The one golfing tournament to get our attention this week is the biannual battle between the Internationals and USA – The Presidents Cup. The 2019 running of the competition comes from Australia where the hosts will be looking to end USA dominance in the event.
This might be the highest profile renewal of this tournament, purely down to the status of the two men who will be captaining the teams. Ernie Els leads the Internationals while Tiger Woods skippers USA in their title defence.
Recent Winners
2017 – USA
2015 – USA
2013 – USA
2011 – USA
2009 – USA
2007 – USA
2005 – USA
2003 – Tied
2000 – USA
1998 – Internationals
The Format
For the third time 30pts are up for grabs this week so the team who gets to 15.5 will win the Cup. If it ends 15-15 there will be the second tie in the history of the tournament. Each team has 12 players in it and unlike the early parts of this event not everyone plays on the opening two days so strategy comes into play a little more in keeping with the Ryder Cup.
The tournament begins with five fourball matches on Thursday before five foursomes matches on Friday. There are two rounds on Saturday. They begin with four fourballs and are followed by four foursomes and then the tournament will be decided over the course of 12 singles matches on Sunday. Each match is worth a point to the winner or 0.5 for both sides if it ends all square after 18 holes.
The Course
The 18 holes in use this week are made up of a Composite Course at Royal Melbourne. 12 holes from the West are in use as well as six in the East. They make up a par 71 which measures just 7,047 yards which is slightly longer than when the tournament was held here eight years ago. There are only two par 5s which might play into the hands of the internationals this year.
The course is built on a sandbelt so there is little rough to note. There are instead around 200 bunkers on the course so this is very much a test of accuracy over distance, another thing which could be to the benefit of the internationals this week. The winds are always a challenge on this golf course which is likely to keep the scoring honest throughout the course of the event.
Internationals
Ernie Els is expected to be an inspirational captain this year and he has taken the role seriously and has a potentially underrated side at his disposal. Marc Leishman was the highest points earner in qualification for the Internationals, with Hideki Matsuyama and Louis Oosthuizen forming a strong front three. Adam Scott, Abraham Ancer, Haotong Li, C-T Pan and Cameron Smith were the other automatic qualifiers. Els went young with his wildcard picks with Sungjae Im, Byeong-Hun An, Adam Hadwin and Joaquin Niemann his selections meaning there is no Branden Grace or Charl Schwartzel who have been regulars in this event. Jason Day misses out through injury.
USA
Tiger Woods will not only captain the side but he will play in it as well which means the likes of Fred Couples and Steve Stricker will be important vice-captains this week. The leading point scorer Brooks Koepka misses out with injury so Justin Thomas heads the USA team. Dustin Johnson, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau all qualified by right. Woods picked himself, Tony Finau, Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed as his wildcard picks. Rickie Fowler then replaced Koepka in the team.
Betting
I think the Internationals are capable of keeping this one honest this week. I get the feeling they have taken it more seriously than ever and they have a lot of young players who don’t carry the battle scars while maintaining some important players such as Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Hideki Matsuyama, who should in theory all thrive in these conditions. We saw last year that when accuracy is the test the Americans can be found wanting and this track is a stark contrast to the one which they won on at Liberty National in 2017. The Internationals are getting a 3.5pt start here and when you think they shared the singles here eight years ago and have a much better team now, and with the best American player out and major doubts over how often Dustin Johnson will be able to play, there is enough to think the Internationals can keep this one closer than the handicap would suggest.
I actually think they could get something out of this tournament. I wouldn’t be wholly surprised if they were to win it but often you need a close run thing before getting over the line. Four years ago in Korea the Internationals lost by a point but had a putt to get more than that. They look better now so I’m going to have small stakes on the Internationals to win 16-14 and the draw, as I can’t see the home side running away with it whatever happens but America just look a little vulnerable, especially with Woods still not the most comfortable team man.
Tips
WON – Back Internationals (+3.5) to beat USA for a 5/10 stake at 2.00 with BetVictor
Back them here:
Back Internationals to win 16-14 for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back the Draw for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with 888sport
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