3- or 4-iron off the tee, and then followed by a pitching wedge or sand wedge across the water to a green that’s slightly elevated and a very small, shallow green. Distance control is really important on this hole.
•Site: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club •City: Prince William County, Va. •Captains: Hale Irwin, U.S. Team; David Graham, International Team •Recap: The U.S. Team took control of the inaugural Presidents Cup winning all five of the morning four-ball matches Friday. The International Team pulled within 12-8 entering Sunday's singles matches, but just like Friday morning, the U.S. Team took control early
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 3.154 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 39 Pars: 254 Bogeys: 82 Double Bogeys: 8 Triple Bogey+: 0
Couples: Most players will be hitting 5- and 6-irons to a green that’s actually surrounded by bunkers. Anyone missing the green to the right side will have a very tough up-and-down. This green also slopes right-to-left. It is a very good par-3. Nick Price
Fred Couples
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The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
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September 26, 2013
Fan’s Guide
Cup swings away from reserved Memorial By DON DELCO THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Take what you know about attending the Memorial Tournament as a patron and forget it. The Presidents Cup is a different beast. Central Ohio has welcomed the Memorial every year since 1976 as a marquee event on its sports calendar. Led by Jack Nicklaus, who has modeled his event after the Masters Tournament, the Memorial takes on a different, more regal feel than a typical PGA Tour stop. Fans will quickly find the only similarities between the Memorial and the Presidents Cup are the 18 holes at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The Presidents Cup features 24 golfers in a four-day match play competition instead of the more than 120 in a four-day stroke play event. The manual scoreboards are gone. In its place are 21 electric screens. Bleacher seating has increased from 1,800 seats to 6,600. Instead of 11 concession stands throughout the 18 holes, the Presidents Cup has 15 stands in addition to various mobile concessions carts. Two 13,000square foot tents located just outside the Muirfield Village gates are for fans to buy merchandise, enjoy food and bev-
Tiger Woods wears a cap he received from Australian fans after the U.S. won the 2011 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
erages and partake in a variety of interactive displays. Finally, fans now have to park at the Columbus Zoo instead of onsite. Inside the gates, the fans are expected to cheer, and cheer loudly, for their side – U.S. or
International. all team.” “Have fun with it,” said Matt Kamienski, the executive direcHearing a Cup tor of the 2013 Presidents Cup. account first-hand “You want to get behind the In 2003, Jason Snell’s health team, and that’s what they players want, too. They want peo- club job moved him from his ple supporting them as an over- native Australia to San Jose,
FANS >> A14
No. 6
No. 5
Par 4, 447 yards Overall rank: Ninth toughest
Par 5, 527 yards Overall rank: Second easiest
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.653 Eagles: 11 Birdies: 156 Pars: 179 Bogeys: 30 Double Bogeys: 6 Triple Bogey+: 1
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 3.997 Eagles: 1 Birdies: 70 Pars: 247 Bogeys: 59 Double Bogeys: 6 Triple Bogey+: 0
Price: A strong dive is required to get around the dogleg or past the dogleg. The second shot is to a green that angles away from the player from right-to-left and is slightly elevated and requires, again, a precise distance control. For the lay-up, there are two choices. It’s a split fairway by a creek and you can choose to lay up to the lefthand side or the right-hand side depending on where the pin is located.
Nick Price
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Calif. Six years later and with Snell still living in the United States, the Presidents Cup was held at the TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Snell didn't waste the opportunity to attend to root on his fellow countrymen on the International Team.
“I liked seeing a very different side of golf,” said Snell, 35. “From a spectator standpoint, it was more enjoyable. In a typical PGA Tour event, you’ve got to keep quiet and there isn’t has much cheering other than the final round. “Being such an individual sport, it’s very serious and there isn’t as much celebration. But in events like the Presidents Cup, you see a different side of the players and it feels more competitive.” Ian Knight now works as the executive director for the Champions Tour’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship, which takes place at Harding Park in November. In 2009, he was the director of sales for the Presidents Cup. “When you work inside a golf tournament, you are hypercritical of everything,” Knight said. “My friends tell me after they attended the Presidents Cup here that it was the most wonderful sporting event they’ve attended. They were proud to be apart of something like this.” Snell enjoyed the experience in San Francisco so much, he attended the next Presidents Cup two years later when it was back in his home country of Australia.
Dublin, Ohio
Couples: This hole has a fairly wide fairway with some bunkers to the left and to the right with the green surrounded by water in front. Going over this green, or long, is not the spot you want to be. The green is very, very sloped from back to front. Most players will be hitting a driver off the tee and 7- or 8-iron into the green. It’s a birdie hole.
Fred Couples
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
September 26, 2013
Page A7
Commentary
Muirfield Village should host 2020 PGA Championship When Jack Nicklaus designs a championship golf course, it tends to garner some attention. When that course is located near his hometown and yearly plays host to a highlytouted PGA Tour, it garners even more attention. When that attention is almost always positive, good things tend to happen. Almost four decades since Muirfield Village Golf Club opened in 1976, it now holds the distinction as the only course to hold a Ryder Cup, a Solheim Cup and now, a Presidents Cup. Muirfield Village has quite an impressive résumé, which includes the Memorial Tournament (1976-present), the U.S. Junior Amateur (1986), the Ryder Cup (1987), the U.S. Amateur (1992) and the Solheim Cup (1998). What’s left? That’s easy. A major
DAY
FROM >> A3
championship. Of the four majors, two candidates are the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. Let’s begin with the U.S. Open. It is DON held each year durDELCO ing the second week of June, or two weeks after the Memorial Tournament. During Memorial Tournament week, there are almost 400 rounds of competitive play, not to mention the three days of practice rounds and the Wednesday Pro-Am. To turn around less than a month later and hold the national championship is something the United States Golf Association simply won’t allow. The biggest problem with a U.S.
very much apart of the team.” According to Coughlin III, just being “another one of the guys” and making others feel comfortable is what Day does best. “He’s really down to earth, and he’s never one to be in the spotlight,” Coughlin III said. “He’s approachable, and he doesn’t think of himself as a superstar. He’s a really simple guy, open with everybody, and he’s just a really nice guy.”
Scott and Day.Those two, along with Marc Leishman, are representingAustralia on this year’s Presidents Cup team. “I’ve got to know Jason really well the past three to four months,” Price said. “I had a good chat with him as to who he felt I should chose as a captain pick. Jason has played well at the major championships and along with (Scott) they are just two wonderful players. I know they’ll make Marc feel ddelco@thisweeknews.com
Open at Muirfield Village is Nicklaus would have to relinquish control of his course to the United States Golf Association. When a course is awarded a U.S. Open, the USGA swoops into town and begins making major changes to a course. Lengthening holes, tightening fairways, redoing greens – nothing is off the table. Nicklaus holds Muirifeld Village dear and there is simply no way he secedes that control. So a U.S. Open is out? Probably. Now, about that PGA Championship. It has already been played in Ohio 11 times and in central Ohio twice at the Scioto Country Club (1950) and the Columbus Country Club (1964). Yet the year’s fourth and final major hasn’t been held in the Buckeye state since it was hosted by Toledo’s Inver-
ness Club in 1993. Perennially, the PGA Championship is held at the most venerable courses in this country and certainly Muirfield Village meets that criteria. Central Ohio boasts four courses in Golf Digest’s America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses for 2013. The Golf Club in New Albany is No. 36, Scioto Country Club is No. 52 and Double Eagle Club in Galena is No. 83. Muirfield Village leads the Ohio courses at No. 14. Future sites of the PGA Championship have been determined through 2019. In 2018, the PGA Championship will celebrate its 100th anniversary. “When looking at adding a new site (for the PGA Championship), we want to be able to predict with a degree of certainty that it will be able to stand
the test of the top players,” said former PGA chief executive Joe Steranka in 2010. Quick, who is a no-name or hasbeen that has won the Memorial Tournament? Stumped, eh? Muirfield Village’s past winners reads as a who’s who in the professional golfing world. Nicklaus’course stands up to the PGA of America’s standards that it is a fair test for the world’s top players. Five of Nicklaus’ record-setting 18 majors were PGA Championships. In 2020, Nicklaus will be 80 years old. What better way to draw attention to the PGA Championship, Muirifeld Village and the game of golf than to host the season’s fourth major at the “home” course of the game’s greatest player of all time? ddelco@thisweeknews.com
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No. 7
No. 8
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.830 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 113 Pars: 226 Bogeys: 40 Double Bogeys: 4 Triple Bogey+: 0
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 3.198 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 49 Pars: 226 Bogeys: 40 Double Bogeys: 4 Triple Bogey+: 0
Price: This is one of the longest holes on the course. Your drive is between four bunkers and the second shot is to a green that slopes from right-to-left and is guarded by a large bunker in front of the green. At this stage in a match, this hole is a good birdie opportunity.
Couples: This par-3 can range anywhere from 165 to 185 yards. It’s a very long green that plays slightly downhill to a wellbunkered green and a lot of times that pin will be in front. The players will be hitting an 8- or 9-iron to a pin in the back right, which will be maybe a 5- or 6-iron. It’s a very good par-3.
Par 5, 583 yards Overall rank: Third easiest
Par 3, 185 yards Overall rank: 13th toughest
Nick Price
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The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Page A8
September 26, 2013
MEET THE UNITED STATES TEAM Keegan Bradley
•Age: 27 •Birthplace: Woodstock, Vt. •Residence: Jupiter, Fla. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 12 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie •Memorial Tournament history: After missing the cut in 2011 and 2012, Bradley made the cut this year before finishing tied for 50th at 4-over 292 with Luke Guthrie and U.S.Team Captain Fred Couples. •Player overview: Bradley surprised the golf world by winning the 2011 PGA Championship in a playoff over Jason Dufner.Two months later, Couples decided not to select Bradley for one of his two captain’s picks. A year later, Bradley led the U.S. Team emotionally and on the scoreboard at the Ryder Cup, finishing 3-1 in four matches. This season on the PGA Tour, Bradley appeared in 23 events entering the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, made the cut 19 times, finished twice second, third once and had seven top 10s. He ranked 10th on Tour in driving distance (301.6). Bradley, who was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2012, has three career victories since turning pro in 2008.
Jason Dufner
•Age: 36 •Birthplace: Cleveland •Residence: Auburn, Ala. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 9 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie •Memorial Tournament history: In only two appearances – 2009 and 2010 – he missed the cut both years after failing to break par in all four rounds. •Player overview: After losing the 2011 PGA Championship in a playoff to Keegan Bradley, Dufner found himself in contention at the event two years later. For the second time in three years, Dunfer played in the PGA Championship’s final pairing.This time he sealed the deal by carding a 68 to Jim Furyk’s 71. Dufner put himself in position for the major victory by shooting a 7-under 63 during the second round at Oak Hill to tie the record for the all-time lowest round in a major. Entering the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, Dunfer had eight top-25s this season. He tied for fourth at the U.S. Open and tied for 20th at the Masters. In 2012, Dunfer won twice on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Bill Haas
•Age: 31 •Birthplace: Charlotte, N.C. •Residence: Greenville, N.C. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 26 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: 1 – 2011 •Presidents Cup record: 1-3-1 •Memorial Tournament history: In eight appearances, his best result came this year. Haas led Charl Schwartzel by a stroke after two rounds, but a thirdround 76 derailed his title hopes. He rebounded Sunday to finish tied for fourth with Scott Stallings at 6-under 282. •Player overview: Son of U.S. Team
assistant captain Jay Haas, Bill Haas has five career victories on the PGA Tour and won the FedExCup Championship in 2011. That season he made his first appearance on a Presidents Cup team. Entering the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, Haas played in 23 events with one win (the AT&T National last June), a third-place finish (Northern Trust Open last February) and nine top 10s.
•Previous Presidents Cup appearances: 3 – 2007, ’09, ’11 •Presidents Cup record: 8-5-1 •Memorial Tournament history: In seven appearances, Mahan has finished in the top-20 four of the past five years. His best finish came in 2011 as he tied for 11th. This year, Mahan finished tied for 16th with four others at 2-under-par 286. •Player overview: Mahan has five career wins on the PGA Tour, but he has Zach Johnson saved some of his best golf for match •Age: 37 and team play events. •Birthplace: Cedar Mahan has an above .500 record in Rapids, Iowa three Presidents Cup appearances. On •Residence: Saint the PGA Tour, he won the 2012 WGCSimons Island, GeorAccenture Match Play Championship and gia finished runner-up to Matt Kuchar at the •Official World Golf same event this year. Ranking (as of Sept. Mahan also has shined in stroke-play 12): 24 •Previous Presidents Cup appear- events this season. He posted his careerbest finish at the U.S Open (tied for fourth) ances: 2 – 2007, ’09 tied for ninth at the British Open. •Presidents Cup record: 4-5-0 •Memorial Tournament history: In seven appearances from 2004-10, JohnPhil Mickelson son’s best finish was tied with Brett Wet•Age: 43 terich for second in 2006, two strokes •Birthplace: San behind champion Carl Petersson. After Diego. missing 2011 and 2012, Johnson •Residence: Ranreturned to Muirfield Village this year and cho Santa Fe, Calif. finished 71st at 13-over 301. •Official World Golf •Player overview: Johnson skipped the first event of the 2013 PGA Tour Play- Ranking (as of Sept. offs, The Barclays, to be the best man at 12): 3 •Previous Presidents Cup appearhis brother’s wedding. As a result, Johnson was bumped out of the Presidents ances: 9 – 1994, ’96, ’98, 2000, ’03, Cup’s top-10 standings.The top 10 play- ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11 •Presidents Cup record: 18-14-10 ers earn an automatic qualification. •Memorial Tournament history: MickA week later at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Johnson needed to make elson appeared in 14 events dating back a move to return to the top 10. He did. to 1991. His best finish came in 2006 He birdied the 72nd hole on Sept. 2 to when he tied for fourth. He also has finsurpass Webb Simpson by slightly less ished tied for fifth in 2010 and tied for than $6,000 as an automatic qualifier. ninth in 2002. He did not play this seaJohnson has nine career wins on the son. PGA Tour, including the 2007 Masters. •Player overview: Next to Woods, no one in this year’s Presidents Cup has more major victories than Mickelson Matt Kuchar with five. In July at the British Open, •Age: 35 Mickelson shot a final round 5-under •Birthplace: Winter 66 to finish three strokes ahead of runPark, Fla. ner-up Henrik Stenson. Mickelson began •Residence: Sea the day five strokes back in a tie for Island, Ga. ninth. •Official World Golf Mickelson also won the Masters TourRanking (as of Sept. nament in 2004, ’06 and ’10, a PGA 12): 7 Championship in 2005 and he has fin•Previous Presiished second at the U.S. Open six times, dents Cup appearances: 1 – 2011 including this season at Merion. •Presidents Cup record: 1-3-1 Since turning pro in 1992, Mickelson •Memorial Tournament history: Kuchar finally broke through and won has 42 victories on the PGA Tour. This the event this year with a four-round total season, he’s played in 19 events enterof 12-under-par 276. He has appeared ing the BMW Championships on Sept. eight times at Muirfield Village and has 12, won the British Open and the Waste been in contention most years. He missed Management Phoenix Open, finished the cut only once (2003) and finished second twice and third twice. tied for second in 2011, tied for eighth He is the only player to appear in all in ’10, tied for fifth in ’09 and tied for 10 Presidents Cups. 10th in ’08. •Player overview: Kuchar returns to Webb Simpson Muirfield Village four months after winning the Memorial Tournament last June. •Age: 28 He also won the WGC-Accenture Match •Birthplace: Raleigh, Play Championships last February. Enter- N.C. ing the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, •Residence: CharKuchar appeared in 21 events this sea- lotte, N.C. son, made the cut in every appearance •Official World Golf with two wins, two runner-up finishes Ranking (as of Sept. and eight top-10s. 12): 25 Kuchar has six career wins on the PGA •Previous Presidents Cup appearTour and has finished in the top 10 in all ances: 1 – 2011 four majors, with his best result a tie for •Presidents Cup record: 3-2-0 third at the 2012 Masters. •Memorial Tournament history: He has played in every event since 2009, Hunter Mahan with his best finish coming in 20011. Simpson shot a final-round 68 to fin•Age: 31 ished tied for seventh with five other •Birthplace: Orange, players. This year, he missed the cut for Calif. the third time. •Residence: Col•Player overview: Simpson was leyville, Texas bumped from automatic qualifier spot •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. on the Presidents Cup team during the 12): 27 final round of the Deutsche Bank Cham-
pionship on Sept. 2. Playing partner Zach Johnson birdied the 72nd hole to edge Simpson into the top 10 by slightly less than $6,000. Simpson was fully entrenched in the top 10 for the entire two years before dropping out on the final day.As a result, captain Fred Couples felt it was only fair to include him as a selection. Simpson won the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and has continued his strong play this year. Entering the BMW Championships on Sept. 12, Simpson appeared in 23 events, making the cut in 19 and placing in the top 10 four times. He has three career PGA Tour victories, but none this season, with his best chance coming in a playoff loss to Graeme McDowell at the RBC Heritage last April.
Brandt Snedeker
•Age: 32 •Birthplace: Nashville, Tenn. •Residence: Nashville, Tenn. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 8 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie •Memorial Tournament history: In six appearances, Snedeker has missed the cut five times. In 2012, Snedeker made the cut, but he was forced to withdraw because of a rib injury that plagued him the last two years.This year, he shot a second-round 8-over 80 to miss the cut by five strokes. •Player overview: In Snedeker's first five events this season in January and February, he won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, finished second at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Farmers Insurance Open, third at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and tied for 23rd at the Humana Challenge. After pulling out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last March, he was diagnosed with “low bone turnover” in his ribs. He takes daily injections to treat the issue and he has since returned to the top of the leaderboards. Snedeker tied for sixth at the Masters last April followed by eighth place finishes at The Players Championship last May and at the AT&T National last June and a tie for 17th at the U.S. Open last June. He returned to the winners' circle with a victory at the RBC Canadian Open last July. Last season, Snedeker won the FedExCup Championship.
Jordan Spieth
•Age: 20 •Birthplace: Dallas, Texas •Residence: Dallas, Texas •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 29 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie •Memorial Tournament history: In his only appearance, Spieth made the cut this year, but faltered in the thirdround with an 82. He rallied in the final round with a 4-under 68 to finish tied for 63rd with Charley Hoffman at 7-over 295. •Player overview: In his first full season on the PGA Tour, Spieth turned heads with a stellar campaign. He began the year as the 809th-ranked golfer in the world. In 21 events entering the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, Spieth has made the cut 16 times with a victory (John Deere Classic in July),
two seconds, eight top 10s and 11 top25s. Couples selected Spieth over Presidents Cup veteran Jim Furyk, who in seven appearances has a 10-6-2 record. Spieth does has previous experience playing for the U.S. Team. At the 2011 Walker Cup, he played in three of four rounds, halved his foursomes match and won both singles matches.
Steve Stricker
•Age: 46 •Birthplace: Edgerton, Wis. •Residence: Madison, Wis. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 10 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: 4 – 1996, 2007, ’09, ’11 •Presidents Cup Record: 11-8-0 •Memorial Tournament History: In 2011, Stricker shot all four rounds under 70 to win the title and beat Matt Kuchar by one stroke. In all, Stricker has 13 appearances and missed the cut only once (2007). He did not play in this year's event. •Player overview: Stricker announced at the beginning of the 2013 season that he would cut his schedule “in half” in hopes of playing 10 to 12 tournaments. Despite the part-time status, Stricker still is relevant. He played in 11 events entering the BMW Championship on Sept. 12, and made the cut every time. He has three runner-ups and six top-10s. Stricker entered the final round of this year's U.S. Open at Merion tied for third but faltered with a final round 76 to finish tied for eighth. Stricker, who has yet to win a major, has 12 career victories on the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods
•Age: 37 •Birthplace: Cypress, Calif. •Residence: Jupiter, Fla. •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 1 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: 7 – 1998, 2000, ’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11 •Presidents Cup record: 20-14-1 •Memorial Tournament history: Woods has won five times (1999, 2000, ’01, ’09 and ’12), which is the most in the event’s history. This year, he finished tied for 65th at 8-over 296. •Player overview: Woods is second all-time with 14 major championship victories, four shy of Columbus native and Muirfield Village Golf Club founder Jack Nicklaus. With two tournaments remaining in the 2013 PGA Tour season, Woods had five victories this year – Farmers Insurance Open, the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. For the first time since October 2010, Woods returned to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings after his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. Entering the BMW Championship Sept. 12, Woods was ranked second on the PGA Tour in scoring average (69.96) and fifth in birdies per round average (4.02) His eight Presidents Cup appearances ties Ernie Els for second-most behind Phil Mickelson with 10. Woods’ 79 victories on the PGA Tour ranks him second behind Sam Snead with 82. He has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open. –Compiled by Don Delco
September 26, 2013
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Page A9
MEET THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM Angel Cabrera
at 8-under 280. He missed the cut this year. •Age: 44 •Player overview: Captain Nick Price •Birthplace: Coradmitted his final pick came down doba, Argentina between Tim Clark and de Jonge. Price •Residence: Corpreferred de Jonge’s length and expedoba, Argentina rience at Muirfield Village. Perhaps more •Official World important than his length off the tee, Golf Ranking (as of de Jonge was first on the PGA Tour in Sept. 12): 50 total birdies (371) entering the BMW •Previous Presidents Cup appear- Championship on Sept. 12. This seaances: 3 – 2005, ’07, ’09 son in 28 events, he made the cut 23 •Presidents Cup record: 4-6-3 times and finished in the top-10 four •Memorial Tournament history: He times. appeared in three consecutive events from 2010-12. He missed the cut in Graham DeLaet 2010 and 2012. In 2011, Cabrera tied with seven others for 22nd at 4-under •Age: 31 284. He did not play this year. •Birthplace: Wey•Player overview: Known affection- burn, Saskatchewan, ately as “El Pato,” which is Spanish for Canada “The Duck” because of the way he •Residence: Boise, walks, Cabrera shows up to play in major Idaho championships. He won the 2007 U.S. •Official World Open at Oakmont and the 2009 Mas- Golf Ranking (as of ters. Last April, he lost the Masters Tour- Sept. 12): 34 nament in a two-hole playoff to Adam •Previous Presidents Cup appearScott. Cabrera was also was in the final ances: Rookie pairing of the 2011 Masters before fal•Memorial Tournament history: In tering with a final-round 71 to finish his first appearance in 2010, he missed seventh. He finished tied for fourth in the cut. After not playing in 2011 and the 1999 British Open and tied for 19th 2012, he returned this year to much in the 2000 PGA Championship. better results. DeLaet shot 1-under 287 He is the only member of the Inter- and finished tied for 21st with seven national Team that speaks Spanish. others including past champions K.J. Choi and Jim Furyk. •Player overview: At the first two Jason Day events of the PGA Tour Playoffs, DeLaet •Age: 25 finished second at The Barclays and •Birthplace: third at the Deutsche Bank ChampiBeaudesert, Queensonship to earn an automatic qualificaland, Australia tion to the International Team. •Residences: ForIn his rookie year on Tour in 2010, he est Lake, Queensland, had a second, a third, seven top-10s Australia and Westerand 12 top-25s in 24 events. A year ville, Ohio •Official World Golf Ranking (as of later, he struggled because of a back injury and needed a major medical Sept. 12): 17 •Previous Presidents Cup appear- exemption to play on Tour in 2012. This season, he’s fully recovered and his ances: 2011 second-place finish at The Barclays was •Presidents Cup record: 1-2-1 •Memorial Tournament history: He the best of his career. Entering the BMW Championships on has five appearances with his best finish tied for 27th in 2009. This season, Sept. 12, DeLaet was first on PGA Tour Day shot 3-over 291 to finish tied for in total driving and third in greens in regulation. 41st. •Player overview: Day may only have one victory on the PGA Tour – the HP Ernie Els Byron Nelson Championship in 2010 – •Age: 43 but the Australian native is knocking on •Birthplace: Johanthe door of his first major championship. nesburg, South Africa In 2013, Day finished third at the Mas•Residence: West ters Tournament, tied for second at the Palm Beach, Fla. U.S. Open and tied for eighth at the PGA •Official World Championship. Golf Ranking (as of Day and fellow countryman Adam Sept. 12): 20 Scott are the only two players with three •Previous Presidents Cup appeartop-10 finishes in the season’s four ances: 7 – 1996, ’98, 2000, ’03, ’07, majors. ’09, ’11 In 2011, he tied Adam Scott for sec•Presidents Cup record: 17-16-2 ond at the Masters and placed second •Memorial Tournament history: This at the U.S. Open. year marked his 20th appearance at Day, who now lives in Westerville, Muirfield Village. In all, Els has seven Ohio, is a member of Muirfield Village top-10 finishes and won the event in Golf Club. 2004 with a pair of 66s in the third and fourth rounds. This year, Els finished Brendon de Jonge tied for 37th after finishing at 2-over 290. •Age: 33 •Player overview: Nicknamed “The •Birthplace: Harare, Big Easy” for his seemingly effortless Zimbabwe swing, Els is a four-time major winner •Residence: Charduring his 24-year career. lotte, N.C. His most recent major victory came •Official World at the 2012 British Open. Els trailed Golf Ranking (as of Adam Scott by six strokes entering the Sept. 12): 70 •Previous Presidents Cup appear- final round before posting a 68 to Scott’s 75. ances: Rookie He also has a 2002 British Open title •Memorial Tournament history: Beginning in 2010, de Jonge made the and won the U.S. Open in 1994 and cut in three consecutive seasons with 1997. In all, Els has 19 victories on the his best finish coming in his first appear- PGA Tour and his 28 European Tour wins ance in 2010. Trailing the leader by five ranks him seventh all-time. Next to Phil Mickelson’s 10 appearstrokes entering the final round, de Jonge shot a 75 to finish tied for 12th ances for the U.S. Team, Els’ seven Pres-
idents Cup appearances ties him with Last August, Matsuyama was paired Tiger Woods for second-most in this with Tiger Woods at the World Golf year’s event. Championship-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron last August. Branden Grace While Woods blazed toward the top •Age: 25 of the leaderboard with a first-round 66 •Birthplace: Pretoand a second-round 61, Matsuyama ria, South Africa held his ground with a 72 and 68. Mat•Residence: George, suyama finished tied for 21st at 1-over South Africa 281. •Official World In all, he has appeared in seven PGA Golf Ranking (as of Tour-sanctioned events this year, finSept. 12): 33 ished in the top-25 six times including •Previous Presidents Cup appear- a tie for sixth at the British Open, a tie ances: Rookie for 10th at the U.S. Open and a tie for •Memorial Tournament history: After 19th at the PGA Championship. finishing tied for 25th in his first appearIn August of 2012, Matsuyama was ance in 2012, he missed the cut this first in the World Amateur Golf Ranking year. Grace has yet to break 70 in six and he turned professional the followcompetitive rounds at Muirfield Village. ing April. •Player overview: A professional He expects to play full-time on the since only 2007, Grace had a breakout PGA Tour next season. season in 2012, as he won four times on the European Tour. On Jan. 22, 2012, Louis Oosthuizen he bested major champions Ernie Else and Retief Goosen in a playoff to win •Age: 30 the Volvo Golf Championship. •Birthplace: MosGrace has carried his 2012 success sel Bay, South Africa •Residence: Pininto this season. Although he has played only limited events on the PGA Tour, he nacle Point, South made the cut in seven of his 12 appear- Africa •Official World ances. His best finish came at the Masters Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 21 last April where he tied for 18th. •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie Marc Leishman •Memorial Tournament history: In •Age: 29 his only appearance in 2012, Oosthuizen •Birthplace: Warshot 75 and 80 to finish 11-over. He rnambool, Victoria, missed the cut by eight strokes. Australia •Player overview: Oosthuizen enters •Residence: Virthe Presidents Cup after an injuryginia Beach, Va. plagued 2013 season. •Official World Neck and back issues forced him to Golf Ranking (as of withdraw from three tournaments this Sept. 12): 60 season including the U.S. Open and •Previous Presidents Cup appear- British Open. He hasn’t played a comances: Rookie petitive round on the PGA Tour since •Memorial Tournament history: This getting cut from the John Deere Clasyear was the best of his five appear- sic in July. ances. Leishman shot a final-round 68 Oosthuizen was expected to test his to finish tied with eight players for 41st injuries by playing in the European Tour's at 3-over 291. Alfred Dunhill Links Championship the •Player overview: After attending week before the Presidents Cup. the Presidents Cup in 1998 as a fan and Since turning pro in 2002, Oosthuizen watching the event closely on televi- has six wins on the European Tour and sion in 2011 – both played in his native one major, the 2010 British Open. He Australia – Leishman said it was his lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson at the goal was to make the 2013 team. He 2012 Masters. got off to a good start this season by finishing tied for fourth at the Masters Charl Schwartzel Tournament in April. •Age: 29 He continued with a tie for eighth at •Birthplace: JohanThe Players Championship a month later and a tie for 12th at the PGA Champi- nesburg, South Africa •Residence: onship in August. After turning pro in 2005, Leishman Verceeniging, South earned the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Africa •Official World award in 2009 thanks to three top-10 finishes including a runner-up to Tiger Golf Ranking (as of Woods at the BMW Championships. His Sept. 12): 19 •Previous Presidents Cup appearonly win on the PGA Tour came at the ances: 1 – 2011 2012 Travelers Championship. •Presidents Cup record: 3-1-1 •Memorial Tournament history: He Hideki Matsuyama has not missed a cut in six appearances. •Age: 21 Each time, Schwartzel has improved •Birthplace: Mathis finishing position. In 2009, he tied suyama, Ehime, for 27th followed by a tie for 22nd in Japan 2011 and a tie for 19th in 2012. This •Residence: Sendai, year, he was the first-round leader after Japan carding a 7-under 65 but faltered in the •Official World third round with a 76 to finish tied for Golf Ranking (as of eighth with four other players at 4-under Sept. 12): 29 284. •Previous Presidents Cup appear•Player overview: Schwartzel won ances: Rookie the 2011 Masters Tournament with •Memorial Tournament history: He birdies on the final four holes to finish has never played in the event. two strokes ahead of Australians Jason •Player overview: Although he is the Day and Adam Scott. Schwartzel has youngest member of the International since proved that victory was no fluke. Team, he proved this year he simply In 2012, Schwartzel played in 16 PGA doesn’t get intimidated. Tour events with two top-10s and seven
top-25s. This year, Schwartzel played in 17 events on the PGA Tour entering the BMW Championships on Sept. 12. He ranked second with an average of 4.07 birdies per round. He made the cut 15 times with a pair of third-place finishes and 12 top-25s. He also has eight career victories on the European Tour.
Adam Scott
•Age: 33 •Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia •Residence: Crans sur Sierre, Switzerland •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 2 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: 5 – 2003, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11 •Presidents Cup record: 9-13-2 •Memorial Tournament history: In eight appearances, Scott has finished in the top-10 twice. He tied for fourth in 2006 and tied for fifth the following year. This year, Scott tied James Driscoll and Ryan Moore for 13th at 3-underpar 285. •Player overview: Last April, Scott bested Angel Cabrera in a two-hole playoff to become the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament. Until last April, the Masters had been the only of the four majors not won by an Australian. Five Australians, including Scott in 2011, have finished runner-up at Augusta National Golf Club. Making the victory even sweeter, Scott lost the 2012 British Open to Ernie Els after relinquishing a six-stroke lead in the final round. Scott made the cut in all 14 events this season entering the BMW Championships on Sept. 12. He had two wins, two third-place finishes, six top-10s and nine top-25s. Scott and fellow countryman Jason Day are the only two players with three top-10 finishes in the season’s four majors. In all, Scott has 10 victories on the PGA Tour and nine on the European Tour.
Richard Sterne
•Age: 32 •Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa •Residence: Stellenbosch, South Africa •Official World Golf Ranking (as of Sept. 12): 37 •Previous Presidents Cup appearances: Rookie •Memorial Tournament history: In his only appearance in 2009, he finished tied for 36th with Ted Purdy, Jose Maria Olazabal, Jeff Overton and Troy Matteson at 2-over 290. •Player overview: Sterne is a sixtime winner on the European Tour and a six-time winner on the South Africanbased Sunshine Tour. His last win came last February at the Joburg Open in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sterne, who only plays only part time on the PGA Tour, appeared in six PGA Tour events and finished in the top-25 five times. His best effort came at the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron in August where he finished tied for ninth. He finished tied for 25th at the Masters in April. –Compiled by Don Delco
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Page A10
September 26, 2013
Competing as a Team
Chemistry key component for Dublin Jerome By JARROD ULREY THISWEEKSPORTS.COM The Dublin Jerome High School boys and girls golf programs have been unmatched at the state level since beginning play in 2004. With Chad Merzbacher, Mert Selamet and Michael Cress among those who have come through the boys program and Ashley Baker, Joon Hee Shim and Lexie Toth among the standout girls, the boys have won five state team titles and the girls have won three. Both teams have won two consecutive titles. What has set the Celtics’ respective championship teams apart from those throughout the rest of Ohio might be the same factor that will help the winning team of the 10th Presidents Cup: The all-important, yet abstract concept, known as team chemistry. “There are five guys on a (high school) team, and knowing there are four other guys working for you is going to make you more motivated,” said Jerome senior Brady Bohl, who helped his team to state titles each of the last two seasons. The U.S. team has gone 7-1-1 in the
Presidents Cup, which began in 1994 and will be held for the first time at Muirfield Village on Oct. 1-6. The format for the event will include 11 foursomes, 11 four-ball matches and 12 singles matches all worth one point each for a total of 34 points. High school state competitions have a much different format, considering the team score is determined by combining the scores over two 18-hole matches. One thing third-year Jerome boys coach Craig Zesiger has witnessed is how exciting it can be when his players are encouraging each other before a match. He believes similar camaraderie can be developed inside the teams participating in the Presidents Cup. “These guys are so good and are around the sport week in, week out,” Zesiger said. “Obviously playing for your country spurs these guys on. What it’s like in their team meetings can carry over to the golf course. “Our team chemistry was excellent the last two years. I’ve seen teams where the guys are divided. I think if you’ve
Members of the Dublin Jerome boys and girls golf teams pose for pictures after each team won a 2011 Division I
TEAM >> A12 state title. It was the first of back-to-back titles for both teams. ERIC GEORGE/THISWEEKSPORTS
No. 9
No. 10
Par 4, 412 yards Overall rank: 10th toughest
Par 4, 471 yards Overall rank: Eighth toughest
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.240 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 43 Pars: 217 Bogeys: 112 Double Bogeys: 10 Triple Bogey+: 1
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.157 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 52 Pars: 235 Bogeys: 80 Double Bogeys: 16 Triple Bogey+: 0
Price: This is a wonderful par-4 that your drive is through the woods. It probably won’t be a driver for most players, either a 3-wood or a hybrid off the tee. You drive onto a plateau and then the second shot is downhill over water to a green that slopes from left-to-right and back-to-front. It is guarded by water in front of the green.
Nick Price
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Couples: This hole has been lengthened to 471 yards, which plays slightly uphill off the tee and then gradually uphill from there to a green well bunked. There are a lot of undulating greens at Muirfield, and this is one of them. There are bunkers off the left that you do not want to play out of because of some of the lips in these traps. This is one hole you want to hit the fairway and get it on the green. A four is a great score here.
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Fred Couples
The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
September 26, 2013
Page A11
PAST
FROM >> A5 •Captains: Arnold Palmer, U.S. Team; Peter Thompson, International Team •Recap: Early on, it appeared as if the U.S. Team would cruise to its second consecutive Presidents Cup in as many tries. After the first day of competition, the U.S. Team led 7 1/2 to 2 1/2 and kept a healthy 9 1/2 to 5 1/2 lead after the Saturday morning four-ball matches. In the Saturday afternoon foursomes, the International Team stormed back winning four of the five matches to pull to within 10 1/2 to 9 1/2. On Sunday, the International Team’s final push came in the final five matches. Steve Elkington, Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Frank Nobilo all won their matches pulling the International Team even with the U.S. Team at 15 1/2. In order for the U.S. Team to retain the Presidents Cup, it came down to the final singles match between Fred Couples and Vijay Singh. Couples was 1 up entering No. 17 and birdied the hole to win 2 and 1 and keep the Cup in the hands of the U.S. Team. In what is the closest winning margin of a Presidents Cup, the U.S. Team was led by Mark O’Meara (5-0-0) and David Duval (4-0-0).
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International Team players Ernie Els (left) and Adam Scott line up a putt during the 2009 Presidents Cup in San Francisco. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
1998
•Final score: International Team 20 1/2, U.S. Team 11 1/2 •Site: Royal Melbourne Golf Club •City: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia •Captains: Jack Nicklaus, U.S. Team; Peter Thompson, International Team •Recap: This year marked the first time the Presidents Cup was held outside the U.S. Six of the International Team's 12-player roster along with its captain, Peter Thompson, were Australians. The hometown contingent played well in front of their countrymen.
Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington, Frank Nobilo, Greg Norman, Craig Perry and Greg Turner were a combined 15-65. Meanwhile, the U.S. Team did not have a player finish above .500. Tiger Woods, in his first Presidents Cup appearance, was 2-3. After two days of morning foursome and afternoon fourball, the International Team led the U.S. Team 14 1/2 to 5 1/2. By the time the Sunday singles matches arrived, the International Team victory was all but secured. Entering the 2013 Presidents
.
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CUP >> A13
No. 11
No. 12
Par 5, 567 yards Overall rank: Fourth easiest
Par 3, 184 yards Overall rank: 12th toughest
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.817 Eagles: 3 Birdies: 132 Pars: 192 Bogeys: 46 Double Bogeys: 8 Triple Bogey+: 2
Price: This is a double dogleg par-5 that requires accuracy off the tee in order to have the chance to hit the second shot on to the green. Water comes into play with the tee shot as well as the lay-up. If the player decides to go for the green on the second shot, it has one of the strongest slopes on the course from back-to-front. Keeping it under the hole is imperative and just really important.
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2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 3.285 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 41 Pars: 216 Bogeys: 107 Double Bogeys: 15 Triple Bogey+: 4
Nick Price
Couples: This hole plays a little bit downhill, it’s all over water and bunkered in the front and in the back. It is the hardest par-3 on the course to hit the green, especially when the wind is blowing. It’s a shot that demands perfect accuracy. Long and left is no good otherwise it’s an automatic bogey.
Fred Couples
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Page A12
September 26, 2013
TEAM
FROM >> A10 got a situation like that, you’re not necessarily going to try as hard for your team.” At the Division I state girls golf tournament a year ago, Jerome was third with a 313 after the first day before shooting 316 on the second day to finish with a 629 that gave the Celtics the team title by one stroke over Medina Highland. “When we see each other in passing on the fairway, we try to wave at one another and send positive messages,” junior Sybil Robinson said. “The team camaraderie aspect of it is important. You kind of put yourself in a different mindset because you’re not just playing for yourself. Playing for your team definitely helps push you through in the tough times.” Once on the course, the importance of what Zesiger calls “grinding,” combined with being able to have a strong short game, can make the difference between winning a championship and coming in second. A U.S. team that has won the Presidents Cup each of the last four competitions has seven players in Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Bill Haas and Webb Simpson back from the 2011 squad. That experience should help against an International team with four returning players from 2011. “Obviously the talent is first
Michael Harris, (left), Brady Bohl and Chad Howard hug after the Jerome boys team won the Division I state title last fall. “Obviously the talent is first and foremost, and then I’d say probably team chemistry is most important,” Celtics coach Craig Zesinger said. LORRIE CECIL/THISWEEKSPORTS
and foremost, and then I’d say probably team chemistry is most important,” Zesiger said. “The ability to grind a little bit and to do it for their teammates helps. I’ve always had a good leader who’d try to take the reins.”
“I try to approach (the boys state tournament) like it’s any other match, but you really have to concentrate on the short game,” Bohl said. “Once you get to the greens, you haven’t even started yet.”
The Jerome girls team has won six consecutive OCC-Cardinal Division championships and has captured nine league titles in its 10 seasons. Toth, who is in her third season as one of the team’s top
players, admits that it’s natural to compete against her teammates throughout the regular season because that’s often where her toughest competition exists. The same competition that julrey@thisweeknews.com
No. 13
No. 14
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.076 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 53 Pars: 260 Bogeys: 60 Double Bogeys: 8 Triple Bogey+: 2
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.073 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 79 Pars: 213 Bogeys: 78 Double Bogeys: 11
Par 4, 455 yards Overall rank: 11th toughest
Price: This is a beautiful doglegleft par-4. A drive through the trees and then a second shot that’s downhill that can play as much as a club shorter than the actual yardage. The green is defended by a deep bunker to the left and this is another hole where leaving yourself with an uphill putt is crucial.
drives the members of the U.S. team against one another on the PGA Tour is something they’ll attempt to channel into team play at the Presidents Cup. “All of us are competitive with one another,” Toth said. “We tell each other that we want to beat each other, but I always say I’d rather win a team championship more than an individual championship. That’s going to drive me to get better.” Amber Jackson, who played for Dublin Coffman’s 2000 girls golf state championship team and is in her first season as Dublin Scioto’s coach, is interested to see how the talent on the U.S. and International squads translates into a team competition at the Presidents Cup. “Golf is such an individual sport, but when you get together you’re not just playing for yourself,” said Jackson, whose maiden name when she played for the Shamrocks was Churchill. “All of us (on the 2000 Coffman team) were really close. We did things outside of golf and made it fun. We also knew when to be serious and when to cheer each other on. If one of us had a bad day, we wanted everyone to do well. “When you hear cheering or clapping, you’re always hoping in the back of your mind that your team is doing well.”
Par 4, 363 yards Overall rank: Fourth toughest
Triple Bogey+: 4
Nick Price
Couples: This is a great little par-4. From the regular tees, it plays around 370 yards and the players will be hitting long irons off the tee with a 9-iron or wedge into a green that’s well bunkered, a creek that’s short, right and a green that features good pin positions. Possibly one or two days, Jack (Nicklaus) will move the tee up and it will be a drivable par-4, which will make it the most exciting hole on the course.
Fred Couples
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The 2013 Presidents Cup | ThisWeekSPORTS.com
September 26, 2013
CUP
FROM >> A11 Cup, this is the only win by the International Team.
2000
•Final score: U.S. Team 21 1/2, International Team 10 1/2 •Site: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club •City: Prince William County, Va. •Captains: Ken Venturi, U.S. Team Captain; Peter Thompson, International Team •Recap: While 1998 was a run away victory by the International Team, the U.S. Team returned the favor two years later on American soil. In the first Presidents Cup that lasted four days, instead of three, the U.S. Team dominated afternoon foursomes on Thursday and Friday with a 9-1 record. Entering Sunday's singles matches, the U.S. Team led 14-6. The Americans won seven of the 12 singles matches to regain control of the Cup and record the largest margin of victory in the competition's history. Davis Love III and Stewart Cink both went 4-0-0 for the Americans.
2003
•Final score: U.S. Team 17, International Team 17 •Site: The Links at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate •City: George, South Africa •Captains: Jack Nicklaus,
U.S. Team; Gary Player, International Team •Recap: The real winner this year was darkness. Who would win the Cup came down to a Sunday singles match between Ernie Els and Tiger Woods. Their match lasted three playoff holes before U.S. Team captain Jack Nicklaus and International Team captain Gary Player decided to call it a tie. “I did not find a team that deserved to lose,” Nicklaus said. Negotiations between the captains were intense before the match was called. The U.S. Team preferred to call it a tie. That meant, as per Presidents Cup rules, a tied match would hand the Cup back to the defending champions, which was the U.S. Team. The International Team wanted to come back Monday to finish the ElsWoods match for a chance at winning the Presidents Cup. The U.S. Team counter offered with the idea to "share" the Cup for the next two years. The deal was accepted and the result was the event's lone tie. “I didn’t think it was fair for Tiger or Ernie to go into those extra holes, especially in the dark,” 2013 International Team captain Nick Price said. “Sharing the Cup is all nice and diplomatic, but to me we're all going there to win the Cup.”
2005
•Final score: U.S. Team 18
1/2, International Team 15 1/2 •Site: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club •City: Price William County, Va. •Captains: Jack Nicklaus, U.S. Team; Gary Player, International Team •Recap: After three days of matches, the Sunday began with the teams tied at 11. As the singles matches unfolded, it came down to the U.S. Team sinking three clutch putts on No. 18. First, Fred Couples kicked in a 4-foot birdie putt to beat Vijay Singh 1 up. Then, Phil Mickelson birdied the final hole to square his match with Angel Cabrera and earn a halfpoint. Finally, Chris DiMarco sank a 13-foot Presidents Cupwinning birdie putt beat Stuart Appleby 1 up. DiMarco, who finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the Masters Tournament the previous April, led the U.S. Team at 4-0-1. In all, the Americans had three players finish unbeaten in DiMarco, Mickelson (3-0-2) and Jim Furyk (3-0-2).
2007
•Final score: U.S. Team 19 1/2, International Team 14 1/2 •Site: The Royal Montreal Golf Club •City: Montreal, Quebec, Canada •Captains: Jack Nicklaus,
RECAP >> A14
Page A13
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No. 15
No. 16
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.883 Eagles: 6 Birdies: 122 Pars: 186 Bogeys: 54 Double Bogeys: 11 Triple Bogey+: 4
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 3.339 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 38 Pars: 225 Bogeys: 87 Double Bogeys: 22 Triple Bogey+: 11
Price: This is an uphill par-5 that is a definite eagle opportunity for most of the players. The second shot is to a green that is long and narrow and is guarded by bunkers both left and right. In match play this is a very critical hole because eagles are not uncommon here.
Couples: The 16th hole has been renovated about three years ago, and it’s a 215-yard, par-3 that is all carry over water to a green with bunkers on the right side and back left. It’s a great par-3 and the hardest hole on the course.
Par 5, 529 yards Overall rank: Easiest
Par 3, 215 yards Overall rank: Seventh toughest
Nick Price
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Page A14
RECAP FROM >> A13
U.S. Team; Gary Player, International Team •Recap: The U.S. Team dominated two different sessions to take a commanding lead entering Sunday's singles matches. During Thursday’s foursomes, the U.S. Team earned 5 1/2 out of a possible 6 points. Again in foursomes two days later, the U.S. Team won all five matches to take a 12-5 lead. The Sunday singles matches were a mere formality for the U.S. Team. The lone excitement for the International Team at The Royal Montreal Golf Club came when Canadian Mike Weir defeated Tiger Woods 1 up. David Toms led the U.S. Team at 4-0-1 followed by Scott Verplank at 4-0-0.
2009
•Final score: U.S. 19 1/2, International Team 14 1/2 •Site: Harding Park Golf Course •City: San Francisco, Calif. •Captains: Fred Couples, U.S. Team; Greg Norman, International Team •Recap: For the first time in the event’s history, the matches on American soil were not played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Price William County, Va. The pairing of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker proved to be an unbeatable force at San Francisco's Harding Park.
FANS
During the foursomes and four-ball matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Stricker and Woods finished 4-0. Still, the U.S. Team led only 12 1/2 to 9 1/2 entering Sunday’s singles matches. Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and Antony Kim earned the U.S. Team 3 1/2 of a possible 4 points during the first four singles matches. Fittingly, Woods, who finished 5-0-0, beat Y.E. Yang 6 and 5 to retain the Cup for the U.S. Just two months prior, Yang rallied from two strokes back on the final day to surpass Woods to win the 91st PGA Championship.
FROM >> A6
“The best thing about the Presidents Cup is that for me being Australian, I can see golfers from my country compete,” Snell said. “When it comes to Australian sports, athletes who are in the top 10 in the world in anything are put on a pedestal. We are a small nation of only 20 million people so when you can achieve that it shows all of us that you can go on to do great things.”
Viewing tips for spectators
2011
•Final score: U.S. Team 19, International Team 15 •Site: Royal Melbourne Golf Club •City: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia •Captains: Fred Couples, U.S. Team; Greg Norman, International Team •Recap: Royal Melbourne returned to play host to the Presidents Cup, after the event was held at the Australian site in 1998. The familiar setting didn’t help the International Team, as the U.S. won for the fourth consecutive time. Tiger Woods defeated Australian Aaron Baddeley 4 and 3 in a Sunday's singles match to earn the Cup-retaining 18th point. Since Woods’ off-the-
September 26, 2013
Fred Couples celebrates after Tiger Woods clinched the title in 2009. Couples is 2-0 as U.S. Team Captain. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
course issues came to light in late 2009, he was in the midst of finding his “old self.” He was no longer the world's topranked golfer and only joined the team via a captain’s pick. After three days, the U.S. Team led the International Team 13-9. The International Team won the first four singles matches to pull even with the U.S. Team at 13. The U.S. won
six of the final eight matches, which included Woods’ Cupclinching effort. The U.S. Team, which had six first-time players, was led by veteran Jim Furyk. The Pennsylvania-native won all five of his matches, as he finished as the only unbeaten player at The Presidents Cup. ddelco@thisweeknews.com
Unlike the Memorial where every golfer plays 18 holes, that isn’t the case in a matchplay format. Not every match will last 18 holes so camping out behind the No. 18 green may not be the best way to watch the Presidents Cup. Knight recommends finding at spot at the first tee. “It’s a really special experience to stand on that first tee and watch the players get announced,” Knight said. “They get nervous and there is a really special vibe on that tee as the players hear their names associated with their country. You can also see it in the eyes of players like Phil (Mickelson) and Tiger (Woods) that this really matters.” Snell took an aggressive approach at Harding Park. He began at the par-4 first and stood at the midway point of the hole to watch all the groups ddelco@thisweeknews.com
No. 17
No. 18
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.120 Eagles: 0 Birdies: 58 Pars: 231 Bogeys: 84 Double Bogeys: 10 Triple Bogey+: 0
2013 Memorial Tournament Average Score: 4.206 Eagles: 1 Birdies: 53 Pars: 216 Bogeys: 96 Double Bogeys: 13 Triple Bogey+: 24
Price: A precision drive is required. Depending on the wind, it could be anything from a 7-iron to a pitching wedge for the players into the green. One of the best guarded greens on the golf course that angles away from the players from left-toright with a deep bunker short of the green. This is going to be a pivotal hole in any match.
Couples: The finishing hole is a dogleg right, par-4 with several bunkers off the tee on the right side and a creek that runs all the way up the left side. Tee balls here will be hit with maybe a 2-iron or 3-wood to a second shot uphill. It plays very, very long with the green that slopes from back-tofront with bunkers everywhere. It’s a great finishing hole.
Par 4, 478 yards Overall rank: Fifth toughest
Par 4, 444 yards Overall rank: Toughest
Nick Price
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come through and hit approach shots into the green. From there, he went to the par-3 11th to catch the groups coming through again. Once the groups passed by, he skipped around the back nine as the matches reached their conclusions. Snell maximized his golfwatching experience. Kamineski was quick to remind regulars of the Memorial that from a fan experience, there isn’t a lot of golf. “There is six hours on Thursday, six on Friday, about 10-12 hours on Saturday with two sets of matches and about six to seven hours on Sunday,” he said. “There isn’t a lot of golf when compared to the Memorial that goes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.” While Knight cautions against leaving early as to not miss out on the intensity of the final holes of a match, he also recommends checking out the practice rounds and attending the opening and closing ceremonies. “The practice rounds are really special,” he said. “You see world class players in a relaxed format. We had Bill Clinton and Michael Jordan play a practice round one day. “The opening and closing ceremonies are wonderful and give you a special feeling. With Mr. Nicklaus being the host, I’m sure they’ll be a lot of tipping of the hat to him.”
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September 26, 2013
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