Woods picks three VCs for Prez Cup; one says he will be a playing captain

By Rahul Banerji

Tiger Woods named Fred Couples, Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker as three of his captain’s assistants for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in for a third time from December 9 to 15 this year, with Stricker announcing almost immediately that he expected Woods to be a playing member of the team.

“We all expect him to be a part of the team as a player,” Stricker was quoted as saying.

“He’s one of those guys that wants to do it and do it right and put his stamp on it. If he makes the team as a player, we’re going to have to probably do some more things to take some of that off his plate so he can concentrate on playing and getting those points,” he added.

Couples has led the US thrice (2009, 2011, 2013) and will be a captain’s assistant for a third time after spells with Jay Haas and Sticker in 2015 and 2017. Woods and Couples were Presidents Cup teammates in 1998 and 2005 and partnered up in Woods’ first-ever match where they beat Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, 5 and 4, at Royal Melbourne.

Solid history

In a statement the PGA Tour said Woods had competed on each team that Couples captained, including the 2011 event at Royal Melbourne where Woods was a captain’s pick. The two were both captain’s assistants for Stricker in 2017 at Liberty National.

“I’ve enjoyed being a captain’s assistant for the past two Presidents Cups, and to support Tiger in his first captaincy is going to be a very special experience,” Couples said.

“Plus, to return to one of my favourite venues is going to be a real treat. Fans in Australia really know their golf and create an unbelievable atmosphere for the players, so I’m excited to return and help this team win.”

Couples is a four-time Presidents Cup participant (1994, 1996, 1998, 2005) with an overall record of 9-5-2, the statement said. He helped lead the US to victory as a player in the first two editions of the Presidents Cup in 1994 and 1996.

‘Full circle’

“Freddie and I go way back in the Presidents Cup,” Woods said. “And we’re basically coming full circle at Royal Melbourne. He and I teamed up in one of our matches in ’98, I was a captain’s pick in ‘11 and now we get to return there as two leaders of this team. We’re going to have some fun, but we’re there to win.”

Zach Johnson will join as a captain’s assistant for the first time with four Presidents Cup appearances of his own (2007, 2009, 2013, 2015) and was a teammate of Woods in the 2007, 2009 and 2013 events.

Johnson owns an overall Presidents Cup record of 10-6-1 and emerged in 2015 with a 3-0-1 record, which included two victorious four-ball matches with Phil Mickelson and a singles win over Australian Jason Day.

“To be named a captain’s assistant in the Presidents Cup for the first time is a real honour,” Johnson said. “Having competed with Tiger in the Presidents Cup in the past, I’ve always admired the pride he takes in these team events.”

Second stint

Having led the victorious 2017 team at Liberty National, Stricker will join Woods in Australia for his second stint as a captain’s assistant (2015) after he selected Woods as an assistant in 2017, the PGA Tour said.

A five-time Presidents Cup competitor (1996, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013), Stricker has a 14-10 record and finished with a 2-2 record the last time the Presidents Cup was played at Royal Melbourne in 2011. 

“I can’t say enough about the opportunity to serve as an assistant for Tiger’s first captaincy,” Stricker said.

“Tiger was such a valuable member of our team in 2017 and I’m humbled that he sees me as an asset to the 2019 team. I look forward to helping him in any way he may need with his captaincy just like he helped me in 2017.”

“Stricks was an incredible leader in 2017 and I took a lot away from the way he served as captain that I hope to emulate in Melbourne,” Woods said. “We have always shared a high level of trust and mutual respect, which will be important in helping us guide this team.”

Also read: Tiger Woods sets sights on playing role in 2019 Presidents Cup