show me:

Presidents Cup International team penpix

3 minute read

Penpix of the International team golfers to contest the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne from Thursday.

ABRAHAM ANCER of Mexico. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

INTERNATIONAL TEAM FOR PRESIDENTS CUP

Byeong Hun (Ben) An (South Korea)

Age: 28

Ranking: 42

PGA Tour wins: 0

Presidents Cup: debut

A late call-up after the injury withdrawal of Jason Day, An was unlucky not to be selected initially given his form with three recent top 10 finishes.

Abraham Ancer (Mexico)

Age: 28

Ranking: 39

PGA Tour wins: 0

Presidents Cup: debut

Mexican Ancer captured the headlines last year when he won the Australian Open. Making his debut, he's hoping some fresh blood can turn the tide.

Adam Hadwin (Canada)

Age: 32

Ranking: 48

PGA Tour wins: 1

Presidents Cup: 1 (2017)

Hadwin is well-suited to the famed sandbelt course, with his short-game skill and experience earning him a captain's pick. Hadwin has twice played in the World Cup on sandbelt courses.

Sungjae Im (South Korea)

Age: 21

Ranking: 36

PGA Tour wins: 0

Presidents Cup: debut

A captain's pick, Im was the 2018-19 PGA Tour rookie of the year. Making his debut, he just missed out on a maiden PGA title with a play-off loss in September.

Marc Leishman (Australia)

Age: 36

Ranking: 28

PGA Tour wins: 4

Presidents Cup: 3 (2013, 2015, 2017)

The Victorian will be right at home at Royal Melbourne. A President's Cup win would sit alongside Leishman's joint runner-up finish at the 2015 Open St Andrews.

Haotong Li (China)

Age: 24

Ranking: 65

PGA Tour wins: 0

Presidents Cup: debut

Li is the first golfer from mainland China to play Presidents Cup. A two-time European Tour winner, Li has some form in Melbourne with a joint-second finish at the World Cup of Golf in 2016.

Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)

Age: 27

Ranking: 21

PGA Tour wins: 5

Presidents Cup:3 (2013, 2015, 2017)

Set for his fourth Cup, the pressure is on Matsuyama to perform as one of only three International players ranked above the United States' lowest in Matt Kuchar.

Joaquin Niemann (China)

Age: 21

Ranking: 56

PGA Tour wins: 1

Presidents Cup: debut

Chilean sensation Joaquin Niemann will become the third youngest player to compete at the Presidents Cup after being named one of four captain's picks. Niemann claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory in September

Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)

Age: 37

Ranking: 20

PGA Tour wins: 1

Presidents Cup: 3 (2013, 2015, 2017)

The 2010 British Open champion and a runner-up in golf's other three majors, Oosthuizen is the only South African in countryman Ernie Els' team this edition.

C.T Pan (Taiwan)

Age: 28

Ranking: 64

PGA Tour wins: 1

Presidents Cup: debut

Another debutant, Pan is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen Hsieh Min-Nan and Lu Liang-Huan, who were part of the country's shock World Cup victory at Royal Melbourne in 1972.

Adam Scott (Australia)

Age: 39

Ranking: 18

PGA Tour wins: 13

Presidents Cup: 8 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)

The team veteran and highest-ranked player, Scott must fire to give the Internationals any chance. The former world No.1 knows how to deliver under pressure, winning the 2013 Masters.

Cameron Smith (Australia)

Age: 26

Ranking: 52

PGA Tour wins: 1

Presidents Cup: debut

Playing a course that sets up well for his wedge game, Smith is sure to be a crowd favourite. He thrives on home turf, winning the Australian PGA Championship in 2017 and 2018.

Captain: Ernie Els (South Africa)

Age: 50

PGA Tour wins: 19

Presidents Cup: 8 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)

Winner of four majors, Els knows Royal Melbourne better than most after shooting a course record 12-under-par round of 60 en route to winning the 2004 Heineken Classic.