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Presidential race U.S. seeks to reclaim Cup
Updated: Wednesday October 18, 2000 10:09 AM
By Johnny Phelps, CNNSI.com LAKE MANASSAS, Va. -- The Presidents Cup's initial real drama came in the final match of 1996 when Fred Couples defeated Vijay Singh to give the U. S. side a one-point victory. But you don't get a true rivalry until both sides win. That was accomplished in Melbourne, Australia in 1998 when the international team walked away with a nine-point triumph. "Granted, we took a pretty sound beating," said Phil Mickelson of the United States. "We want to come back and play well. I think it's awfully nice to be able to play during the season that's at a course in the United States." But now as the Presidents Cup returns to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for the third time, the internationals are anxious to defend the Cup, amid suggestions that some Americans would prefer not to be involved in another team competition on alternate years from the Ryder Cup. "Their responsibility is back to the sport," said Greg Norman of the International team. "We have to play, we have to perform, we have to promote the game of golf no matter where we go. "And whether it's the Presidents Cup or the Ryder Cup that is our responsibility. I am a strong believer in that and I strongly suggest that the American players should look at that the same way. The game of golf has given them a lot in this world." Tom Lehman says the U.S. team is not taking this event lightly. "We're not here to just put on a show," he said, "and have entertainment and spend a week in Washington D.C. We're here to win." The Americans maintained their desire to hold both the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup at the same time. Yet at least one concept would diminish that opportunity. "I made a suggestion that we should have played the winner of the Ryder Cup," says Norman. "That way you give a break to which ever Ryder Cup member or team each year because you're not going to play the same team every year." Mickelson countered by saying he didn't think that was a good idea. "You're messing with history if you do that," he says. "To alter a 70-or 80-year event such as the Ryder Cup is really not, in my opinion, going to be best for the game. Such a proposal would introduce a whole new set of dynamics including the PGA of American and the European Tour from the Ryder Cup, in conjunction with all the sanctioning tours from the Presidents Cup. But while those issues might be discussed in the future, any current grumblings will be set aside Thursday at noon [EDT] when this week's competition begins.
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