YE Yang’s three-shot victory at the US PGA Championship last weekend not only made him the first Asian Major winner in history, it also earned him a place in the International Team for the President’s Cup against the United States later this year.
The South Korean leapt from 36th to ninth in the standings to snatch one of the ten automatic qualifying places, all of which are filled by European Tour Members. Rory Sabbatini was the player to miss out, dropping down to 11th.
Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who is fifth in The Race to Dubai, topped the International rankings with an average of 5.49 from 47 events this season, and is joined by countryman Robert Allenby. South Africans Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Tim Clark were fourth, fifth and tenth respectively, while second place went to Fiji’s Vijay Singh, a 13-time winner on The European Tour.
Colombian Camilo Villegas, Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Mike Weir of Canada complete the ten, leaving International Team captain Greg Norman with two remaining picks for the event at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco from October 6-11.
Norman will attempt to clinch a first victory over the United States in the biennial event since 1998, when a team led by Peter Thompson won 20½ to 11½ in Melbourne. Since then the Americans have won three times, in 2000, 2005 and 2007, with the event in 2003 ending in a tie.
Two years ago Jack Nicklaus’ United States team triumphed over Gary Player’s men 19½ to 14½ in Quebec, Canada, but with two new captains at the helm the tide could turn this year.
Fred Couples will be leading the United States team, comprising Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Kenny Perry, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, Sean O’Hair, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Justin Leonard, plus two extra picks.
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