Woods holds talks over 2019 pre-Presidents Cup schedule

Tiger keen to be playing captain

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec 6, (AP): US captain Tiger Woods will have discussions with golf officials in Melbourne on how to best prepare his team for the 2019 Presidents Cup next December at Royal Melbourne.

Woods, in Melbourne for a promotional visit, said the talks later Thursday would focus on the options of the Americans playing his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, coming to Melbourne the week prior for practice with sand-belt techniques, or playing the Australian Open as the lead-up event at The Australian in Sydney.

“We have to figure out some logistical things between now and then and that’s the reason I’m here,” Woods said.

“We’ve got a few meetings here today to try to get a plan going forward so we can get the best that we frankly, we weren’t prepared to play and we got smoked,” he said.

“I would encourage them to stay competitive late in the year. That’s what we learned in ‘98, the guys weren’t competitive, they had shut it down. So, hopefully, they’ll play my event in the Bahamas. If not, they’ll stay competitive, stay sharp. Trying to get guys to stay sharp when it’s their break time is going to be the challenge.”

Woods said he will tailor his 2019 playing schedule in a bid to be playing captain in his ninth Presidents Cup. He shares the record of 24 wins with Phil Mickelson and had a 2-3 record in 1998 and again in 2011 at Royal Melbourne.

“I’m part of the team either way. After the (2019) Tour Championship, we’ll have the top eight guys and, hopefully, I’ll be part of the eight,” Woods said. “If not, myself and my vice-captains will figure out among the other players who are the best four players to serve this team.”

Only Hale Irwin has played the Presidents Cup as a captain when he performed dual roles for the US in the inaugural 1994 event.

“I got a little bit of experience (in dual team roles) as vice-captain this past year with the Ryder Cup,” Woods said. “Jim (Furyk) thought my role was better being focused on playing. I was part of conversations of who should be part of the team and now fast-forward to next year and I’ll be relying on my vice-captains to get a lot of their opinions and also my team, whether I can play and do both roles.”

Woods said he didn’t think Royal Melbourne had changed much in the seven years since he last visited Australia.

“It really hasn’t, it looks about the same,” Woods said. “It’s one of the most unique courses you can play; it’s so short, so fast and so tricky.”

US golfer and captain of the US Presidents Cup team Tiger Woods attends a press conference in Melbourne on Dec 6, one year ahead of the 2019

edition to be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. (AFP)

Vietnam midfielder Doan Van Hau (left), fights for the ball with Philippines midfielder Martin Steuble during the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018

semifinal football match between Vietnam and the Philippines at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Dec 6. (AFP)

HANOI, Dec 6, (AFP): Vietnam joined Malaysia in the final of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup after a 2-1 second leg victory over the Philippines in Hanoi on Thursday gave them a 4-2 aggregate win in their semifinal.

Two late goals from Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Cong Phuong were enough to send Vietnam, 2-1 ahead from the first leg on Sunday, to their first final of the Southeast Asian biennial tournament since winning the trophy in 2008.

Under former England coach SvenGoran Eriksson, the Philippines rarely looked like overturning the deficit from the first leg and fell at the semifinal stage for the fourth time in the last five editions.

In front of 40,000 fans in Hanoi, Vietnam made most of the running and had most of the chances but were unable to add to the two goals scored in the first leg until seven minutes from time.

After the two strikes in quick succession, James Younghusband pulled a goal back for the Philippines with a minute remaining.

Vietnam, led by South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, will be favourites to become regional champions for the second time although Malaysia pulled off a surprise result and eliminated defending champions Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The two teams met in the group stage in November with Vietnam defeating Malaysia 2-0 in Hanoi.

The first leg of the final will take place in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 11 with the return match scheduled for Hanoi four days later.