Presidents Cup: Internationals determined to end 20-year USA domination and revive concept
With seven straight defeats and only one tie in the past nine showdowns since 1998, the Internationals can’t afford another Presidents Cup beating or the concept will suffer.
Golf
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There’s no sugar coating it, says Louis Oosthuizen: the Internationals must beat the USA next week to keep the Presidents Cup interesting.
With seven straight defeats and only one tie in the past nine showdowns since 1998, the Internationals - and the event on golf’s calendar - can’t afford another beating.
And big-talking Oosthuizen is confident the camaraderie within the Internationals’ ranks can help the multi-cultured underdogs, featuring 12 players from nine different countries, can upset the Tiger Woods-led Americans and revive the rivalry.
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“Everyone always says that we don’t have team spirit or don’t have enough. I can promise you, when Thursday (week) comes, we’re like 12 brothers in that team,” the South African said.
“We’ve bonded, we’re ready to go, we want to win ... we need to get our name on the trophy again and show the Americans we’re here to play. We’re here to win the trophy, to win the Cup and not just show up to just have a good week.”
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.
In perhaps a happy omen, Els was the only South African representative the last time the Internationals raised the trophy - at Royal Melbourne no less - 21 years ago.
“It will be strange being the only South African in the team,” Oosthuizen said.
“I’ve been with Leish (Marc Leishman) and Scotty (Adam Scott) in all the other teams that I’ve played in, so they feel just as close as what the South Africans would feel to me.
“But, yeah, it was unfortunate that Gracie (Branden Grace) couldn’t make it. I know he was trying really hard at the end there and pushing and pushing, but the other guys just played so well.”
The sweet-swinging Oosthuizen will fine-tune his game at the Australian Open starting on Thursday.
In Sydney for the first time, the jet-lagged star will rely on just one practice round in Wednesday’s pro-am to become accustomed to The Australian layout.
“The game feels good, so I just need to get a little bit of play in this week and patch up a few things in the game to get it ready for next week,” he said.
“I’m ready to tee it up and see what the golf course is like and just try and win the trophy.”