Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player both opted for a mix of form and steadiness in deciding their captain's picks today for this year's Presidents Cup teamcompetition to be held in South Africa.
Nicklaus chose veteran pairing Fred Funk and Jay Haas as his wildcard selections for the U.S. team while Player went for South Korea's K.J. Choi and South African Tim Clark to round off his 12-man International line-up.
Funk and Choi were both next in line for selection according to the final President's Cup standings, but 49-year-old Haas and the rock-steady Clark were relative surprises chosen for their steadiness under pressure.
"I selected Jay for a couple of reasons," 18-times major winner Nicklaus said from Wisconsin in a teleconference call.
"Jay's had a wonderful year this year. He had a good PGA Championship and he's had a lot of international experience, at previous Presidents Cup and Ryder Cups. I feel his stability and steadiness will bring a lot to the team."
South African Player plumped for his compatriot Clark after the 27-year-old finished third in the U.S. PGA Championship yesterday.
"Tim finished 13th at the Masters earlier this year and he has won just under a million dollars on the PGA Tour, the most difficult tour in the world," Playersaid from South Africa via the teleconference.
"Fancourt, where the fifth Presidents Cup will be held this November, could be windy and Tim hits it a long way off the tee and is a particularly good wind player."
He added later that he was surprised that Nicklaus had not opted for new PGA champion Shaun Micheel.
The two captains announced their wildcard picks during a teleconference, with the 10 automatic spots on each side determined after yesterday's U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
The fifth edition of the biennial Presidents Cup, which pits a team from the U.S. against a 12-man line-up of international players from nations outside Europe, will be staged on the Links Course at Fancourt in George, South Africa from November 21st-23rd.
Automatic U.S. team places were decided by the 10 players who had earned the most official PGA Tour money from the first tournament of 2001 until the end of this week's U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Earnings in 2003, however, counted double.
Automatic International team places were decided by the 10 leading players in the official world rankings after the U.S. PGA Championship.
US Team:Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, David Toms, Kenny Perry,Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Chris DiMarco, Jerry Kelly, Charles Howell, Funk and Haas.
International Team:Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Robert Allenby, Stephen Leaney, Peter Lonard, Adam Scott, StuartAppleby, Choi and Clark.