Presidents Cup Preview 2019

Presidents Cup Preview 2019

• Presidents Cup
• December 9-15, 2019
• The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Designed by Alister MacKenzie in1931
• Par/Meters/Yardage: Par 71 / 6,442 meters / 7,047 yards

Complete List of Presidents Cup Winners
Presidents Cup Match Play Formats
Match Play Explained

Field: The Presidents Cup, a team match-play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top golfers – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between United States and international venues. The United States holds a 10-1-1 advantage in the event, with the lone International Team victory coming in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.

Future Venues:

2021 – Quail Hollow Club (Charlotte, North Carolina) 2023 – TBD (international venue)

2025 – TPC Harding Park (San Francisco, California)

The Presidents Cup International Team

The top eight international players (excluding those eligible for the European Ryder Cup team) from the Presidents Cup International Team Points List which is Official World Golf Ranking points accumulated in the time period from August 27, 2018 (Dell Technologies Championship) through August 18, 2019 (BMW Championship). Four captain’s selections were made on November 7.

Captain: Ernie Els (1st time as Captain)
Captain’s Assistants: K.J. Choi, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Weir
Players: Byeong Hun An, Abraham Ancer, Adam Hadwin, Sungjae Im, Haotong Li, Marc Leishman, Hideki Matsuyama, Jaoquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, C.T. Pan, Adam Scott, Cameron Smith,

The Presidents Cup U.S. Team

The Presidents Cup U.S. Team consists of the top eight U.S. PGA TOUR members who have earned the most FedExCup points from September 11, 2017 (BMW Championship) through August 18, 2019 (BMW Championship); points earned starting with the 2018 Safeway Open were doubled. Four captain’s selections were made on November 8.

Captain: Tiger Woods (1st time as Captain)
Captain’s Assistants: Fred Couples, Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker
Players: Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony FInau, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed, Zander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Justin Thomas,Gary Woodland, Tiger Woods,

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club Is A MacKenzie Classic

Royal Melbourne’s two courses are known as the ‘West’ and ‘East’ courses. It was decided to use 12 holes from the West Course and six holes from the East Course for the 1959 World Cup of Golf, and hence the Composite Course was born.

Royal Melbourne’s Composite Course is continually rated in the top 10 golf courses in the world.

The result is a golf course of outstanding quality, with an intriguing mix of Scottish Links characteristics and Augusta National style beauty. The course also has the reputation for having possibly the fastest putting greens in the world. The course is also famous for its large and dramatically shaped bunkers.

Dr. Alister MacKenzie arrived in Melbourne on the 25th October, 1926 and quickly endeared himself to the Australians. Prior to beginning preparation of plans for the West Course, MacKenzie asked, “Can I please have a list of all the Club Members names, ages and handicaps….?” The reason for MacKenzie’s request for this list was simple: “The course should be so arranged that the long handicap player, or even the absolute beginner, should be able to enjoy his round in spite of the fact that he is piling up a big score.

MacKenzie started immediately so that within a matter of weeks, he had designed the 18-hole layout of the West Course. It was to become one of his crowning achievements in a brilliant career designing golf courses worldwide. The finished result was a testament to his brilliance. With its bold bunkering, multiple approaches to the greens along wide fairways and strongly contoured greens hemmed in with mounds and slopes which extended into the greens themselves, MacKenzie believed that putting should be hazardous and that a golfer’s approach shots should be tested by greens which offer an easier side and a harder side to the hole.

The 1998 Presidents Cup was played 11-13 December at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The International Team made the most of home-field advantage, winning 20 ½ to 11 ½. Jack Nicklaus served as captain of the U.S. Team, while Peter Thomson repeated his role as captain for the International Team.

The ninth playing of the Presidents Cup occurred 15-20 November 2011 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which made it the first international venue to host this prestigious competition more than once. The U.S. Team captured the Presidents Cup for the seventh time, led once again by Captain Fred Couples and a 5-0-0 performance by veteran Jim Furyk. Tiger Woods clinched the Cup for the United States with a 4-and-3 win over Australia’s Aaron Baddeley in Sunday Singles. For Woods, it was the second consecutive time he had scored the winning point at the Presidents Cup, becoming only the second player to accomplish that feat (Couples, 1994, 1996) and the first captain’s pick to do so. Norman’s International Team was outscored 8-3 in Foursomes and eventually lost the Cup by four points (19-15).

Format and Pairings

The Presidents Cup consists of 30 matches:

• Thursday – 5 Four-Ball matches
• Friday – 5 Foursomes matches
• Saturday morning – 4 Four-Ball matches
• Saturday afternoon – 4 Foursomes matches
• Sunday – 12 Singles matches

Pairings for the first round (Thursday Four-Ball) are made at 4 p.m. AET on Wednesday, December 11. The captain of the defending team (U.S.) will choose who goes first to start the draw, and the captains alternate for the remaining sessions.

All matches are worth one point each, for a total of 30 points. There are no playoffs, with each side receiving a half point if a match is tied after 18 holes. In a change inspired by the events of the 2003 Presidents Cup, if the match is deadlocked at the end of Singles play, the competition will be deemed a tie and the teams will share the Presidents Cup.

For the 2019 Presidents Cup, a minor format change will be implemented, stating each player shall only be required to play a minimum of one match prior to the Sunday Singles matches. This is a change from previous years when players were required to compete in two matches prior to Singles matches.

Television Times

Golf Channel/NBC (International)

Day 1 Wednesday Dec. 11:  7 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET
Day 2 Thursday Dec. 12:  7 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET
Day 3 Friday Dec. 13:  3 p.m. – 2 a.m. ET
Day 4Saturday Dec. 14:  6 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET

Charitable Distributions

Unlike many other events, the players do not receive prize money based on performance. Instead, the PGA TOUR pledges to contribute to charities, which are nominated by the players, captains and captains’ assistants from both teams. Total amount donated to charity: more than $49.1 million.

PLAYER CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS BY YEAR
1994 – US $ 750,000
1996 – US $ 800,000
1998 – US $ 2.9 million
2000 – US $ 2.8 million
2003 – US $ 2.8 million
2005 – US $ 3.5 million
2007 – US $ 4.2 million
2009 – US $ 4.2 million
2011 – US $ 4.5 million
2013 – US $ 4.65 million
2015 – US $ 6.1 million
2017 – US $ 10.7 million

INTERNATIONAL TEAM

Player	Country	Prior appearances	Record	Start of 2019
1. Marc Leishman	Australia	2013 2015 2017	3-7-3	1
2. Hideki Matsuyama	Japan	2013 2015 2017	4-6-3	7
3. Louis Oosthuizen	South Africa	2013 2015 2017	7-5-3	4
4. Adam Scott	Australia	2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015- 2017	14-20-5	60
5. Abraham Ancer	Mexico			3
6. Haotong Li	China			5
7. C.T. Pan	Chinese Taipei			13
8. Cameron Smith	Australia			2
9. * Jason Day (wd)
11. Sungjae Im (Captain’s Pick)	Korea			71
15. Byeong Hun An (replacing Day)	Korea			36
18. Adam Hadwin (Captain’s Pick)	Canada	2017	0-2-1	31
28. Joaquin Niemann (Captain’s Pick)	Chile			120

United States Team

Player	Prior Appearances	Record	Start of Season
1. Brooks Koepka (wd)
2. Justin Thomas	2017	3-1-1	3
3. Dustin Johnson	2011, 2015, 2017	8-4-2	4
4. Patrick Cantalay			8
5. Xander Schauffele			5
6. Webb Simpson	2011, 2013	5-3-2	7
7. Matt Kuchar	2011, 2013, 2015, 2017	6-8-2	14
8. Bryson DeChambeau		6
9.  Tony Finau (Captain’s Pick)			6
10. Gary Woodland (Captain’s Pick)			9
11. Rickie Fowler (replacing Koepka)	2015, 2017	4-3-1	11
12. Patrick Reed (Captain’s Pick)	2015, 2017	4-3-2	13
13. Tiger Woods (Captain’s Pick)	1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 , 2011, 2013	24-15-1	16

Team and Player Notes

There are 12 players making their Presidents Cup debuts in 2019, which sets a new record for most first-timers (combined teams):

• International Team (7): Byeong Hun An, Abraham Ancer, Sungjae Im, Haotong Li, Joaquin Niemann, C.T. Pan, Cameron Smith

• U.S. Team (5): Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland

The 2019 International Team will be the most diverse in Presidents Cup history, with players from Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and South Africa. This is the first time that the International Team will include players from Chile, Mexico, Chinese Taipei and Mainland China.

Making his fourth consecutive Presidents Cup appearance, Louis Oosthuizen is the only South African on the 2019 International Team. There have been multiple players from South Africa on the International Team in every Presidents Cup except 1998 at Royal Melbourne when the International Team last won the Presidents Cup. Els was the only South African on the 1998 International Team.

With Byeong Hun An joining Sungjae Im as the second Korean on the International Team, this marks the second time in Presidents Cup history that the International Team will feature more than one Korean (2011; K.J. Choi, K.T. Kim, Y.E. Yang).

International representation over the history of the Presidents Cup: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Fiji, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

Most countries and regions represented by International Team (players only), by year:

9: 2019
8: 2000, 2009, 2017
7: 1998, 2015
6: 1994, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013
4: 2011

Total representation in the Presidents Cup by International Team members (players only):

Australia, 53
South Africa, 35
Japan, 11
Fiji, 8
Zimbabwe, 8
New Zealand, 7
Korea, 10
Canada, 8
Argentina, 5
Paraguay, 2
India, 2
Chile, 1
Mainland China, 1
Chinese Taipei,
Colombia, 1
Mexico, 1
Thailand, 1
Venezuela, 1

The International Team and U.S. Team are the youngest and second youngest, respectively, in Presidents Cup history. The average age of the International Team is 28.9 years old, while the U.S. Team is 31.8 years old.

2019 Presidents Cup first-timers Joaquin Niemann (21 yrs, 1 mo, 8 days) and Sungjae Im (21 yrs, 8 mos, 16 days) are two of five players to compete in the Presidents Cup before turning 22 years old, joining Ryo Ishikawa (2009, 2011), Jordan Spieth (2013) and Hideki Matsuyama (2013).

2019 Presidents Cup Captain’s Selections

U.S.: Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, Gary Woodland, Tiger Woods

International: Jason Day (WD), Adam Hadwin, Sungjae Im, Joaquin Niemann

Notable Captain’s Selection performances:

David Duval     1996                                4-0-0

Phil Mickelson 2015, 2017                   3-0-1

Mike Weir        2007                                3-1-1

U.S. Presidents Cup Captain’s Selections have an overall record of 44-42-15, while the International Team’s Captain’s Selections have compiled a mark of 36-59-6.

For the first time in Presidents Cup history, each captain made four captain’s picks instead of two.

Koepka, Day withdrawals

On November 20, U.S. Team member Brooks Koepka announced his withdrawal from the 2019 Presidents Cup due to a knee injury. Captain Tiger Woods chose 2015 and 2017 Presidents Cup participant Rickie Fowler to replace Koepka.

On November 29, International Team member Jason Day announced his withdrawal from the 2019 Presidents Cup due to a back injury. Captain Ernie Els chose Korea’s Byeong Hun An to replace Day.

Tiger Woods, Playing Captain

By selecting himself as a captain’s pick, U.S. Team Captain Tiger Woods will become the Presidents Cup’s second-ever playing captain in the event’s history. Hale Irwin was the first in 1994 and recorded an 2-1-0 record.

After Phil Mickelson (26-16-13) surpassed Woods and set the new record for matches won in Presidents Cup history following a three-win performance in 2017, Woods (24-15-1) can regain the record this week at Royal Melbourne.

Adam Scott set for ninth Presidents Cup appearance

Adam Scott will make his ninth career appearance in the Presidents Cup this week, eclipsing the record for most appearances by an International Team member previously held by Ernie Els and Vijay Singh with eight. At 39 years old, Scott is the oldest player on the International Team. Owning a 14-20-5 record, Scott has yet to be part of a wining Presidents Cup team. Scott’s Presidents Cup debut came in 2003 during the dramatic tie in South Africa.

Mickelson’s Presidents Cup streak snapped

Phil Mickelson’s streak of competing in every Presidents Cup comes to an end after being a member of the U.S. Team in the first 12 editions of the event beginning in 1994.

Mickelson’s 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season included one win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a T2 at The American Express in late January. Following his win at Pebble Beach, Mickelson finished no better than T18 (Masters Tournament) in his final 16 starts of the season.

In four starts during the 2019-20 season prior to captain’s picks, Mickelson finished CUT-61-T31-T28.

Most matches played:

55   Phil Mickelson, U.S. (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)

40 Ernie Els, International (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)

40 Vijay Singh, International (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009)

40 Tiger Woods, U.S. (1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)

39   Adam Scott, International (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)

Most matches won:

26   Phil Mickelson, U.S. (26-16-13)

24 Tiger Woods, U.S. (24-15-1)

20 Ernie Els, International (20-18-2)

20    Jim Furyk, U.S. (20-10-3)

16 Davis Love III, U.S. (16-8-4)

16  Vijay Singh, International (16-15-9)

Players to go undefeated at the Presidents (no halves)

1994 – Fred Couples	3-0-0
1996 – David Duval	4-0-0
1996 – Mark O’Meara	5-0-0
1998 – Shigeki Maruyama	5-0-0
2000 – Stewart Cink	4-0-0
2000 – Davis Love III	4-0-0
2007 – Scott Verplank	4-0-0
2009 – Tiger Woods	5-0-0
2011 – Jim Furyk	5-0-0
2015 – Branden Grace	5-0-0

Players To Go Undefeated (with halves)

1994 –	Davis Love III
1998 –	Steve Elkington
2000 –	Kirk Triplett
2005 –	Retief Goosen
2005 –	Chris DiMarco
2005 –	Jim Furyk
2005 –	Phil Mickelson
2007 –	David Toms

U.S. Team compared to International Team: 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season

	U.S.	International
Starts	251	278
Wins	12	2
Top-5 finishes	50	27
Top-10 finishes	77	57

U.S. Team compared to International Team: 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season

	U.S.	International
Starts	24	56
Wins	2	1
Top-5 finishes	8	12
Top-10 finishes	13	15

U.S. Team compared to International Team: Performance in 2019 major championships

	U.S.	International
Playing in all four	11	6
Made cut in all four	6	2
Top-3 finishes	8	0
Wins	2	0

Seventeen of the 24 players competing at the Presidents Cup played the TOUR Championship:

U.S. Team (11) Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler ,Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed, Xander Schauffele ,Webb Simpson, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland

International Team (6): Abraham Ancer Sungjae Im Marc Leishman, Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Scott, Joaquin Niemann

U.S. Team Bios

Patrick Cantlay

• Age: 27
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 21 events, nine top-10 finishes, including a win at the 2019 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events, including a runner-up in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (lost in a playoff to Kevin Na)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Qualified for his third consecutive TOUR Championship at the conclusion of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season where he entered the week at No. 3 in the FedExCup standings before finishing 21st.
• Played two events in the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season with a runner-up at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open. Currently sits at No. 25 in the FedExCup standings
• First time representing the United States in a team event as a professional.
• As an amateur played on the victorious United States team at the 2011 Palmer Cup, posting a 1-2-1 record. Also played on the United States team at the 2011 Walker Cup with a 2-1-1 record in a losing effort.
• Since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans became a two-man team event in 2017, Cantlay has paired with Patrick Reed to form a team for each of the last three — T14 (2017), T7 (2018), MC (2019)
• Finished No. 4 in the U.S. Team standings and makes his Presidents Cup debut

Bryson DeChambeau

• Age: 26
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 21 events, five top-10 finishes, including his fifth career PGA TOUR title at the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Three events, one top-10 finish (T4, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Qualified for his second consecutive TOUR Championship and finished 12th in the final FedExCup standings after winning his first start of the 2018-19 season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
• Earned just three additional top-10 finishes in 20 events following his win in Las Vegas, including a T8 at the Travelers Championship and T2 at the 3M Open in back-to-back starts
• Closed with a final-round 63 to finish T4 in his title defense at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
• Making his Presidents Cup debut after competing in the 2018 Ryder Cup and finished eighth in the final U.S. Team standings

Tony Finau – Captain’s Selection

• Age: 30
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 25 events, six top-10 finishes, including runner-up finishes at the WGC- HSBC Champions, Charles Schwab Challenge, and a third-place finish at The Open Championship
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Four events, one top-10 finish (T9, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Qualified for his third consecutive TOUR Championship without a victory and finished seventh in the FedExCup standings, his second consecutive top-10 mark in the FedExCup. Recorded six top-10s, with five coming in major championships, World Golf Championships and the FedExCup Playoffs.
• Finished T5 at the Masters where he joined Captain Tiger Woods in the final grouping and finished T3 at The Open Championship.
• Began his 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where his T9 finish was highlighted by a third-round 62 at TPC Summerlin.
• Making his Presidents Cup debut after representing the United States for the first time in the 2018 Ryder Cup where he earned a 2-1-0 record. Finau finished ninth in the final U.S. Team standings and was
• selected as a captain’s pick.

Rickie Fowler – Replaced Brooks Koepka

• Age: 30
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 20 events, 6 top-10 finishes, including his fifth career PGA TOUR win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2015, 2017 (4-3-1)
• Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, advancing to the TOUR Championship for the sixth time and finishing the season tied for 19th in the FedExCup standings. Earned six top-10s and made the cut in 18 of 20 starts
• Has not competed on the PGA TOUR since the TOUR Championship.
• Australian experience: lost on the third hole of a playoff to fellow American Mark Anderson at the 2009 Australian Master of the Amateurs; finished T2 with partner Jimmy Walker at the 2016 World Cup at Kingston Heath Golf Club
• Finishing No. 11 in the final U.S. Team standings, was originally left off the team before replacing injured Brooks Koepka.
• Makes his third Presidents Cup appearance after notching a 3-0-1 record in 2017.

Dustin Johnson

• Age: 35
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 19 events, 7 top-10 finishes, including 20th PGA TOUR win at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship.
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2011, 2015, 2017 (8-4-2)
• Opened the 2018-19 season earning his 20th career PGA TOUR title at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, winning on TOUR for the 12th consecutive season to begin his career.
• Became the fourth player to win in each of his first 12 seasons on the PGA TOUR, joining Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Finished runner-up in two major championships in 2019.
• Qualified for the TOUR Championship for the 11th straight season (DNP in 2013), finishing tied for 29th in the FedExCup standings.
• Posted four PGA TOUR victories since the 2017 Presidents Cup: 2018 Sentry Tournament of Champions, 2018 FedEx St. Jude Classic, 2018 RBC Canadian Open, 2019 WGC-Mexico Championship.
• Made his Presidents Cup debut in Melbourne in 2011 where he was paired with Tiger Woods three times and finished with a 1-3-1 record.
• Finishing No. 3 in the final U.S. Team standings, makes his fourth Presidents Cup appearance after notching a 4-0-1 record in 2017.

Matt Kuchar

• Age: 41
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 22 events, eight top-10 finishes, including wins at the 2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic and 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii to bring his total PGA TOUR victories to nine
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events; best finish: T14, Mayakoba Golf Classic
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 (6-8-2)
• Advanced to the TOUR Championship for the ninth time after missing out in 2018 and finished the season tied for 16th in the FedExCup standings.
• Became one of nine players to qualify for the Playoffs in each of the first 13 seasons of the FedExCup era and was one of four players to win multiple events on the season (Mayakoba Golf Classic, Sony Open in Hawaii).
• Added runner-up finishes at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play (lost Championship Match to Kevin Kisner) and RBC Heritage
• Led the FedExCup standings for 17 weeks, including a stretch of 16 consecutive weeks (both best on TOUR). Ended the Regular Season inside the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 (No. 3).
• Kuchar is making his fifth consecutive Presidents Cup appearance. Kuchar missed his first U.S. Team event since the 2009 Presidents Cup after failing to qualify for the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Patrick Reed – Captain’s Selection

• Age: 29
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 25 events, five top-10 finishes, including his seventh PGA TOUR title at THE NORTHERN TRUST
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events, one top-10 finish (T8, WGC-HSBC Champions)
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2015, 2017 (4-3-2)
• Clinched his sixth consecutive appearance in the TOUR Championship after his win at THE NORTHERN TRUST; finished tied for ninth in the FedExCup standings.
• Reed’s win at Liberty National Golf Club, site of the 2017 Presidents Cup, was his first since the 2018 Masters.
• A T5 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic represented his only other top-5 finish of the 2018-19 season.
• Reed added a T8 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in his second start of the 2019-20 season.
• Following a 1-2-1 performance in his debut in 2015, Reed rebounded in 2017 and teamed with Jordan Spieth to earn 3.5 points before falling to Louis Oosthuizen, 1-up, in Singles.
• Selected as a captain’s pick after finishing 12th in the U.S. Team standings.

Xander Schauffele

• Age: 26
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 21 events, six top-10s including two victories – 2018 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions. Finished the season at a career-best No. 2 in the FedExCup.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events, two top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions (lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Advanced to the TOUR Championship for the third time in his third season as a member.
• Won multiple events in a season for the second time in his career, having also won twice during his rookie season (2016-17).
• Became one of four players to finish in the top 15 of the FedExCup standings in each season from 2016-17 to 2018-19, joining Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Thomas. Led the FedExCup standings for a total of 12 weeks and finished the Regular Season inside the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 (No. 4).
• Finished one shot back of U.S. Team Captain Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters Tournament for a T2 finish
• Played two events in the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season with two top-10s: T10 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and runner-up at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
• Currently sits at No. 21 in the FedExCup standings.
• First time representing the United States as a professional or amateur in team competition.
• Finished third in the 2017 FedExCup standings and posted two TOUR victories in 2017 but wasn’t chosen as a captain’s pick for the 2017 Presidents Cup by U.S. Team Captain Steve Stricker.
• Finished No. 5 in the 2019 U.S. Team standings to qualify for his Presidents Cup debut

Webb Simpson

• Age: 34
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 21 events, six top-10 finishes, including three runner-up finishes (RBC Canadian Open, World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Wyndham Championship). Was one of only two players to collect three or more runner-up finishes on the season, joining Brooks Koepka.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events, two top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish at The RSM Classic (lost in a playoff to Tyler Duncan)
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2011, 2013 (5-3-2)
• Advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, earning his seventh trip to the TOUR Championship and finishing the season in a tie for 16th in the FedExCup standings.
• Ended the Regular Season inside the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 (No. 9). Led the TOUR in Third- Round Scoring Average (68.32). Earned six top-10s and missed just one cut in 21 starts.
• Posted two PGA TOUR victories since 2013 Presidents Cup: 2013 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, 2018 THE PLAYERS Championship
• Played in 2011 at Royal Melbourne where he and Bubba Watson were the first team out in each of the first three rounds, collecting three points for the team. Finished the event with a 3-2-0 record
• Finishing No. 6 in the final U.S. Team standings, makes his third Presidents Cup appearance after notching a 2-1-2 record in 2013

Justin Thomas

• Age: 26
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 20 events, 7 top-10 finishes, including win at the 2019 BMW Championship.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Three events, two top-5s, including his second victory in three years and 11th PGA TOUR title at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in South Korea. Became the fifth player to win 11 times before turning 27, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Currently sits at No. 5 in the FedExCup standings.
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2017 (3-1-1)
• Posted five PGA TOUR victories since 2017 Presidents Cup: 2017 THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, 2018 The Honda Classic, 2018 World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, 2019 BMW Championship, 2019 THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES.
• 2017 FedExCup champion was in good position to earn a second FedExCup title in 2019, taking the No. 1 spot (and a two-stroke advantage in the new format) into the season-finale TOUR Championship, eventually finishing the season No. 3 in the FedExCup.
• His lone victory at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, was the highlight of a season that included six top-five finishes.
• Finishing No. 2 in the final U.S. Team standings behind Brooks Koepka, makes his second Presidents Cup appearance after notching a 3-1-1 record in 2017

Gary Woodland

• Age: 35
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 24 events, eight top-10 finishes, including win at the 2019 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Three events, two-top 5 finishes, including a T3 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES and a T5 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Opened the 2018-19 season with back-to-back finishes in the top-five with a T5 finish at the CIMB Classic and finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES.
• Won his first major championship and fourth PGA TOUR title at the U.S. Open and advanced to the TOUR Championship for the fourth consecutive season (seventh overall), finishing the season No. 15 in the FedExCup standings.
• Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the eighth time in his 11th season on TOUR.
• Recorded eight top-10s, collecting more than six in a single season for the first time in his career, and made 21 cuts in 24 starts.
• Finishing No. 10 in the final U.S. Team standings, makes his Presidents Cup debut as a captain’s selection.

Tiger Woods

• Age: 43
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 12 events, three top-10 finishes, including his win at the 2019 Masters Tournament
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Won his only start at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP for his 82nd PGA TOUR title
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 (24-15-1)
• Ended the 2017-18 season with his first victory since 2013 by winning the TOUR Championship and earned his first top-5 finish of the 2018-19 season with a T5 at the WGC-Dell Tech Match Play.
• Earned his 81st PGA TOUR victory and 15th major championship title at the Masters Tournament and qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the eighth time.
• Finished the season No. 42 in the FedExCup standings.
• Collected four top-10s and made nine cuts in 12 starts.
• Won his 82nd PGA TOUR title in just his second start in the 2019-2020 season at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, tying Sam Snead for the most wins in PGA TOUR history.
• Improved to 44-for-46 (95.6%) in his career with the outright 54-hole lead and 25-for-25 when leading by three shots or more after 54 holes.
• By selecting himself as a captain’s pick, the U.S. Team Captain becomes the Presidents Cup’s second- ever playing captain in the event’s history. Hale Irwin was the first in 1994 and recorded a 2-1-0 record.
• Ranks second in most matches won (24-15-1) behind Phil Mickelson (26-16-13).
• After Mickelson surpassed Woods and set the new record for matches won in Presidents Cup history following a three- win performance in 2017, Woods can regain the record this week at Royal Melbourne.
• Tied for second in most matches played with Ernie Els and Vijay Singh with 40. Phil Mickelson ranks No. 1 with 55.
• Posted three PGA TOUR victories since his last Presidents Cup appearance in 2017: 2018 TOUR Championship, 2019 Masters Tournament, 2020 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.

International Team Bios

Byeong Hun An, Korea – Replaced Jason Day

• Age: 28
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 22 starts, three top-10s and eight top-25 finishes, including a third-place result at the Wyndham Championship in August. He finished 53rd on the FedExCup points list.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Seven events, three top-10 finishes, including a solo third at the Sanderson Farms Championship
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Finished 15th on the International Team standings to miss out on automatic selection for the Presidents Cup but was selected as a replacement for Jason Day, who withdrew from the team due to a back injury. An will be making his debut in the Presidents Cup.
• Won the 2009 U.S. Amateur at 17 years old and is the youngest player to win the title.
• Holds one victory on the European Tour following his triumph in the 2015 BMW PGA Championship and earned his PGA TOUR card in 2016 through the non-member category thanks largely to a runner- up finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
• Represented Asia in the 2018 EurAsia Cup (Asia vs Europe), losing three matches for a 0-3-0 record.

Abraham Ancer, Mexico

• Age: 28
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 27 events, four top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first of three FedExCup Playoffs events, to clinch his spot on the International Team for the Presidents Cup. Finished the season at No. 21 in the FedExCup.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Six events, with a T4 at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and a T8 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in his native Mexico in his two most recent starts
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Finished No. 5 in the International Team standings and makes his Presidents Cup debut, becoming the first player from Mexico to compete in the Presidents Cup
• Lost his PGA TOUR card as a rookie in 2016 but regained status for 2018 via the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour
• Well-known and popular in Australia after posting a five-stroke victory at the 2018 Emirates Australian Open in Sydney before representing Mexico (with Roberto Diaz) en route to a T2 finish at the 2018 ISPS HANDA World Cup at The Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne

Adam Hadwin, Canada, Captain’s Selection

• Age: 32
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 24 events, 5 top-10 finishes, including a T2 at The American Express
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Five events, two top-5 finishes, including a solo second at the Safeway Open
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2017 (0-2-1)
• Making his second consecutive Presidents Cup appearance after finishing with a 0-2-1 record in his debut in 2017 at Liberty National. Selected with one of Ernie Els’s four captain’s picks after finishing No. 18 in the International Team standings
• Notched five top-10 finishes during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season and made 19 cuts in 24 starts. Highlighted by a runner-up at The American Express, the 32-year-old ended his season No. 52 in the 2019 FedExCup standings, qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fifth time in as many seasons on TOUR.
• Continued his success into the early stages of the 2019-20 season, finishing solo-second at the 2019 Safeway Open, followed by a T4 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
• Saskatchewan native is one of three Canadians to compete in the Presidents Cup, joining 2019 International Team captain’s assistant Mike Weir (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and Graham DeLaet (2013)

Sungjae Im, South Korea, Captain’s Selection

• Age: 21
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 35 events, 7 top-10 finishes
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Six events, two top-5 finishes, including a runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship and a T3 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Chosen as a captain’s pick by Ernie Els after finishing 11th in the International Team standings and will make his Presidents Cup debut. With 16 top-25 finishes in 35 starts during the 2018-19 season, Im was the only rookie to advance to the TOUR Championship, finishing No. 19 in the FedExCup standings. His performance earned him the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, one year after winning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year.
• Continued his success into the early stages of the 2019-20 season with two top-10 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
• Im and Byeong Hun An join an impressive list of South Koreans to have competed in the Presidents Cup, including Y.E. Yang (2009, 2011), K.T. Kim (2011), Sangmoon Bae (2015), Si Woo Kim (2017) and 2019 International Team captain’s assistant K.J. Choi (2003, 2007, 2011).
• At 21 years old, Im is one of five players in Presidents Cup history to compete before turning 22, joining Ryo Ishikawa (2009, 2011), Jordan Spieth (2013), Hideki Matsuyama (2013) and Presidents Cup teammate Joaquin Niemann (2019).

Marc Leishman, Australia

• Age: 36
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 21 events, 7 top-10 finishes, including a win at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia for his fourth career victory. Secured top-5 finishes at Sentry Tournament of Champions, Sony Open in Hawaii, Genesis Open, the Memorial Tournament and WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational. Qualified for his third consecutive TOUR Championship and finished 24th on the FedExCup final points list.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Four events, including a solo third at the Safeway Open
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2013, 2015, 2017 (3-7-3)
• Qualified for the TOUR Championship for the third consecutive season (fourth total), finishing in a tie for 24th in the FedExCup standings. Marked 11th consecutive appearance in the FedExCup Playoffs.
• Qualified as the top-ranked International Team member and will be making his fourth appearance in the Presidents Cup.
• Partnered with Cameron Smith and helped Australia finish T2 in the 2018 ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf, highlighted by a final-round 65 in the Foursomes.
• Was winless in the 2017 Presidents Cup, going 0-3-2 in his five matches.

Haotong Li, China

• Age: 24
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 12 events, one top-10 finish (T9, WGC-Dell Match Play)
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: One event (T24, WGC-HSBC Champions)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Li is the first golfer from China to qualify and play in the Presidents Cup. He secured three top-20s in the WGCs in 2019, including a T9 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play where he beat Brooks Koepka and Alex Noren in the group stage. Also finished runner-up to Dustin Johnson in the Saudi International and was fourth in the Volvo China Open, both European Tour tournaments
• Holds two wins on the European Tour, including a victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2018 where he defeated Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head duel in the final round and won with a 10-foot birdie on the 72nd hole
• Finished a career best third in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2017, closing with a 63 while playing in the company of Team Captain Ernie Els
• Represented Asia in the EurAsia Cup (Asia vs Europe) in 2018 and notched a 2-0-1 record

Hideki Matsuyama, Japan

• Age: 27
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 24 events, seven top-10 finishes, with T3 at 2019 Farmers Insurance Open and third at 2019 BMW Championship his best results. Made 22 cuts in 24 starts en route to No. 9 finish in FedExCup, reaching the season-finale TOUR Championship for the sixth consecutive time.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Six events, two top-5 finishes, including a runner-up to Tiger Woods at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2013, 2015, 2017 (4-6-3)
• Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs and advanced to the TOUR Championship for the sixth time in his sixth season as a member, finishing tied for ninth in the FedExCup standings. Was one of three players to qualify for the TOUR Championship in each season from 2013-14 to 2018-19, joining Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed
• Has made 50 PGA TOUR starts since 2017 Presidents Cup without posting a victory
• Made every cut in the 25 PGA TOUR events he played between missed cuts at The Open Championship in both 2018 and 2019
• Finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in the PGA TOUR’s first event in Japan at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
• Finished No. 2 in the final International Team standings and makes his fourth Presidents Cup appearance

Joaquin Niemann, Chile, Captain’s Selection

• Age: 21
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 28 events, four top-10 finishes
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Six events, including his first PGA TOUR win at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Named to his first Presidents Cup by Ernie Els on his 21st birthday (Nov. 7) and became Chile’s first International Team representative.
• Two months prior to the selection, the former No. 1-ranked amateur became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA TOUR with a six-stroke victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.
• At 21 years, 1 month, 8 days, Niemann is the third youngest player to compete in Presidents Cup history, trailing only behind Ryo Ishikawa (2009/18 years, 24 days; 2011/20 years, 2 months, 3 days) and Jordan Spieth (2013/20 years, 2 months, 9 days).
• Els will lead the youngest International Team in Presidents Cup history, with the average age of his 12 players totaling just under 29 years old.
• After earning his PGA TOUR card at 19 years old, notched four top-10 finishes in the 2018-19 season, including back-to-back T5 finishes at the Travelers Championship and the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
• Continued his first season as a full-time TOUR member by advancing to the BMW Championship, ending the year No. 67 in the FedExCup standings.
• Sixth player from South America to compete in the Presidents Cup, joining Carlos Franco (Paraguay/1998, 2000), Angel Cabrera (Argentina/2005, 2007, 2009, 2013), Camilo Villegas (Colombia/2009), Emiliano Grillo (Argentina/2017) and Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela/2017).

Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa

• Age: 37
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 19 events, five top-10 finishes, including a T2 at the Valspar Championship. Advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for the sixth consecutive time (seventh total), finishing the season at No. 21.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Two events, one top-5 finish (T3, ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP)
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2013, 2015, 2017 (7-5-3)
• Has posted nine top-10 finishes in 38 PGA TOUR starts since the 2017 Presidents Cup
• Most recent victory worldwide came when he earned his ninth European Tour title at the 2018 South African Open Hosted by the City of Johannesburg. Started the final round with a three-shot lead and cruised to a six-shot victory with a closing 4-under 67
• Finished No. 3 in the final International Team standings and makes his fourth Presidents Cup appearance. With seven matches won in the Presidents Cup, owns the second-most of any current International Team member (Adam Scott/14)
• One of four players who went undefeated at the 2015 Presidents Cup, winning his first four matches with fellow South African Branden Grace before halving his singles match with Patrick Reed
• Only player from South Africa on the International Team in 2019. Every Presidents Cup International Team has had more than one player from South Africa on the team, except one – in 1998, when Ernie Els was on the winning team at Royal Melbourne

C.T. Pan, Chinese Taipei

• Age: 28
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 25 events, two top-10s, six top-25s, including a maiden victory at the RBC Heritage where he came from two shots back in the final round. Finished T3 at Charles Schwab Challenge.
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Five events; best finish: T11, Mayakoba Golf Classic
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Earned his first career PGA TOUR title at the RBC Heritage en route to his third consecutive berth in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing the season No. 37 in the FedExCup standings.
• Following his breakout year, Pan became the first player from Chinese Taipei to qualify for the International Team and play in the Presidents Cup.
• Pan is a former World No.1 amateur golfer and finished T5 in the 2014 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

Adam Scott, Australia

• Age: 39
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 18 events, nine top-10 finishes, including runner-up results at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Memorial Tournament. Finished the season at No. 6 in the FedExCup after notching top-10 results in each of the three FedExCup Playoffs events (5th/THE NORTHERN TRUST, T9/BMW Championship, 6th/TOUR Championship).
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Four events; best finish: T11, WGC-HSBC Champions
• Presidents Cup appearances (record): 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 (14-20-5)
• The International Team’s veteran leader finished No. 4 in the standings and returns for his ninth Presidents Cup as one of three Australians on the team. Surpasses Ernie Els and Vijay Singh as the International Team member with the most appearances.
• Oldest player on the International Team has yet to be on a winning Presidents Cup team. His Presidents Cup debut in 2003 resulted in a dramatic tie in South Africa.
• With 39, ranks fifth on the list of players with most matches played in the Presidents Cup behind Phil Mickelson (55), Ernie Els (40), Vijay Singh (40) and Tiger Woods (40).
• One of just nine players to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs in each of the first 13 seasons of the FedExCup era.
• Became the first Australian to surpass $50 million in career earnings on the PGA TOUR with his runner-up finish at the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open.

Cameron Smith, Australia

• Age: 26
• 2018-19 PGA TOUR record: 23 events, three top-10 finishes
• 2019-20 PGA TOUR record: Five events, one top-5 finish (T3, THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES)
• Presidents Cup appearances: First appearance
• Making his Presidents Cup debut in his home country of Australia, joining fellow countrymen Adam Scott and Marc Leishman. Brisbane native earned three top-10s and made 17 cuts in 23 starts in the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season, advancing to the FedExCup Playoffs for the third time in his fourth season on TOUR.
• Smith’s lone PGA TOUR victory came at the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he partnered with Jonas Blixt for the team event. The pair played bogey-free golf through 72 holes, eventually winning with a birdie on the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death playoff against Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown.
• Continued to prove his edge in team play with a runner-up showing at the 2018 ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf with partner Marc Leishman. The Australian duo carded a 10-under 62 in the opening Four-Ball session to share the 18-hole lead en route to a T2 finish.
• Finishing No. 8 in the final International Team standings, Smith will compete as one of seven rookies on the team.

The President’s Cup Preview is via PGA TOUR