Big win sparks call for Cup cull

INTERNATIONALS captainto-be Ernie Els has called for sweeping changes to be made ahead of the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne after a “slaughtering” at the hands of a US dream team.

The Internationals arrived at Liberty National in New Jersey seeking just their second win but were hammered 19-11.

With US president Donald Trump watching, only a stoic effort by the Internationals to win the Sunday singles session 7.5-4.5 staved off a record defeat as the US clinched a seventh consecutive Cup.

“It was a bit of a slaughtering. But we’ve got to stand up, take our ass- whipping like men and walk out with our heads high,” said eight-time International Adam Scott.

Tipped to succeed Nick Price as Internationals captain, South African great Els called for an overhaul of “logistics, scheduling, selection process (and) course set-up” for the next instalment at Royal Melbourne in December 2019.

“The Presidents Cup is owned by the PGA Tour, but we have to be more in control,” Els said.

“There’s got to be a twoway street; we just want to be treated fairly.”

Els criticised the selection criteria for the Internationals, which is comprised of the top-10 players on the world rankings excluding those from Europe and Great Britain.

The US team is filled by the top 10 players on a rolling, twoyear tally of FedEx Cup points, before both teams select two captain’s picks.

This year, all 12 American players were ranked inside the top 30, compared to six for the visitors, and four of the Americans are within the top 10.

“Maybe we should have our own selection process; picking six guys and six guys qualifiers ... instead of being dictated by the Tour,” said Els.

Scott says playing an annual team event benefits the Americans, who also face off against Europe in the higherprofile Ryder Cup.

“Playing together every year; they are getting good at it. They have found a system and are winning,” Scott said.

“The (Internationals) are really going to have to invest more as a group collectively on the off-year. “This (defeat) is on the cards (again) unless we really get our acts together.”

Aussie world No.7 Jason Day says a star-studded American side will only get better.