See below as we run through the main golf tournament of the week – with the Presidents Cup taking centre stage.

The biennially held tournament is based on the Ryder Cup, but instead of Europe an International squad (not including any European players) taking on Team USA.

Tiger Woods captain’s the American side, whilst Ernie Els takes on the role for the International side – but Woods’s role is as a rare playing skipper.

“Putting things in boxes has always been something I’ve been good at,” Woods said. “Because when I’m out there playing, I’ve got to get into my little world and take care of that. When I’m off the course, I’ve got a lot of other responsibilities.

“The only difference is next week it will be I’m responsible for 11 other guys. I won’t be able to see them play practice rounds because I’ll be playing a practice round. So that will be a little bit different and I’m going to have to rely on what my guys say and what my vice-captains say and get a feel for what’s going on.”

Els is relishing taking on Woods and the prospect of taking him down.

“It’s been a long ride. I’ve known Tiger since the early ’90s when he was still a junior player, and we’ve shared a lot of moments together. A lot of tournaments come through my mind now where I’ve come close and lost to him, but there was a couple where I got him here and there.

“But it’s been a real privilege to play in his era. Where the game of golf has gone in the last 24 years is just remarkable, and it could not be where it is today if it it wasn’t for Tiger Woods.

“So with all that being said and done … we’d like to kick their asses this week here.”

This week’s match takes place Royal Melbourne Golf Club – the scene of the one and only International Team victory which came in 1998. USA have won the last seven matches in succession.

Presidents Cup Class of 2019 ? pic.twitter.com/w44bKa6EnP

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 10, 2019

PRESIDENTS CUP

• Royal Melbourne Golf Club
• First staged in 1991
• Defending Champion: Team USA

FORMAT:
Thursday – 5 Four-Ball matches
Friday – 5 Foursomes matches
Saturday morning – 4 Four-Ball matches
Saturday afternoon – 4 Foursomes matches
Sunday – 12 Singles matches

PLAYER LINE-UPS:

TEAM USA
Tiger Woods
Justin Thomas
Dustin Johnson
Patrick Cantlay
Xander Schauffele
Webb Simpson
Matt Kuchar
Bryson DeChambeau
Tony Finau
Gary Woodland
Rickie Fowler
Patrick Reed

TEAM INTERNATIONAL
Marc Leishman – Australia
Hideki Matsuyama – Japan
Louis Oosthuizen – South Africa
Adam Scott – Australia
Abraham Ancer – Mexico
Li Haotong – China
Pan Cheng-tsung – Chinese Taipei
Cameron Smith – Australia
Im Sung-jae – South Korea
An Byeong-hun – South Korea
Adam Hadwin – Canada
Joaquín Niemann – Chile

The Bookies point of view…