There was one name on Trevor Immelman’s Presidents Cup wishlist he was never going to ignore: Adam Scott.
And as the veteran Australian played himself into the Tour Championship, the final event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, International captain Immelman has opened up on how important Australia’s only Masters winner is to his team as he sweats on a suite of potential LIV Golf defections next week.
With Greg Norman ready to announce a host of new signees for his Saudi-backed tour at the end of the PGA Tour season this weekend, Immelman has fought a “rocky road” to galvanise his squad for a shot at the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow next month.
Scott, 42, is poised to play his 10th Presidents Cup after earning automatic qualification as one of eight Internationals to take on the might of the United States.
One of the first players to express interest in Norman’s concept earlier this year, Scott has nailed his colours to the PGA Tour mast, surprisingly being one of almost two dozen players including Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy to meet in an attempt to diffuse the Saudi threat.
The PGA Tour’s new schedule will include 20 events where the top players have committed to play for elevated purses, while a US$500,000 annual float payment will help professionals on the tour’s fringe.
Adam Scott will play his 10th Presidents Cup.Credit:AP
Scott, the 2013 Masters hero, banked himself a minimum $720,000 payday when he made a spectacular par save from the bunker on the final hole to finish in a tie for fifth in the BMW Championship, earning a spot in the final 30 for the Tour Championship this week.
Scott will start 10 strokes behind world No.1 Scottie Scheffler given his FedEx Cup ranking, but making the final event of the season is a huge boost to Immelman’s team.
“He’s one of my best friends, to be honest,” Immelman told the Herald and The Age. “We’ve been competing together since we were teenagers. I love the guy. I love everything he stands for and the way he has conducted himself throughout his career, never mind how well he has played.
“He’s hugely important for us because he’s the elder statesman. We don’t have a guy like Ernie [Els] or Vijay [Singh], and from a playing standpoint, Adam is going to be that guy. He and Hideki [Matsuyama] are the two that need to be the on-course leaders. We sure would love to win one for him.
We don’t have a guy like Ernie [Els] or Vijay [Singh], and from a playing standpoint Adam is going to be that guy
Trevor Immelman
“This is going to be [Scott’s] 10th [Presidents Cup] and he’s had a tie and eight losses. He’s been a huge part of our team and means a lot to us.”
Matsuyama and world No.2 Cameron Smith have long been rumoured to be in Norman’s sights for LIV Golf, which will play its latest $35 million event in Boston next week.
Any golfer who jumps ship from the PGA Tour to play the next LIV event will likely be banned from the Presidents Cup given the indefinite suspensions slapped on players who have joined the rebel circuit.
Scott and Smith are the only two Australians guaranteed a Presidents Cup spot on the International side, with the other six automatic qualifiers including Matsuyama, Corey Conners, Joohyung Kim, Sungjae Im, Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira.
“I’ve played in a lot of Presidents Cups, but with Trevor being the captain, this is a team that I desperately wanted to make,” Scott said earlier this week.
“We’ve had a great friendship over the years, and I would love to play under his captaincy. We’ve got a hard task every time we go out to beat an American team that’s just stacked full of great players. But I really believe we’re on the right path now, and I’m optimistic.”
Immelman has another four captain’s picks to make, which could include Australians Lucas Herbert (world No.51) and Marc Leishman (63).
“I absolutely won’t be beholden to nine to 12 [on the standings],” Immelman said. “I think we have to think outside the box if we want any way of winning. We have to keep the American team guessing quite frankly, to come up with something interesting and dynamic. All the options are open.
“Those conversations have begun with my assistants and support staff. There’s a number of Aussies that are playing into those thoughts, whether it be Lucas Herbert or Leishman. We’ve built this squad of 25 and that’s the number I’m pulling from.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
