Joaquin Niemann harnesses Presidents Cup confidence at Sentry Tournament of Champions

MELBOURNE, Australia – The last time … well, the only time … the International Team has won the Presidents Cup was 21 years ago here at Royal Melbourne. Louis Oosthuizen was 16 years old at the time. The South African has now played on the last three losing sides, and he’s ready for a change. He thinks the perfect storm for beating Tiger Woods and his high-flying American team could happen this week. “This is probably the best chance we will have with this golf course, this crowd, and I think the way our guys are playing,â€� he said. The action starts Thursday with five Four-Ball matches. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER THE FLYOVER The Composite Course at Royal Melbourne, created for the 1959 World Cup of Golf, consists of 12 holes from the West Course and six from the East Course. International Team Assistant Captain Geoff Ogilvy of Australia says the par-3 third, par-4 fourth and par-3 fifth will provide plenty of drama early in the round thanks in large part to its “crazy greens.â€� Deep bunkers guard the par 3s, and superintendent Richard Forsyth says the fourth green has the “toughest two-puttâ€� on the course. LANDING ZONE The par-4 472-yard 16th was the finishing hole on the East Course, and it could very well be the finishing hole for many of the matches this week. Tee shots ideally are down the left side, providing players the best chance to land their approaches on a steep green. “It deserves its ranking as one of the greatest finishing holes in golf,â€� Geoff Ogilvy said. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner: “Cool temperatures are forecast on Thursday and Friday with slightly warmer temperatures this weekend. There will be a slight chance of showers on Thursday morning and again on Saturday, but any rainfall will be very light. Southwest winds are forecast from Thursday through Sunday with the strongest winds expected on Thursday.â€� For the latest weather news from Melbourne, Australia, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I don’t think you want to talk about losing too much. It’s like driving down the highway — you don’t want to talk about the truck that’s coming straight at you because you’ll probably drive into it. BY THE NUMBERS 40 – Presidents Cup matches played by Tiger Woods. That ties for second-most all-time with Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. Woods will break that tie and move into solo second behind Phil Mickelson’s 55 with his first match played this week. 39 – Presidents Cup matches played by Australian Adam Scott. With a minimum of two guaranteed matches, Scott will become the International Team leader in that category. 24 – Presidents Cup matches won by Tiger Woods (24-15-1). That’s second behind Phil Mickelson’s 26. 10 – Players who have gone undefeated (no halves) during a single Presidents Cup week. Just two of those 10 players were on the International side – South African Branden Grace in 2015 and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama in 1998, the only time the Internationals have won. 5 – Players who have gone 5-0-0 during a Presidents Cup week – Grace in 2015, Jim Furyk in 2011, Tiger Woods in 2009, Maruyama in 1998 and Mark O’Meara in 1996. SCATTERSHOTS 2011 Alums: Five players who played in the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne are back as players this week – Americans Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson and Tiger Woods, and Internationals’ Adam Scott. Captain Ernie Els and assistants K.J. Choi and Geoff Ogilvy also played. Patrick Cantlay, making his first Presidents Cup appearance, is leaning on American assistant captain Steve Stricker for advice on Royal Melbourne. Stricker went 2-2-0 that week and beat Y.E. Yang in Singles. Said Cantley on Stricker: “I like his demeanor … I like his personality. He’s pretty mellow and low-key, and I can relate to that.â€� The Shield: Much has been made of the International Team logo that was commissioned by captain Ernie Els to give his team a more cohesive identity – especially important given that his 12 players come from nine different countries/regions. “I explained to them exactly what it entitles, what’s behind the whole thinking of how we brought the whole thing together, so they like it,â€� Els said. “… We’ve always played under the flag, but we’ve never really had our own identity so to speak.â€� Fly Factor: Monday’s hot weather brought out a lot of files, causing players and fans to do the “Aussie waveâ€� of shooing away the flies. It may not be any kind of issue, especially during windier and milder conditions, but it’s something to be aware of, particularly if a player is on his backswing. “They’re destroying me,â€� Justin Thomas said. “I had on a couple today that were on my face and wouldn’t get off. It’s definitely something I’ve never experienced.â€�

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