- SHARKWATCH »
- GREAT WHITE SHARK ENTERPRISES »
- GWSE News
- Greg Norman Golf Course Design
- Greg Norman Collection
- Greg Norman Estates Wine
- Greg Norman Eyewear
- Greg Norman's Australian Grille
- Greg Norman Australian Prime
- Greg Norman Turf
- Greg Norman Production Company
- Franklin Templeton Shootout
- Mayakoba Golf Classic
- Golf PARa Todos
- Medalist Village
- Southern Cross Developments
- Medallist Developments
- Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy
- GPS Industries
- SHOPATSHARK.COM »
- PARTNERS & FRIENDS »
- CONTACT
SHARKWATCH
GREG NORMAN NEWS
Norman, Couples To Reprise Captains' Roles
At The Presidents Cup 2011
Captains from 2009 will return to Royal Melbourne where they competed as members of The Presidents Cup in 1998
HUMBLE, Texas - At a press conference at the Shell Houston Open, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced that Fred Couples and Greg Norman would be returning as captains of the U.S. and International Teams, respectively, for The Presidents Cup 2011 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at Royal Melbourne Golf Club - site of the 1998 event. Couples, who is competing in this week's PGA TOUR event, joined Finchem in the media center for the announcement, while Norman joined via teleconference from Europe.
The Presidents Cup 2011 is scheduled for November 14-20, 2011. The Americans currently hold an all-time 6-1-1 lead in the competition.
"There could be no better choices to serve as captains of The Presidents Cup 2011 than Fred Couples and Greg Norman," said Finchem. "Fred and Greg bring not only their extensive experience as Presidents Cup participants to the table, but also what they learned in 2009 as captains. They stepped into their roles last year with a strong passion and commitment to elevating this international competition and handled their responsibilities with ease. I am confident they will once again showcase the incredible sportsmanship, leadership and camaraderie that is the hallmark of The Presidents Cup."
As first-time captains at The Presidents Cup 2009 in San Francisco, Couples and Norman each led strong teams as they competed in front of record crowds at Harding Park Golf Course. The U.S. Team retained the Cup, winning for the sixth time, by a score of 19-1/2 to 14-1/2. The Presidents Cup 2009 marked the first time in The Presidents Cup history that both captains were former participants in The Presidents Cup.
In addition to their 2009 captaincies, Couples and Norman have significant experience in the biennial match-play competition. Couples has appeared four times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2005) and Norman three (1996, 1998, 2000). The two actually matched up against each other at Royal Melbourne in 1998, the site of the International Team's only outright victory; Norman and Steve Elkington defeated Couples and Davis Love III, 2 and 1, in the Day Two Four-ball Matches. Couples and Norman faced each other twice during the 1996 Presidents Cup, with Couples winning both (Day One Foursomes and Four-Ball). Couples compiled a 9-5-2 record in The Presidents Cup while Norman was 7-6-1.

Norman: "Freddie and I are great friends, so to have him on the other side as captain on the other side makes it all the better."
"Serving as U.S. Team Captain in 2009 was an incredible honor, and the week itself - the entire experience - was phenomenal," said Couples. "It was one of the best weeks of my life, including those I've competed in as a player. I knew as soon as the last putt dropped on Sunday in San Francisco that I would do this again in a heartbeat if I were fortunate enough to be asked. I'm looking forward to returning to Royal Melbourne, this time as a captain, and to have Greg Norman again as the International Team captain, in his home country, is going to be great for all of us involved, for the fans and for The Presidents Cup itself."
"I've always said that some of my best memories in golf were playing in and winning The Presidents Cup in Australia in 1998," said Norman. "And then after the incredible experience of serving as captain of the 2009 event, that went to the top of my list. So to have the opportunity to be International Team captain once more and to return to Royal Melbourne to do so, it's beyond words how thrilled I am. Freddie and I are great friends, so to have him on the other side as captain on the other side makes it all the better. I think it will be a joy to go to my home country and a golf club that I'm a member and try to finally win the Cup back after 13 years. It will be an honor."
As part of the press conference, Finchem also announced that beginning in 2011, The Presidents Cup captains would each have the ability to name two official captain's assistants, rather than one as it has been in the past. Norman and Couples will announce their choices for captain's assistants later this year.
About The Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition featuring 24 of the world's top golfers - 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe - is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between United States and international venues. At the most recent Presidents Cup, the U.S. Team retained the Cup from the Internationals in one of the most exciting and successful events to date at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, Calif., October 2009.
The Presidents Cup was developed to give the world's best non-European players an opportunity to compete in international team match-play competition. The U.S. Team has won six of the eight previous Presidents Cups, and the only outright win by the International Team came at the 1998 event in Melbourne. The 2003 Presidents Cup ended in a tie.
The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not personally paid for their participation, but each competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice. An alphabetical listing of the charities chosen by the players, captains and captain's assistants is available in the attached document. Since the event's inception, nearly $22 million has been raised for charities around the world, including a record-tying $4.2 million in 2009.
Royal Melbourne Golf Club has existed continuously since 1891 on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt golf region, and is one of the most highly regarded golf clubs in Australia. Royal Melbourne is the first golf course outside of the United States to host the prestigious match-play competition more than once.
For more information on The Presidents Cup, visit www.PresidentsCup.com.
About Melbourne
Melbourne is Australia's cultural and events capital, and the reigning "World's Ultimate Sports City," as awarded by SportsBusiness International. Cosmopolitan and diverse, Melbourne is also home to one of the world's finest and most recognizable golf regions, the Sandbelt. Designed and influenced by famed golf architect, Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the Sandbelt golf courses boast ideal golfing conditions and have hosted some of Australia's top tournaments such as the annual Australian Masters as well as international events including the Presidents Cup 1998 and the 2001 World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship. Along with premier golf tournaments, Melbourne annually hosts a full calendar of major sporting and cultural events, including the Australian F1 Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis, and the Melbourne Cup horse race, to name a few. For more information about Melbourne go to www.visitmelbourne.com.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Citi is proud to be the first-ever Global Partner of The Presidents Cup, a signature event that benefits communities that Citi serves around the world, builds bridges between countries and embraces the spirit of teamwork.
Comments














