I have just watched a very nice, if not long winded Opening Ceremony on a beautiful, sunny, breezy day in Melbourne. It's always a bit weird to see pro golfers sans sponsors hats, in suits.. Some look smooth like Norman and Freddie, others like Jim Furyk with the golfers tan (ie bright white forehead, tanned face and neck) or Aaron Baddeley ("baddeley" needs a haircut) or Hunter Mahan (lose the white shades) look out of place.
Bringing the Cup in with the Aussie horsemen was cool..
My advice, less from the dignitaries, more from the players and their wives, girlfriends... ( Internationals in white dresses, USA in tan coloured pants and some kind of shawl)
Here are the matches..
MATCH 1 – Ernie Els-Ryo Ishikawa, International vs. Bubba Watson-Webb Simpson, U.S.
Couples said he wanted Watson-Simpson in his first match. Couples also said Watson and Simpson came to him six weeks ago and said they wanted to be paired together.
My pick.. USA Simpson has been rock solid going right to the wire for POY, and Bubba played well last week. they look like the best bet of all the pairings. Ernie just hasn't putted well and Ryo arrived late with his usual entourage of advisers, I hope captain Norman can find a way to get them out of the picture for the rest of this week at least.
MATCH 2 – Bill Haas-Nick Watney, U.S. vs. Geoff Ogilvy-Charl Schwartzel, International
My pick.. Internationals.. Ogilvy's home course is Royal Melbourne, Schwartzel will be a star this week, he was T3 last week in Japan.. Haas and Watney, 2 PC rookies are huge talents, but can chalk this 1st one up to experience..
MATCH 3 – Aaron Baddeley-Jason Day, International vs. Dustin Johnson-Matt Kuchar, U.S.
My pick... Internationals..in a tight one, but this all Aussie pairing in form and fired up at home gets the nod, although I expect Dustin Johnson, who will get Kuchar into position to hit mid to long irons into the par 5's to break through for a big week here.
MATCH 4 – Phil Mickelson-Jim Furyk, U.S. vs. Retief Goosen-Robert Allenby, International..
My pick Match halved..Phil and Robert have played in all the PC's, but both do not have their A or even B+ games coming in, Furyk had 2 poor weeks in Shanghai, and the Goose has dropped to 52 in the world. 4 guys, a ton of experience, out of form, should equal out over 18 holes.
(Mickelson and Furyk have made a combined 14 appearances in The Presidents Cup, playing 66 matches. Their opponents, Allenby and Goosen, have made a combined 10 Presidents Cup appearances, playing a combined 48 matches)
MATCH 5 – K.T. Kim-Y.E. Yang, International vs. Hunter Mahan-David Toms, U.S.
My pick... USA I like the South Koreans paired together and will be happy to be proved wrong here, but Toms is a great 4some partner, so steady and straight, and Mahan is the best player in this group.
MATCH 6 – Tiger Woods-Steve Stricker, U.S. vs. Adam Scott-K.J. Choi, International
My pick.. Internationals
It was ultimately decided to keep Woods with Stricker, a partnership that went undefeated two years ago at The Presidents Cup at Harding Park and let me say right here that the media is making way more of Tiger/Adam/Steve Williams than any of them are, they are all pals, the past crap is all done..but it will have everyone's attention.
Adam Scott is complete now that he believes in his putter, and his caddy and is the best player in the International side, nothing fazes KJ including the Tiger hoopla.
Tiger is hot, or is he ??..Stricker's form is a question mark, he didn't play any of the Far East swing.
Internationals 3.5 USA 2.5
As they say at the Olympics. " Let the games begin "
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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