Tag: Presidents Cup

Marc Leishman: Patrick Reed’s rules gaffe makes for ‘pretty good ammo’ for Presidents Cup fans

Australian Marc Leishman gave his tacit approval to fans to taunt Patrick Reed at the Presidents Cup over his recent rules gaffe.

MELBOURNE – Just days after Adam Scott said he didn’t want Australians to cheer for Tiger Woods at the upcoming Presidents Cup, Marc Leishman has given fans his tacit approval to taunt American Patrick Reed over his recent rules controversy at the Hero World Challenge.

When asked by the media after his round at the Australian Open on Saturday if fans should bring shovels to poke fun at Reed, who was penalized on Friday for moving sand during his practice swings, Leishman, who is representing the Internationals for the third time, said, “There are opportunities there, put it that way. Maybe not shovels, but I think he’s definitely opened a door there, that he’s brought on himself.”

Reed, who was tabbed Captain America for his impressive performance at the 2016 Ryder Cup, was one of four captain’s picks to represent the American side in the Presidents Cup when the biennial match begins on Thursday. If there’s any player who can shrug off being heckled by the galleries, it is Reed. The villain role comes naturally to Reed, who may have to reenact his infamous “shush” from the 2014 Ryder Cup when he raised his index finger to his lips and shushed the vocal Scottish crowd at Gleneagles, if Leishman has anything to do with it.

“As long as it’s not disrespectful, I think. You never want to cross the line, but I think there is some pretty good ammo there, isn’t there?” Leishman added.

Leishman did his best to duck questions from reporters on the topic, but eventually couldn’t hide his feelings on the matter. “Yeah, I did see it and it looked pretty ordinary, to be honest,” he said. “It didn’t look too good for him.”

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Presidents Cup ‘advice giver’ can change when Tiger Woods tees it up

The burden of providing advice can be passed off (and reassumed) by Tiger Woods next week during his role as Presidents Cup playing captain.

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Tiger Woods has so far been coy about the number of matches he intends to play at next week’s Presidents Cup. Considering the form he has displayed at the Hero World Challenge – particularly in firing a bogey-free 66 in the second round – the playing captain would be wise to slot himself into the lineup frequently.

Woods is the first man to take on the role of Presidents Cup playing captain since Hale Irwin did it in 1994, the year of the inaugural matches. For the record, Irwin played three times that year, appearing in the foursomes lineup each of the first two days before going out in the lead singles match against Robert Allenby on the final day. His record was 2-1 (which included a singles victory over Allenby).

“I’m playing a minimum of two [matches],” Woods said Thursday with a smile. “Does that help you?”

There’s obviously much more to it than that, though.

Hero World Challenge: Best photos from Bahamas

Woods has brought on three assistant captains in Fred Couples, Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson (the former two being past Presidents Cup captains themselves). The question is how, exactly, they’ll fill in when Woods is on the course competing, particularly when it comes to giving advice.

The Presidents Cup rulebook states that when it comes to “any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke, each team may appoint one person who may give advice to members of that team. Such person must be identified to the committee before giving advice.”

These stipulations reflect the wording in the Rules of Golf section that covers team competition (Rule 24) and the procedures regarding the creation of a local rule that allows for an “advice giver.”

A report by Golf Channel has cleared up some of the details about how much (and when, exactly) Woods’ assistant captains can take over while he’s competing. The PGA Tour sent this response to a Golf Channel inquiry:

“The captain needs to advise the chief referee before the start of each round who has the advice. The captain may switch the person during the round. For example, if Tiger is planning to play, he would need to advise rules before the matches start who has the advice. After he finishes, he could switch back if he wanted.”

Add those particulars to a long list of other details Woods must address as the captain.

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Matt Jones moves into Australian Open lead as bushfire smoke lifts

Australian Matt Jones birdied his final hole for a 6-under 65 and the second-round lead as the air cleared at the Australian Open.

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SYDNEY (AP) — Australian Matt Jones birdied his final hole Friday for a 6-under 65 and a one-stroke lead after two rounds on a day of low scoring at the Australian Open.

Jones had a 36-hole total of 10-under 132 at the Australian Golf Club. Paul Casey shot 65 and Dimitrios Papadatos 66 and were tied for second.

Friday’s low scoring came after the bushfire-driven haze that blanketed the course on Thursday afternoon cleared significantly for the second round.

“Anytime you get to lead is fantastic,” Jones said. “It would have been better to be more in front, but I’ll take one in front. Still a long way to go. I’m sure the wind is going to pick up the next two days, which will make it a little tougher.”

American Cameron Tringale, who shot 65, and Louis Oosthuizen had a 66 to be among those two shots behind.

Casey, at No. 14 and the top-ranked player in the field, had seven birdies including four in a row to end his round.

Leaderboard: Australian Open

“I’ve not been able to get it close to any flag for about a day and a half and then suddenly the back nine for me, the last half a dozen holes, I had some really good birdie opportunities,” Casey said. “I don’t know if it was fully in the zone but it was really nice stuff and it felt really good.”

Adam Scott followed up his opening 75 with a 67 Friday but still missed the cut.

Scott and Oosthuizen are both on the International team for next week’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Their captain, Ernie Els, may have some extra time to plot his strategy against the American team — Els shot 77 on Friday and missed the cut as well .

“I just didn’t quite swing enough or good enough and so be it. But, it was always going to be tough for me to play well with next week coming up,”’ Els said. “Actually even last night, I got some pairings going for the guys and so things are really getting set up now. I’m really focused on next week now, absolutely.”

The Australian Open is the first qualifier for next year’s British Open, to be played from July 16-19 at Royal St. George’s. The leading three players who finish in the top 10 and ties at the Australian Open who are not already exempt will qualify.

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Tiger Woods: Contending in Bahamas, prepping for Presidents Cup

As Tiger eyes a tournament victory this week, he’s also prepping 10 of the 11 guys he’ll take with him to Royal Melbourne next week.

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Tiger Woods trails his Presidents Cup captain’s pick Patrick Reed by six with two rounds to go in the 18-player Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods shot a second-round 66 at the Albany Golf Club on Thursday but remains cryptic on how much he will play as the captain of next week’s Presidents Cup team.

He has to be pleased with how Reed is playing. And putting. Reed has opened up a three-stroke lead over Gary Woodland and his second-round 66 included just 23 putts, a day after recording 25.

But as Woods — and others — eye a tournament victory this week, he’s also prepping 10 of the 11 guys he’ll take with him to Royal Melbourne next week.

“We have some things that we need to run through the guys, some ideas and I’ll pick their brains a little bit,” he said after Wednesday’s opening round. “We just want to have a clear picture of what we’re going to do down there because obviously once we get down there, things roll pretty quickly.”

Woods went on to describe the tight schedule in Australia.

“We land there Monday, we don’t have a whole lot of time to get to the golf course on Monday. A few of us gotta go do a shootout on the river. Then dinner. Then the next day it’s a long practice round. Six guys gotta do interviews, (then there’s) a gala dinner that night.

“Follow the next day with another practice round, photos, plus six more guys have to do interviews. Pairings, and then we play. So there isn’t a whole lot of time. We gotta run through things now so that when we get there we have a clear picture of what we’re doing.”

The Presidents Cup action starts Thursday, Dec. 12, with the first-round four-ball format. Since Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast, there will be live golf in prime time starting on Wednesday night in North America.

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Adam Scott hopes Aussie crowds don’t get too carried away with Tiger Woods

When the Presidents Cup goes to Australia in a week, Adam Scott hopes the home crowd doesn’t get too carried away by Tiger mania.

Tiger Woods’ fame transcends continents. He’s not an American sports hero, he’s a worldwide one. But when the Presidents Cup goes to Australia in a week, with Woods competing as the first playing captain in the event since 1994, Australian Adam Scott hopes the home crowd doesn’t get too carried away.

As in, remember who to cheer for, mates.

Scott, the world No. 15 who is about to make his ninth Presidents Cup appearance, told the Melbourne-based Herald Sun this week that he hopes fans get loud for the Internationals. After all, noise and support are major factors in a home-course advantage.

“Last time it was too friendly,” Scott told the Herald Sun. “Quite bluntly, we want the home-crowd advantage, and I’ll be disappointed if they are cheering enthusiastically for Tiger or anyone on the U.S. team.”

Presidents Cup: Meet Ernie Els’ International Team
Byeong Hun An to replace Jason Day at Presidents Cup

The matches are returning to Royal Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia for the first time since 2011. The U.S. team won the Cup that year, which was also the last time Woods played in Australia.

The Presidents Cup scoreboard has grown more and more lopsided since, with the U.S. winning all three subsequent meetings. It’s worth noting, however, that the only International victory in the event’s history was at Royal Melbourne in 1998.

Scott’s Presidents Cup record stands at 14-20-5 for a run that dates to 2003.

With Jason Day now out of the International huddle because of a lingering back injury – and Presidents Cup rookie Byeong Hun An taking his spot – Scott is the most experienced player on the team. Counting An, more than half of the International team members are Presidents Cup rookies.

It makes the right type of crowd energy that much more important.

“I’m not saying be a poor sport, but one challenge our team has always had is gaining a home-soil advantage because it’s rare that stars like Tiger and DJ (Dustin Johnson) come to Australia (2011) or Korea (2015) where we play these things and the locals are excited to see them as much as anyone on our team,” Scott said. “But while we appreciate them very much, we don’t have to cheer for them.”

The Presidents Cup will be played Dec. 13-15 at Royal Melbourne. For U.S. viewers, the first match will air the evening of Dec. 12 because of the time difference.

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Presidents Cup: Jason Day withdraws, Byeong Hun An joins International Team

Jason Day has withdrawn from the Presidents Cup International Team and captain Ernie Els has chosen Byeong Hun An as replacement.

Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els has chosen Byeong Hun An to replace an injured Jason Day on the International Team, the Presidents Cup announced Friday.

Day, who has a 5-11-4 Presidents Cup record, withdrew from the Dec. 9-15 event at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club due to a back injury. The event would have been the Australian’s fifth Presidents Cup appearance.

In a statement released Friday, Day said he hopes to return to Australia to play soon, but in the meantime, wishes all Presidents Cup competitors luck.

MORE: Meet Team USA and the International Team

Day also withdrew from the Australian Open, Dec. 5-8.

“I’m quite disappointed I won’t be coming home to play in either the Australian Open in Sydney or the Presidents Cup the following week in Melbourne,” Day said. “I was quite looking forward to both events. I had been prepping all week in Palm Springs when I was injured.

“Frustratingly, I’ve been through back problems before and my medical team decided it best to shut down all practice and play. Therefore, I wanted to inform Golf Australia as well as provide Ernie as much time as possible to best prepare our International Team for Royal Melbourne.”

Day told Golfweek earlier in November he hasn’t had a trainer for most of the past year, which has made it difficult to practice when his back acts up. Last season, Day’s back forced him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational after the first round in March and also forced him to receive treatment on the course during the second round of the Masters.

“We wish Jason well and hope his back recovers quickly. We were eager to have Jason as part of the team at Royal Melbourne and his experience will be missed,” Els said in a statement. “The good news is that there were a number of strong and qualified players available to choose from when I made my captain’s selections. To have someone as steady and talented as Ben An puts us in a great position to succeed. Ben played extremely well this fall and throughout the year and he will fit in nicely on this team.”

The 28-year-old An competed in 22 PGA Tour events last season and had three top 10 finishes with his best coming from a third-place finish at Wyndham Championship. An also earned $1,990,033 in 2019.

With the addition of An, who will compete in his first Presidents Cup, the International Team will feature two Korean players. An joins Sungjae Im, the 2019 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

“I’m sorry to hear that Jason has been forced to withdraw from the International Team and I wish him a speedy recovery. It was a huge surprise to receive a call from Ernie who told me that I was in the team,” An said in a statement. “It has been a goal of mine all season to be on the International Team and I am honored to play in my first Presidents Cup. I’m looking forward to joining Ernie and the rest of the team in Melbourne and, more importantly, contribute to the International Team’s goal to win the Cup.”

The International Team move follows Brooks Koepka’s withdrawal from the U.S. Team due to a lagging left knee injury. Team captain Tiger Woods selected Rickie Fowler as a replacement on Nov. 20.

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Should Tiger have waited and picked Brendon Todd for the Presidents Cup?

Tiger Woods might have pulled the trigger on Rickie Fowler too soon. Brendon Todd is hot and would have been a good Presidents Cup pick.

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Did Tiger Woods pull the trigger too soon with his latest pick as captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team?

It’s a valid question, courtesy of Brendon Todd, who is in the pole position to win a third consecutive event on the PGA Tour.

On Wednesday, Woods, while he could have waited, didn’t waste any time in replacing the injured world No. 1 Brooks Koepka with Rickie Fowler to round out his band of 12 that will head to Australia Dec. 7 to face the Internationals at Royal Melbourne.

RSM Classic: Tee times, viewing info | Scores | Photos

Fowler was the expected choice. He’s a force in the team room, a solid, experienced player in the matches, a guy who finished 11th in the points race to be one of the eight automatic qualifiers. Fowler was Woods’ fifth pick – he earlier selected himself, Tony Finau, Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed.

But Fowler hasn’t played since August, as he got married in October and then got sick at the end of his honeymoon with an intestinal bacterial infection.

Meanwhile, Todd has gone bonkers.

He’s won the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Golf Classic and will take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. With a bogey-free, 8-under-par 62 in Saturday’s third round, Todd got two clear of Webb Simpson and Sebastian Munoz, is three clear of D.J. Trahan and four ahead of three other players.

Todd missed just one green in regulation on the Seaside Course and hit every fairway in regulation. While he made birdie putts from 20, 12, 6, 2, 28, 18, 2 and 9 feet, he also lipped out four other birdie putts.

“Like my caddie said, it was like a video game out there today,” Todd said. “Just thrilled with the way I’m hitting it and feeling out there. That was about as good as I could ask for in the circumstances.

“I just expect certain areas of my game to perform at a certain level right now. So when they do, the scores come and then you just kind of take them and move through the round and try to shoot as low as you can.”

Todd’s remarkable run could lead him to winning three consecutive events on the PGA Tour. The last player to do that? Woods, in 2006.

It’s a stunning about-face. Todd nearly quit the game and considered opening a pizza franchise when he missed 37-of-41 cuts and went more than two years without breaking 70 on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour from 2016-18.

Now he’s posted 12 consecutive round in the 60s, signing for 66-68-63-67-62-63-68-65-68-66-66-62. Folks, that’s a whopping 68-under par.

But he has no ill will toward Woods for not picking him.

“If there was any inkling at all, Davis (Love III) or Zach (Johnson) or one of the assistant captains might have mentioned it to me. Obviously Tiger had Rickie in mind a long time ago, as he should have, and I’m fine with that,” Todd said.

Todd also isn’t complaining about the final group on Sunday, where he’ll go out with Simpson and Munoz. Todd and Simpson played junior golf against each other and they’ve remained friends ever since. In times of struggle, each has consoled in the other. On Sunday, they will play on the PGA Tour together for the first time since being grouped in the first two rounds at Colonial in 2016.

“We’ve been able to talk to each other on the phone and help each other out,” Simpson said. “I’ve been so proud of him for hanging in there.  I mean, I think besides the Player of the Year, I mean, his story could be the biggest story of the year. To come back just proves what kind of guts he has inside of him to not give up or throw in the towel.”

But Simpson won’t question Woods’ decision to take Fowler.

“It’s funny, Brendon texted me after he won (in Mayakoba) and he said, ‘Captain’s pick?’” Simpson said. “But now it’s like he’s playing as good as anybody in the world. But I think the team’s set, but he definitely gave it a good try.”

That’s all Todd will do in the final round, for he’s not going to change anything.

“I just want to get into my little zone and attack the golf course like I’m trying to go shoot nothing because that’s been my mindset every day for the last three events and there’s really no reason to change it just because I’m (in) the lead,” Todd said. “And whether it happens or not, you know, I’m not going to change my game plan, I’m not going to feel good or bad about myself, I’m just going to keep attacking.”

It’s worked pretty well for three consecutive tournaments.

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Brooks Koepka withdraws from Presidents Cup; Rickie Fowler in

As was expected, Brooks Koepka has not recovered from his knee injury in time to play in the Presidents Cup, giving Rickie Fowler an in.

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Brooks Koepka is out of the Presidents Cup; Rickie Fowler is in.

Koepka, ranked No. 1 in the world, announced on Wednesday that he has been forced to withdraw from the 2019 competition due to a knee injury. U.S. Team Playing Captain Tiger Woods used the additional selection afforded to him by Koepka’s withdrawal to select Fowler.

“I notified Captain Tiger Woods that despite constant medical care and rehab, I am not able to play golf at this time. I consider it to be a high honor to be part of the 2019 team and I regret not being able to compete,” Koepka said in a statement. “Since my injury in Korea, I have been in constant contact with Tiger and assured him that I was making every effort to be 100 percent in time for the Presidents Cup in Australia. However, I need more time to heal.”

Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler on the 12th tee during the second round of The 2018 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Photo: John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

Koepka qualified as the No. 1-ranked player for the U.S. Presidents Cup Team in the points standing. December’s event would have been Koepka’s second Presidents Cup appearance after making his debut in 2017 and compiling a 2-2-0 record.

“Brooks and I talked, and he’s disappointed that he won’t be able to compete,” Woods said. “I told him to get well soon, and that we’re sorry he won’t be with us in Australia. He would clearly be an asset both on the course and in the team room.”

“Anytime you lose the No. 1 player in the world, that’s a huge loss,” said Charles Howell III, the defending champion at this week’s RSM Classic. “And Brooks, like his mentality, the way he is, I mean, he seems made for match play, so I do think it’s a big loss.  But you’re replacing him with Rickie Fowler, who’s obviously a phenomenal player.”

Fowler will now play for the third time on the U.S. Team following a strong showing in 2017 at Liberty National where he was undefeated with a 3-0-1 record. Fowler, who was 11th in the Presidents Cup points standings, hasn’t played since finishing T-19 at the Tour Championship in late August. He was expected to play at the Mayakoba Golf Classic last week, but withdrew due to an intestinal bacterial infection.

Former two-time U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III supported the selection of Fowler. He thought back to 2010, when Fowler was a rookie under consideration for Captain Corey Pavin’s final pick.

“When I called Bob Tway, he pointedly said, ‘He should be your first pick,’ and Rickie proved that over in Wales. He played like a veteran,” Love said. “Rickie loves the stage. A lot like a Phil Mickelson or now hanging around Kevin Kisner, there’s some guys that like to walk out on the final green and make that putt, they want the ball with no time on the clock and Rickie’s that guy. Rickie’s a guy you want on your side. It’s unfortunate for Brooks, but I think they picked up an all‑around team guy both playing and in the team room, so I’m excited for him.”

Kisner, who won the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in March and had success at the 2017 Presidents Cup, has struggled the past few months. He and hot hands Kevin Na and Brendon Todd were among the names being bandied about as a replacement pick for Koepka along with old standbys Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth,

“No one else really stepped up and did much from our vantage point,” said Zach Johnson, one of team USA’s assistant captains. “I think you side with experience, camaraderie and chemistry.”

“Rickie has played on a couple Presidents Cup teams, was someone seriously considered for a pick and is well respected and liked by his teammates,” Woods said. “I know he’s going to do a great job for us. We’re all excited about this year’s event. The course is outstanding, the fans will be loud and we’re playing against great competitors. We’re ready to go.”

“When I heard Brooks wasn’t going to be ready to play, I was bummed for him and the team,” Fowler said. “Then I got a call from both Brooks and Tiger. I was humbled and excited to be given the chance. These team events have been some of the most memorable weeks of my career.

“To be picked by Tiger to compete with him and the rest of the team is very special. It is impossible to replace the world’s No. 1, but I can assure my teammates and American golf fans that I will be prepared and ready to do my part to bring home the Presidents Cup.”

The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time Dec. 9-15.

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Webb Simpson shakes off rust with Hero, Presidents Cup coming up

Webb Simpson, the world No. 12, is confident he’s ready to play up to his ranking at this week’s RSM Classic.

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Webb Simpson isn’t the least bit concerned about shaking off any rust ahead of this week’s RSM Classic.

Yes, he’s played just once the past 12 weeks – a tie for seventh in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas – the longest stretch of inactivity since he turned pro. And yes, he’s no longer a youngster anymore, what with his 35th coming up next year.

But come Thursday at Sea Island Golf Club, Simpson, the world No. 12, is confident he’s ready to play up to his ranking.

It’s the result of the wisdom he’s piled up through the years. Through trial and error, he’s learned not to put away the clubs for weeks on end and prop up his feet. Instead, he keeps his game in shape off the road by maintaining a routine at home by playing practice rounds, spending time in the gym and on the range; he even stays in touch with his psychologist.

RSM Classic: Tee times | Odds | Fantasy

Nothing out of the norm, really, except he’s not playing tournaments.

“I don’t feel it’s as hard to come back as it used to be,” Simpson said Tuesday on a windy day off the St. Simons Sound. “I had five weeks off after the Tour Championship before coming back to Vegas for the Shriners and I felt like I felt in the middle of the season.”

Plus, there’s a pretty large carrot on the horizon pushing Simpson. More specifically, a gold cup, as in the Presidents Cup. Simpson, the 2018 Players champion who was winless last season but had three runner-up finishes and a third in 21 starts, was one of the eight automatic qualifiers for the U.S. team in the points standings.

In addition to his start this week, he will play in the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas the first week of December ahead of the Presidents Cup Dec. 12-15 at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

“I knew playing here and the Hero would be enough to gear up for the Presidents Cup,” Simpson said. “The Presidents Cup absolutely helps. It brings some intensity because we want to win so badly. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’m all here this week, but even at Hero, we’re going to be thinking about it and preparing for it more than a normal event.”

As he said, Simpson has been thinking a lot about the Presidents Cup. Especially with the U.S. coming off a dreadful loss to the Europeans in the 2018 Ryder Cup. While Simpson has been on two victorious teams in the Presidents Cup – 2011 and 2013 – he’s 0-3 in the Ryder Cup – 2012, 2014 and 2018.

“For me, there is a bitter taste still there,” from the Ryder Cup, he said. “Winning is so fun. And (the Internationals) have a good team. I know every year there is a similar story, are they going to be able to pull it out. But they have a good team and we have to be ready. We have to be ready.

“I hope France inspired our guys on the team to focus on it that much more.”

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