TIGER WOODS AND ERNIE ELS BATTLED in a three-hole playoff to decide the 2003 Presidents Cup, which had ended with the score knotted at 17-17. But the fierce competitors were unable to break the deadlock. So U.S. and International captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player agreed to share the Cup as darkness fell in South Africa. It is still the only tie in the relatively short history of the Presidents Cup.
Now grizzled veterans, Woods and Els are back for more, teeing it up at Royal Melbourne in Thursday’s opening foursomes matches. Teamed with Ryo Ishikawa, Els faces new American guns Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson. Woods is alongside the reliable Steve Stricker in a match against Adam Scott and K.J. Choi. It should be fun.
−The Armchair Golfer