PRESIDENTS CUP 2019: International Team Capsules
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2019-12-13
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A capsule look at the International team for the Presidents Cup. Players listed in order of how they made the team:
MARC LEISHMAN
Age: 36.
Country: Australia.
World Ranking: 27.
Worldwide Victories: 5.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: 3.
Record: 3-7-3.
Noteworthy: Leishman is unbeaten in singles in his three Presidents Cup appearance, with victories over Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar, and a halve with Kevin Chappell.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
Age: 27.
Country: Japan.
World Ranking: 20.
Worldwide Victories: 14.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: 3.
Record: 4-6-3.
Noteworthy: He has gone 62 starts worldwide since his last victory in August 2017. He beat Justin Thomas in singles in the last Presidents Cup.
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN
Age: 37.
Country: South Africa.
World Ranking: 14.
Worldwide Victories: 12.
Majors: British Open (2010).
Presidents Cup Appearances: 3.
Record: 7-5-3.
ADAM SCOTT
Age: 39.
Country: Australia.
World Ranking:
Worldwide Victories: 27.
Majors: Masters (2013).
Presidents Cup Appearances: 8.
Record: 14-20-5.
Noteworthy: The most experienced player on the International team without ever winning the cup. Scott made his debut in 2003 and was the most vocal for the matches to keep going in the dark until the captains agreed to a tie.
ABRAHAM ANCER
Age: 28.
Country: Mexico.
World Ranking: 38.
Worldwide Victories: 1.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: His only professional victory was last year at the Australian Open. Ancer is the first Mexican to play in the Presidents Cup.
HAOTONG LI
Age: 24.
Country: China.
World Ranking: 64.
Worldwide Victories: 2.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: Li is the first player from China in the Presidents Cup. He played two weeks ago in the China Tour Championship and was runner-up to Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand.
C.T. PAN
Age: 28.
Country: Taiwan.
World Ranking: 63.
Worldwide Victories: 1.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: Pan won his first PGA Tour event at Hilton Head and will make his Masters debut next year. He has not finished in the top 10 since Colonial in May.
CAMERON SMITH
Age: 22.
Country: Australia.
World Ranking:
Worldwide Victories: 2.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: He earned the final spot among automatic qualifiers, giving the International team three Australians for the home crowd. There were five Australians on the International team in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, and four in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.
JOAQUIN NIEMANN
Age: 21.
Country: Chile.
World Ranking: 56.
Worldwide Victories: 1.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: Niemann is the youngest player on the youngest International team for the Presidents Cup. He made it to the second stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs as a PGA Tour rookie, and won at The Greenbrier to start the new season.
SUNGJAE IM
Age: 21.
Country: South Korea.
World Ranking: 33.
Worldwide Victories: 1.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: The PGA Tour rookie of the year, Im was the ironman by playing 35 times last season. He won the Genesis Championship on the Korean Tour in the fall.
ADAM HADWIN
Age: 32.
Country: Canada.
World Ranking:
Worldwide Victories: 1.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: 1.
Record: 0-2-1.
Noteworthy: Of the four rookies from the 2017 team at Liberty National, Hadwin is the only one to make it back. His only contribution was teaming with Hideki Matsuyama for a half-point against Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.
BYEONG HUN AN
Age: 28.
Country: South Korea.
World Ranking: 43.
Worldwide Victories: 2.
Majors: None.
Presidents Cup Appearances: Rookie.
Record: 0-0-0.
Noteworthy: Selected to replace Jason Day, out with a back injury. An gives the International team two South Korean players for the first time since 2011 at Royal Melbourne, where there were three.