All the Presidents Men
Posted: Monday December 07, 1998 03:36 PM
Sports Illustrated golf writer Alan Shipnuck gives the inside skinny on
each of the 24 participants in the Presidents Cup, Friday-Sunday in
Australia.
U.S.
Team
Mark Calcavecchia: Perenially underrated mad bomber off the tee with a
short game to match. Still carries scars from his historic self-immolation at
the '91 Ryder Cup, and will be under the microscope as this is his first
international team event
since.
Fred Couples: Has been Da Man at the last two Cups, going 6-1 and sinking
winning putt at both.
David Duval: Went 4-0 last time around, foreshadowing his emergence as
the best player in golf. With his overwhelming skills and Iron Byron visage, I
wouldn't want to have to play
him.
Jim Furyk: Love his tenacity, and after winning big in Vegas late in the
year his confidence is cresting. Prez Cup rookie could be the
star.
Scott Hoch: No one likes to play against this noted sourpuss.
Unfortunately, none of his teammates like to play with him, either.
John Huston: Streaky player who's not used to the international stage.
Wouldn't expect much from him, especially after his 1-3 performance in
'94.
Lee Janzen: This 11th-hour replacement (for Hal Sutton) is nails in match
play, though watch for signs of jet
lag.
Justin Leonard: Has been residing on the back of milk cartons ever since
his win at the Players Championship in March. Justin, are you out
there?
Davis Love III: DL3 has won more matches (7) than anyone in Prez Cup
history and he has that Wonder Twins thing going with Fred
Couples.
Phil Mickelson: Flammable in both senses of the word -- can get hot and
make a ton of birides, or can explode under pressure.
Mark O'Meara: Went 5-0 in '96, a major breakthrough for someone who has
never played well in team events. With his putter and know-how in the crunch,
will be
formidable.
Tiger Woods: Recent sweep at the Grand Slam shows he hasn't forgotten how
to get it done in match play, though his flop at the Ryder Cup is still hard to
swallow.
International
Team
Stuart Appleby: Will be overwhelming gallery favorite, especially after
near-miss last weekend at the Australian Open. Has played sporadically since the
death of his wife following the British Open, but with his short game he'll be
tough.
Steve Elkington: This surly Aussie got hot at the end of the year, and
he's been strong in two previous appearances. After their success at the Shark
Shootout, he's a lock to team with Norman at least a couple
times.
Ernie Els: Big Easy is probably the world's premiere match-play
performer, and he's eager to earn a little respect after a middling season.
Calls Royal Melbourne his favorite course in the
world.
Carlos Franco: Sweet swinger continues a success story so outrageous it
would make Dale Carnegie blush. But does he know fascism is
dead?
Frank Nobilo: Normally steady Kiwi had a fruitless year, but expect him
to step up, as he is among the most rah-rah of Cup
boosters.
Greg Norman: Has looked shaky since returning from shoulder surgery, but
is the heart of the International team. He'll play big in front of the home
folks.
Joe Ozaki: The anti-Jumbo, he's a steady little player who won't give
away any holes. Could be stealth weapon in his first
Cup.
Craig Parry: Popeye is a brute in match play. Witness his 2-0 record in
Prez Cup
singles.
Nick Price: Coming off million-dollar performance in Sun City, golf's
best ballstriker is at the top of his game, and Melbourne plays to his
strengths. If Internationals are going to steal a victory, he will have to be
their horse, especially since he's dogged it the last two matches, going
2-5-2.
Vijay Singh: Playing the best golf of his career, but don't forget he
lost the final singles match in 1996 to Couples, handing the Cup to the
U.S.
Greg Turner: Just a good ol' boy from the New Zealand wilds, he's in over
his head. If your office pool has a Most Likely to Grow Goat Horns, he's your
guy.
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