INCHEON: Australia's Victoria state will host the Presidents Cup in November 2019 and the next World Cup of golf in November 2016, it was announced Saturday in Incheon.
US PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem told a news conference at the Jack Nicklaus Golf club that the venues and exact dates for two of golf's biggest international team events had not yet been finalized, but would take place "on one of Melbourne Sandbelt's premier courses".
It is a welcome return to Australia for the International team who recorded their sole Presidents Cup victory at Royal Melbourne Golf Club back in 1998.
The news was cheered to the rafters by the large band of travelling Aussie spectators called "The Fanatics", who have lit up the first Presidents Cup held in Asia this week with their hilarious singing, colourful costumes and friendly banter.
They were invited by the PGA Tour Finchem to attend the announcement and gave Finchem a standing ovation when he declared that in 2019 he too would become a "Fanatic" for the Presidents Cup.
The most likely venue for both events would appear to be Royal Melbourne, which would complete a hat-trick after the 1998 and 2011 Presidents Cups were held there, although Kingston Heath and Huntingdale could also be in the running. Melbourne also hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1959, 1972, 1988 and 2013.
"We're committed to growing our enviable calendar of major events, and securing events like the Presidents Cup and the World Cup of Golf do just that," said Victoria minister of tourism John Eren at the news conference.
Finchem also said the 2016 World Cup would revert to the old team format where a pair of players from each country competes in four ball (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) stroke play.
In 2013, the event was a 72-hole individual stroke play tournament with a team component held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Jason Day shot a final-round 70 to win the individual tournament, and he paired with Adam Scott to claim the team prize.
"I'm very, very happy that we're returning to Melbourne, where I won the World Cup," said Day, one of four Australians competing in The Presidents Cup in Incheon.
"It's exciting news, any time Australia gets big events," said Scott, who is a veteran of seven Presidents Cups.
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