THE TWO CAPTAINS

All you need to know about the two men leading the Internationals and the United States at Royal Melbourne

ERNIE ELS

Universally known as the “Big Easy”. It is all encompassing as it describes so many things about him: he’s tall; his manner is low-key and easy going; and his golf swing is effortless yet powerful.

Four majors – US Open in 1994 and 97, The Open 2002 and 2012 – as well as 71 professional victories worldwide. Was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. Was ranked in the world’s top-10 players for 788 weeks.

Played in eight Presidents Cup campaigns and was on the winning International side at Royal Melbourne in 1998. His last appearance was in 2013 and he finished with a 20-18-2 (win/loss/half) career record. He holds the International team record for most Presidents Cup matches won, and lost.

Els has a wealth of Royal Melbourne rounds under his belt. He famously shot a 12-under 60 on the Composite Course in the first round of the 2004 Heineken Classic. He went on to win the tournament for the third time in as many years.

“People are not giving us much of a chance. The whole of the US Team is in the top 20. We have one player in the top 20, and that’s just the way it is. But you know, somebody is going to win 15 1/2 points, and at the end of the day, that’s our aim is to try and get 15 1/2 points somehow off of this unbelievably talented team, and that’s that.”

“Ernie’s put in a lot of work behind the scenes to change the script for the International team and hopefully change the outcome. Hopefully this is the start of a new kind of feeling. The younger guys that are coming through need to see our team win and how much we can all care about this.” – Adam Scott.

There are few, if any, players from Els’ generation that are as universally liked and respected. If there is anyone who can inspire each player to step up for their teammates it’s Els.

Is relying heavily on data analysis from the past season to mix and match his foursomes and fourballs combinations. This dependence on numbers could be tested in the heat of competition.

Els would become only the second winning International Captain behind Peter Thomson. A win would ultimately save the Presidents Cup from American dominance and spark interest in the event. No pressure Ernie.

TIGER WOODS

Tiger is actually Woods’ nickname. His actual name is Eldrick Tont Woods. His father, Earl, served in the US Army during the Vietnam War, where one of his friends was a South Vietnamese soldier, Col. Vuong Dang Phong, whose nickname was “Tiger.” He is also often referred to as ‘The Big Cat” on social media.

His Masters victory in April took his major wins to 15, while his Zozo Championship win in October equalled Sam Snead with 82 PGA Tour titles and 109 worldwide. Woods has also won 18 World Golf Championships and earlier this year was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Played in eight Presidents Cup campaigns and made his debut at Royal Melbourne in 1998. Injuries ruled him out of the last two Cup matches so his last appearance was in 2013. His career record so far is 24-15-1 (win/loss/half). Woods holds the all-time record for most Presidents Cup matches won.

Els has Tiger covered for Royal Melbourne experience. Woods’ competition rounds on the course have been limited to 10 Presidents Cup matches across 1998 and 2011. Royal has not been such a happy hunting ground for Woods who has four wins and six losses around the layout.

“I think what Ernie is trying to do is trying to win a Cup. We’re going to be doing the same thing, and whether Ernie is doing it through analytics or whatever he needs to do. We’re trying to put our players in the best possible position to win, whatever that may be.”

“If you had have told me as a kid that I could play on a Presidents Cup team with Tiger Woods as a captain, I would probably have fainted or something like that. So it’s kind of surreal and I sometimes have to step back and realise what’s happening, but I know that he’s taking it very, very seriously.” – Justin Thomas.

Els might be able to inspire his team, but Woods could get his players to walk across broken glass. Every member of his squad has grown up watching Tiger with several starting the game because of Woods.

At the time of writing, Woods had yet to make his Captain’s picks and was likely to select himself. If he did, he would clearly be distracted playing on course while keeping track of other matches. That said, if there is a player that can do that, Tiger can.

Another win for the Americans would offer some redemption for losing the Ryder Cup against the Europeans in France last year. Losing, though, is not an option for Woods and his men.