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SPORTS Wednesday 18 december 2019
Internationals lacking ownership in Presidents Cup

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
— Ernie Els has finished sec-
ond to Tiger Woods more
than any other player,
and he never looked more
spectacular doing it than
as captain in the Presidents
Cup.
"OK, you got me," Els said to
him with a wry grin during
the closing ceremony at
Royal Melbourne.
Was it really a surprise?
Sure, the Americans were
the first team to rally from
a deficit on the final day
to win the Presidents Cup,
and it was their first in any
cup since a four-point
comeback in the Ryder
Cup at Brookline in 1999.
Some context is required.
They've won the Ryder Cup
only twice since then, and
they hardly ever lose the
Presidents Cup.
Even with a 10-8 lead go-
ing into singles, Els and his
International team were International team captain Ernie Els raises his hat during the presentation ceremony after the U.S. team won the President's Cup golf
playing against a stacked tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The U.S. team won the tournament 16-14.
deck, as usual. Associated Press
It wasn't as bad as the time
Els trailed Woods by 10 building," Els said. "But we out heavy input from all the Last week, he was assigned We're trying to do it under
shots going into the final gave it a hell of a go and key people on the Interna- to the International team one umbrella."
round at Pebble Beach in we came mightily close to tional side. and fit right in. The next Presidents Cup will
the U.S. Open. Still, it didn't winning and upsetting one That magnificent logo Els "I love these guys. They be at Quail Hollow Club
seem like a fair fight. of the greatest golf teams created for the Interna- work for the tour and all in North Carolina, a home
The Internationals had only of all time." tional team? He said it re- that," Els said. "But to make game for the U.S. team.
two players among the But they didn't. quired PGA Tour approval. our own rules, to get our And then? A group from
top 20 in the world ranking. This is about more than The support staff for the In- own choices, to do our Thailand was at Royal Mel-
Woods' team had 10 play- world rankings and experi- ternational team are PGA own thing, it's hard to ex- bourne last week express-
ers from the top 20, and ence, about which team Tour employees, even if plain. But we need to be ing interest. The best bet is
that didn't even include looks better on paper. Be- they hail from countries separate. ... The Ryder Cup a return to Royal Montreal.
the injured Brooks Koepka cause if it were, then how outside the U.S. works because the Europe- Another one in Asia or the
at No. 1 in the world. Two to explain the Ryder Cup? The money — the Presi- ans do their own thing and first one in a Latin America
of the four wild-card se- Europe is strong now. It dents Cup sells extremely the U.S. do their own thing. country is possible after
lections for the Americans, wasn't always. It still has an well — stays with one orga- It's two groups that clash. that.q
including Woods, won ma- 11-8-1 lead over the United nization every time.
jors this year. In the singles States dating to 1979, the That's not why the Ameri-
session, the outcome felt start of the modern era. cans win, and Els wasn't
inevitable. But while the Ryder Cup suggesting that. They win
Els was gracious in defeat, is billed as a contest be- because they play better
and also gutted. tween the flags of two con- golf and hole more putts.
He had fashioned 12 play- tinents, it's really between There is a comfort level at
ers representing nine flags two tours. the Presidents Cup they
into a team with identity The European Tour picks don't experience in the Ry-
and purpose. The logo he the venue (it usually goes der Cup.
created for the Interna- to the highest bidder these "I know it's a PGA Tour-
tional team was a com- days). It has full control of sanctioned event, OK?" Els
bination of shields and all operations. Paris last said. "But to really be able
badges culled from history year felt like a home game to do what you need to do,
that spoke to unity and — the course, not just the you need to be almost a
loyalty, friendship, strength crowd — just as Hazeltine separate ... you need to be
and fight. And they had a was for the Americans. away from the PGA Tour."
chance, which is more than The Presidents Cup is Nothing personal. He
they've had some years. a match between two paused to pat the back of
"If you compare our team teams, one owner. Mark Williams, who played
on paper with other teams The PGA Tour selects the professionally in Australia
in other sport, you would site. The PGA Tour picks the and now works as a media
have laughed us out of the captains, though not with- official for the PGA Tour.