ORLANDO, Fla. – There was clearly a forward spin to the press conference Tuesday that brought Tiger Woods and Ernie Els together at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the icons having agreed to be captains for the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia. It will be the 13th edition of the biennial team golf competition, the sixth time on foreign soil, and the third trip to vaunted Royal Melbourne. But as you absorbed the presence of Woods and Els with a Presidents Cup backdrop, one couldn’t help but think back to that unforgettable day nearly 15 years ago at Fancourt in South Africa when the incomparable Jack Nicklaus offered an exclamation point of a quote: “Everybody’s comfortable that this is the most unbelievable event the game has ever seen.� Older and wiser, Woods and Els smiled when PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan invoked memories of that 2003 Presidents Cup. It ended in a 17-17 tie, even after the teams tried to settle it with an epic three-hole playoff between Woods and Els. “I still wonder how they got through it,� said the commissioner. “One of the greatest moments this sport has ever seen.� The introduction of the 2019 Presidents Cup captains brought levity and mutual respect – Woods and Els have been arguably two of the best players in the world since 1996 – but perhaps the most intriguing aspect was the admission by Woods that this captaincy was his idea, broached to Monahan in October. “Jay said, ‘Yeah, we might be able to work it out,’ � said Woods. Clearly, they worked it out, along with two other agreements: That each team will have four captain’s picks and that players will only be required to play in one match before singles. As for the possibility that there could be a playing captain, something that hasn’t happened in the Presidents Cup since the inaugural in 1994, there were emphatic reactions. “Yes, I have,� said Woods, with a smile, when asked if he has thought about it. But Els, 48 and surely in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, indicated that he was focused more on leading the International Team, which is 1-10-1 and has lost seven in a row. Whether Woods’ career continues at its rapid improvement and affords him an opportunity to even consider being player-captain, Monahan cited the leadership of both these icons as having “a huge impact� on the competition in Australia. “These men will take the game deeper and wider than it’s ever been.� To many who were there at Fancourt in 2003, Woods and Els took competitive golf to rarified air. Tied after 35 matches, what followed was a half-hour of twilight golf where the American said he felt “the most pressure ever� and the South African conceded his “legs were shaking.� They tied all three holes, producing pulsating theater and must-make putts that demanded every ounce of the skills that had them Nos. 1 (Woods) and 3 (Els) in the world. The icons halved the 18th, a par 5. What followed was a sequence of riveting pressure golf. At the par-4 first, Els slipped home a 10-foot putt, but Woods tossed in a 3-footer on top of him. At No. 2, a beefy par 3 of 234 yards, Woods somehow coaxed in a 12-footer and Els, knocking knees and all, equaled it from 5 feet. As they sat together to make the 2019 announcement, Woods and Els smiled at the ’03 memory. Woods recalled seeing a sea of red shirts – American players, family and friends – “this entire team right in my line . . . so I know if I miss, we lose.� While Els still shakes his head. “I thought I had him beat for once. He had a left-to-right putt, 4 feet of break – and in darkness.� Woods being Woods, he made it and when the three holes left the teams tied, like cornermen for two big heavyweights, Nicklaus, the U.S. captain, and Gary Player, the International Team captain, agreed that enough was enough. Darkness and good sense prevailed. The Presidents Cup would be shared. Those who were there raised a toast to the mutual decision. Wrote John Garrity in Sports Illustrated: “Stop thinking, stop arguing and stop wondering. What Nicklaus and Player did at Fancourt was no different from what Michelangelo did when he stopped nibbling at his statue of David: They preserved a perfect outcome.� To this day, Woods and Els would agree with that sentiment. For all their individual success – 79 PGA TOUR wins for Woods, 66 world-wide triumphs for Els – this team play business ignites a passion which they promise to bring to Royal Melbourne.
Ernie Els, Tiger Woods announced as 2019 Presidents Cup Captains
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2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Garnett / T. Hoge / D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
Daniel Berger | +175 |
Brice Garnett | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Wallace / K. Kisner / C. Champ | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | +110 |
Cameron Champ | +140 |
Kevin Kisner | +400 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Mitchell vs T. Hoge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Champ v D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | -140 |
Cameron Champ | +115 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Villegas / T. Kim / M. Hughes | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Kim | -105 |
Mackenzie Hughes | +140 |
Camilo Villegas | +500 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – V. Norrman / S. Cink / M. Kuchar | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Kuchar | +150 |
Vincent Norrman | +165 |
Stewart Cink | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Spieth v T. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -140 |
Tom Kim | +115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Day v M. Greyserman | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -190 |
Max Greyserman | +155 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Day / J. Spieth / S. Noh | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | +110 |
Jason Day | +135 |
SY Noh | +425 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Echavarria / C. Reavie / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -105 |
Nico Echavarria | +200 |
Chez Reavie | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Hubbard / M. NeSmith / D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | +145 |
Mark Hubbard | +165 |
Matt NeSmith | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Lashley / A. Baddeley / M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | +135 |
Matti Schmid | +160 |
Aaron Baddeley | +250 |
2nd Round Match-Up – N. Lashley vs M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -120 |
Matti Schmid | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. McNealy vs D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -120 |
Doug Ghim | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Streelman / B. Wu / R. Shelton | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Wu | +160 |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Kevin Streelman | +210 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Hahn / Z. Blair / T. Montgomery | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery | +150 |
Zac Blair | +175 |
James Hahn | +200 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. McNealy / J. Bramlett / B. Kohles | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | +135 |
Joseph Bramlett | +175 |
Ben Kohles | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Martin / C. Hadley / C. Tarren | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chesson Hadley | +150 |
Ben Martin | +165 |
Callum Tarren | +215 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. MacIntyre / T. Crowe / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +130 |
Patrick Fishburn | +190 |
Trace Crowe | +220 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – Z. Dou / C. Gotterup / R. Pereda | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | +110 |
Zecheng Dou | +175 |
Raul Pereda | +300 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Gotterup v M. Greyserman | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | -125 |
Chris Gotterup | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Bridgeman / B. Hale / M. McGreevy | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | +105 |
Max McGreevy | +145 |
Blaine Hale Jr | +400 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Stanger / M. Meissner / R. McCormick | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jimmy Stanger | +150 |
Mac Meissner | +160 |
Ryan McCormick | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – T. Olesen / W. Furr / P. Kuest | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +140 |
Peter Kuest | +160 |
Wilson Furr | +240 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Smotherman / S. Valimaki / B. Hopfinger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sami Valimaki | +145 |
Austin Smotherman | +160 |
Brad Hopfinger | +225 |
Volvo China Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -120 |
Paul Waring | +600 |
Guido Migliozzi | +1000 |
Adrian Otaegui | +1200 |
Joel Girrbach | +1800 |
Zander Lombard | +1800 |
Frederic Lacroix | +3500 |
Jesper Svensson | +5000 |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat | +6000 |
Jordan Smith | +6500 |
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2nd Round 3 Balls – L. Herbert / L. Oosthuizen / E. Lopez-Chacarra | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Louis Oosthuizen | +110 |
Lucas Herbert | +160 |
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Johnson / M. Leishman / A. Meronk | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dustin Johnson | +160 |
Adrian Meronk | +175 |
Marc Leishman | +190 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – G. McDowell / B. Steele / T. Gooch | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Talor Gooch | +100 |
Brendan Steele | +180 |
Graeme McDowell | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – S. Munoz / T. Pieters / B. Koepka | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | +110 |
Sebastian Munoz | +210 |
Thomas Pieters | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – K. Na / D. Burmester / J. Niemann | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joaquin Niemann | +110 |
Dean Burmester | +160 |
Kevin Na | +325 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Tringale / A. Ancer / M. Kaymer | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Abraham Ancer | +110 |
Cameron Tringale | +170 |
Martin Kaymer | +300 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – K. Aphibarnrat v F. Schott | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat | -165 |
Freddy Schott | +125 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Norgaard v M. Schwab | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Niklas Norgaard | -135 |
Matthias Schwab | +105 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Z. Lombard v L. Jefferson Go | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Zander Lombard | -210 |
Lloyd Jefferson Go | +160 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Otaegui v G. Brixi | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adrian Otaegui | -340 |
Gordon Brixi | +240 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Migliozzi v J. Girrbach | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joel Girrbach | -120 |
Guido Migliozzi | -110 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – S. Soderberg v P. Waring | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -165 |
Paul Waring | +125 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy – RBC Canadian Open Winner | +1000 |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +3500 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +50000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |