Who wants Woods?

Ogilvy ponders Leishman, Smith as match-ups for Tiger

AUSTRALIAN stars Marc Leishman or Cameron Smith could be given the task of taking down Tiger Woods at the Presidents Cup with both “jumping out of their skin” for the December event.

International team assistant captain Geoff Ogilvy revealed every member of his youthfilled outfit had put their hand up to take on the 15-time major champion in Sunday matchplay at Royal Melbourne.

Australia’s last major champion, Jason Day, defeated Woods and Rory McIlroy in a skins game in Japan this month and Ogilvy said he would have “no problem” putting the Queenslander in a head-to-head duel.

But Ogilvy, who played on three Presidents Cup teams and knows Royal Melbourne inside out, said Smith and Leishman could be at the front of the queue. “Jason can clearly hang with Tiger and go down the stretch with him,” 2006 US Open champion Ogilvy said.

“But Cam and Leish, they have really stood up the last couple of years and they are so bought in to this. Cam is bouncing out of his skin. We have 12 great players, they all have a case.

“It depends in the situation of the match. It depends how the picks go too, we alternate, so Tiger could choose who he wants to play against. There’s no real control there.

“But you’d be pretty happy sending Jason out against Tiger.”

Day, the former world number one, missed the cut at this week’s Mayakoba Championship and after a winless 2019 needed a captain’s pick to make the Presidents Cup team.

But Ogilvy, who played on three Presidents Cup teams, said Day had and intimidation factor that could play a major role against a US team with six first-time players.,

“Jason in average form is better than a lot of guys in decent form,” Ogilvy said.

“He’s intimidating guy to stand against on the first tee, he’s won a major, he’s been number one in the world. For a young American to go up against Jason Day, they will be more nervous than Jason. Just on that alone, I think he’ll be OK.”