AUGUSTA, GA. – Ernie Els is not in the least bit surprised to see eight of his former International Presidents Cup team in the hunt for a Green Jacket at the Masters. The legend knew he had a special bunch of men in Melbourne late last year. And he warns those already writing off those who he led down at Royal Melbourne in Australia, to do so at their potential peril. His men know how to fight. History shows his International team was rundown in singles by Tiger Woods and his U.S. side in one of the most exciting Presidents Cups on record, but not before the young International studs showed they can match it with their American counterparts. They had taken an unexpected 10-8 lead to Sunday before getting overcome 16-14. Unlike many Cups of the past, this team was punching hard the entire time. RELATED: Leaderboard | Nine things to know: Augusta National Golf Club “If you listen to the coverage not many people are giving these guys a chance but let me tell you they have shown their capabilities and have found some enormous confidence in themselves in recent times,” Els told PGATOUR.com. “Some of them were very green when we came to Melbourne but they were keen to learn and develop their game and that was on an Alistair McKenzie course at Royal Melbourne so it’s not surprising to see them contending now. They learned patience on his greens. “Hopefully they keep the doggedness for the weekend, which I am sure they will, as they have all got a chance to win the Green Jacket now and that would be great.” Six of his 12-man side sit inside the top 10, two of whom are part of a tie for the lead, with two others trending towards also being part of the weekend. The second round is not yet complete after earlier rain delays. But as it stands the International men are looking good. Australia’s Cameron Smith and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer pushed their way to the top of the leaderboard after playing a round and a half Friday. Smith’s 67-68 featured an incredible finish in his second round where he stiffed a 7-wood to a foot at the par-5 15th and made eagle before making birdie on each of the last three holes following. Ancer shot 68-67, rebounding from an opening bogey in his second round. They’re joined at the top by Americans Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas. Thomas should know Smith well. The Australian came back from three holes down to beat him in singles during the Presidents Cup. South Korean Sungjae Im finished off rounds of 66-70 to be just a shot off the lead. Joining him among others are Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama who had three holes left to play on his second round when darkness halted play. And just another shot further back at seven under sat C.T. Pan and Louis Oosthuizen. Pan had two holes left to negotiate at days end while veteran Oosthuizen has six holes left. Els pointed to the months following his teams close loss in Melbourne as proof the individuals were ready to take what they learned as a team into their own game. Smith won the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. Im won the Honda Classic. Adam Scott, who would have likely been up there with his teammates if not for a freakish break that saw his ball rebound off the flagstick at the par-5 15th into the water, won The Genesis Invitational in February and Marc Leishman, who sits just five off the pace at four under with four holes left in his second round, won the Farmers Insurance Open. “We all learnt a hell of a lot. We didn’t feel like we lost in many ways because we felt like we played as one and unlocked something special,” captain Els said. “Immediately after the Cup the guys won numerous tournaments and contended everywhere. It went quiet because of the COVID break which is a shame but it’s nice to see they are back at it, and great to see them play well.” Smith remembers the week in Melbourne fondly. Els had fired him up by leaving him out of the contest on the opening day and he did all he could to atone. Teamed with Im for two sessions for a 0-1-1 record, he came to singles itching to prove himself. He did that by coming back from three down to beat Thomas 2 and 1. “It was a great week. We’ve all become best of mates and it’s good to see the guys right up there. Abe finished five or ten minutes before me, so we were giving each other fist pumps just now,” Smith said. “I just like being tested. I feel like my game is best when I have to think a lot and hit the right shots. It’s obviously good to be in contention on a weekend, and I feel like I’ve been there enough where I can have a good crack at it.” For Ancer, the week was huge. It began with him becoming the star of his team, forging a 3-0-1 record in team play, and ended with him up against Woods in singles. It was an epic battle that Woods would ultimately claim but Ancer left with his experience tank full. “I’ve always said that experience in Melbourne definitely prepared me or helped me feel a lot more comfortable, really, in any scenario I get put in,” Ancer admits. “The amount of pressure that you feel there, the excitement, every putt counts so much. That whole week was big for me and my career. I felt like it’s helped me tremendously.” Ancer has even more motivation after watching his close friend and fellow Mexican Carlos Ortiz become the first from their country to win on the PGA TOUR since 1978 with his triumph at the Vivint Houston Open. Ancer was already at Augusta National and stopped his preparation to watch the tournament. “Carlos inspired me. It was awesome watching him. I was here at the locker room watching him. I was going to go play the back nine, but I was like, I’ve got to go watch my boy win this thing,” Ancer explained. “I’ve never been that nervous watching somebody else play. I was actually freaking out there a little bit. It was awesome. I got pumped up. That day, I ended up practicing until dark here. I was really excited, and it motivated me, too.” The last International team eligible player to win the Masters was Australian Scott back in 2013. It was part of a six year run where Trevor Immelman, Angel Cabrera and Charl Schwartzel also claimed the title.
International Team looms large at Augusta
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Jon Rahm | |
Type: Jon Rahm – Status: OPEN | |
Win PGA Championship | +1800 |
Top 5 Finish | +375 |
Top 10 Finish | +180 |
Top 20 Finish | -110 |
Top 30 Finish | -190 |
Top 40 Finish | -275 |
1st Round Leader | +3000 |
1st Round Leader & Win | +10000 |
1st Round Top 10 Finish | +400 |
1st Round Top 20 Finish | +200 |
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Tournament Match-Up – S. Soderberg v C. Gotterup | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -120 |
Sebastian Soderberg | -110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – S. Soderberg v D. Puig | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -115 |
David Puig | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. Beem / S. Soderberg / K. Kobori | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -200 |
Kazuma Kobori | +220 |
Rich Beem | +800 |
1st Round Match-Ups – K. Nakajima v T. Lawrence | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Keita Nakajima | -115 |
Thriston Lawrence | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – D. Puig / T. Lawrence / M. Dobyns | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Puig | +125 |
Thriston Lawrence | +130 |
Matt Dobyns | +375 |
1st Round Match-Ups – A. Putnam v A. Rai | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -110 |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Bevell / A. Rai / J. Smith | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -105 |
Jordan Smith | +110 |
Josh Bevell | +800 |
1st Round Match-Ups – D. McCarthy vs A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Denny McCarthy | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Phillips / D. McCarthy / K. Nakajima | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Denny McCarthy | -145 |
Keita Nakajima | +150 |
Tracy Phillips | +850 |
Tournament Match-Up – A. Putnam vs B. Hossler | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler | -120 |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Putnam / J. Mueller / C. Hoffman | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam | -105 |
Charley Hoffman | +150 |
Jesse Mueller | +450 |
Tournament Match-Up – H. English v K. Mitchell | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -120 |
Keith Mitchell | -110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs T. Gooch | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
Talor Gooch | -110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v C. Davis | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Hoge | -115 |
Cam Davis | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Gooch / C. Davis / H. English | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Talor Gooch | +160 |
Harris English | +175 |
Cam Davis | +190 |
Tournament Match-Up – C. Young v S.W. Kim | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | -120 |
Si Woo Kim | -110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – S.W. Kim vs M.W. Lee | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -130 |
Min Woo Lee | +110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – S.W. Kim / T. Hoge / A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | +140 |
Alex Noren | +180 |
Tom Hoge | +210 |
1st Round Match-Ups – J. Day vs W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -110 |
Will Zalatoris | -110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – J.T. Poston v N. Hojgaard | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
J.T. Poston | -115 |
Nicolai Hojgaard | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Day / S. Lowry / N. Hojgaard | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | +145 |
Shane Lowry | +170 |
Nicolai Hojgaard | +220 |
1st Round Six-Shooter – Group D – C. Young / W. Zalatoris / S. Burns / M. Fitzpatrick / J. Day / S. Im | |
Type: 1st Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | +375 |
Jason Day | +425 |
Sam Burns | +425 |
Will Zalatoris | +425 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | +450 |
Sungjae Im | +450 |
1st Round 3 Balls – Y.E Yang / M. Pavon / J.T. Poston | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
J.T. Poston | +115 |
Matthieu Pavon | +145 |
Y E Yang | +350 |
1st Round Match-Up – F. Molinari v MW Lee | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Min Woo Lee | -175 |
Francesco Molinari | +135 |
1st Round Match-Ups – C. Kirk v B. Horschel | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Kirk | -125 |
Billy Horschel | +105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M.W. Lee / C. Kirk / B. Horschel | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Min Woo Lee | +130 |
Chris Kirk | +200 |
Billy Horschel | +210 |
1st Round Match-Ups – T. Detry v J. Knapp | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Thomas Detry | -115 |
Jake Knapp | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Knapp / J. Dufner / F. Molinari | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jake Knapp | +105 |
Francesco Molinari | +190 |
Jason Dufner | +275 |
1st Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs J. Niemann | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -120 |
Joaquin Niemann | +100 |
1st Round Match-Ups – T. Kim v M. Hughes | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | -110 |
Tom Kim | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – G. Woodland / T. Kim / J. Niemann | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joaquin Niemann | -110 |
Tom Kim | +200 |
Gary Woodland | +300 |
1st Round Six-Shooter – Group B – S. Scheffler / J. Niemann / J. Rahm / P. Cantlay / C. Morikawa / W. Clark | |
Type: 1st Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +210 |
Jon Rahm | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +550 |
Patrick Cantlay | +550 |
Wyndham Clark | +600 |
1st Round Match-Ups – B. Hossler v R. Hojgaard | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler | -125 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | +105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Detry / J. Walker / R. Hojgaard | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thomas Detry | +120 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | +150 |
Jimmy Walker | +320 |
Tournament Match-Up – S. Im v M. Fitzpatrick | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matthew Fitzpatrick | -125 |
Sungjae Im | -105 |
1st Round Match-Ups – S. Im vs M. Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matthew Fitzpatrick | -120 |
Sungjae Im | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Morikawa / P. Mickelson / M. Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | +105 |
Matt Fitzpatrick | +150 |
Phil Mickelson | +375 |
1st Round Match-Ups – C. Bezuidenhout v A. Eckroat | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Christiaan Bezuidenhout | -120 |
Austin Eckroat | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Eckroat / L. List / M. Hughes | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | +150 |
Austin Eckroat | +185 |
Luke List | +190 |
1st Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs J. Rahm | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -200 |
Jon Rahm | +165 |
1st Round Match-Ups – C. Young vs S. Burns | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | -120 |
Sam Burns | +100 |
1st Round Match-Ups – P. Reed v R. Fowler | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Reed | -115 |
Rickie Fowler | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. Fowler / J. Rahm / C. Young | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jon Rahm | +110 |
Cameron Young | +170 |
Rickie Fowler | +300 |
1st Round 3 Balls – S. Im / C. Bezuidenhout / B. Hossler | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sungjae Im | +130 |
Christiaan Bezuidenhout | +180 |
Beau Hossler | +230 |
1st Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs W. Clark | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -110 |
Wyndham Clark | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – W. Clark / B. Harman / S. Scheffler | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -150 |
Wyndham Clark | +240 |
Brian Harman | +400 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
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 |
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 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +750 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1400 |
Win US Open & The Open | +1800 |
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Scottie Scheffler | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler – Status: OPEN | |
Win PGA Championship | +450 |
Top 5 Finish | -110 |
Top 10 Finish | -200 |
Top 20 Finish | -500 |
Top 30 Finish | -800 |
Top 40 Finish | -1000 |
1st Round Leader | +1200 |
1st Round Leader & Win | +2000 |
1st Round Top 10 Finish | +110 |
1st Round Top 20 Finish | -225 |
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1st Round Match-Ups – K. Mitchell v M. McNealy | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -130 |
Maverick McNealy | +110 |
1st Round Match-Ups – T. Olesen v E. Grillo | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -125 |
Emiliano Grillo | +105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Olesen / B. Todd / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | +130 |
Brendon Todd | +200 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – P. Cantlay / C. Villegas / W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | +100 |
Will Zalatoris | +150 |
Camilo Villegas | +425 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Somers / B. Garnett / J. Svensson | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jesper Svensson | +100 |
Brice Garnett | +110 |
John Somers | +750 |
1st Round 3 Balls – P. Reed / S. Burns / P. Harrington | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Burns | +110 |
Patrick Reed | +160 |
Padraig Harrington | +320 |
Tournament Match-Up – E. Grillo v M. Hubbard | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Mark Hubbard | -120 |
Emiliano Grillo | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Grillo / E. Bowser / A. Tosti | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Emiliano Grillo | +100 |
Alejandro Tosti | +105 |
Evan Bowser | +800 |
1st Round Match-Ups – C. Gotterup v M. Hubbard | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -120 |
Mark Hubbard | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Marek / M. Hubbard / M. McNealy | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | +120 |
Mark Hubbard | +135 |
Brad Marek | +350 |
1st Round 3 Balls – V. Norrman / W. Worthington II / C. Gotterup | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -110 |
Vincent Norrman | +145 |
Wyatt Worthington II | +500 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Shattuck / C.T. Pan / S.H. Kim | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
S H Kim | +105 |
C T Pan | +145 |
Braden Shattuck | +400 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +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 |