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Stars combine for Presidents Cup

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 07/10/2009
Golf betting

The Ryder Cup has the history and tradition, but the Presidents Cup boasts a wider galaxy of golfing stars.

While the former pits the best players in Europe against their American counterparts, this week's Presidents Cup sees the USA take on a truly International side made up of some of the most famous faces in the golfing world.

Major winners Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Vijay Singh (Fiji), Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Mike Weir (Canada), YE Yang (South Korea), Ernie Els and Retief Goosen (both South Africa) are all in action at Harding Park in San Francisco.

They will face a full-strength US side containing Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover.

Can the USA see off their International rivals? - Latest Golf betting

Even the captains are of the highest calibre with the universally popular Fred Couples going head-to-head with Australian legend Greg Norman.

The stage is therefore set for a major golfing tussle along the same lines as the Ryder Cup format.

Foursome and fourball matches will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday before 12 singles shootouts bring matters to a head on Sunday.

This year's event is likely to have added spice following the inclusion of Couples and Norman as captains for the first time in place of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

The two legends of the game presided over a laidback and relatively good-natured previous three sets of matches in their honorary roles.

The US won the last two and the other encounter was tied as the two teams competed against a backdrop of friendly rivalry.

This year though the gloves will be off with neither Norman nor Couples known for giving an inch to their fellow competitors during the heights of their respective careers.

The online betting markets reflect the fact that the US have been dominant during the 15-year history of the event.

Only once - in Australia in 1998 - has the International team triumphed and the fact that this year's match is a 'home' one for the US has certainly added to the feeling that Woods, Mickelson and co will again come out on top.

However, the International team will be hoping the presence of Norman - a player at Royal Melbourne 11 years ago - can be their lucky omen.

"When it was in Australia, the International team looked like the winner even after nine holes," explained fellow Aussie Ogilvy.

"I said to Greg, 'Whatever you had going on at Royal Melbourne, whatever that thing is, you've got to find it.'

"It's not about the individual, it's about how bad the team wants to win."

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