The pairings for the Presidents Cup were released today, and despite having a squad boasting impressive credentials, the International team still finds themselves as the underdog.  International team member Ernie Els believes that it would be a major coup if his squad can come out of tomorrow’s play all even.  Captain Greg Norman’s squad has history going against it as well–it has never won the Presidents Cup on American soil.  Heck, the International team only has one win in the history of the Presidents Cup, and that victory came 11 years ago.
Thursday’s opening day starts with six foursome matches.  Phil …read more

If Greg Norman was looking for a player to anchor his International squad at the upcoming Presidents Cup, he need look no further than Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa.  The 18-year-old heads into the event having won his fourth tournament of the year, the Tokai Classic.  It is the sixth tournament win of the young man’s career, his first coming when he was just 15-years-old.  He’s quickly become the Tiger Woods of Japanese golf.
On paper it appears the U.S. Team has the advantage, but as anyone who has ever played the game of golf, once you’re on the course, anything can …read more

Today was the day that the two captain’s for the Presidents Cup, Fred Couples for the American squad and Greg Norman for the Internationals, were to reveal their two captain’s picks for their respective teams.  While Couples stuck to the script, taking Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan, Norman went off on a tangent, choosing one of the best young players in the world, then confusing everyone by picking a player who seems to be getting by on reputation alone.  Norman’s choice of Ryo Ishikawa is a good one, for all the obvious reasons.  He’s won three times this year on …read more

The media throng that normally follows Tiger Woods around at any major tournament is expected to grow by mammoth proportions after it was announced that Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa will play in Woods’ group for the first two rounds of the British Open.  Britain’s Lee Westwood, one of his homeland’s best players, rounds out the threesome.
Just 17 years old, Ishikawa won last month’s Mizuno Open to secure his spot at Turnberry.  He will have his usual gaggle of Japanese media following him to the Open, and it would not be surprising if the Japanese media turnout is equal to, or even …read more