Predictions, Predictions, Predictions: Presidents Cup Edition

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John Huggan and Ron Sirak do the point-counterpoint thing, with Huggan making the case for the International squad and Sirak going all patriotic for the US of A.

In this week's Pond Scrum Huggan and Elling kicked around the possible outcome.

Elling: To begin with, the only time the U.S. team lost the Presidents Cup was at Royal Melbourne, and it wasn't even close. It's a fast, nuanced course, and with a slew of hometown Aussies in the lineup, this road game looks like a tough ask for the Yanks.

Huggan: I'm going with the Internationals because of the golf course. Royal Melbourne isn't the longest or the toughest test, but it does take a lot of knowing, especially if conditions play fast and firm. If we get a hot northwest wind like they had at the matches in 1998, there is only going to be one winner -- the team with five Aussies.

Huggan: Uh-oh, so we agree? That tired "ole-ole-ole" song the Euro fans sing at the Ryder Cup? This time, the Americans might be tired of the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy" chant.

Elling: A crucial player for the Yanks is Steve Stricker, who hasn't played in two months and has been battling a nerve issue in his neck. Stricker practiced in the Arizona desert as a warmup, but the lack of live fire seems problematic. The dream team of him and Woods is the biggest question of the week, to me.

Huggan: I think you may be right about Stricker. His game is made for this course. But if doesn't bring it with him, he likely isn't going to find it here.

Shark Would Really Like To Captain Again...And It Won't Happen

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Dave Shedloski reports the bad news for the blogosphere: Greg Norman is captaining his last Presidents Cup.

Norman went further saying that Nick Price is his likely successor. "I've heard Nick Price is going to be the next captain," Norman said. "I've heard Nick Price is in. I would love to do it. I've thought about it, going to Muirfield, but I don't think that's going to happen."

Quick Initial Reaction: Royal Melbourne

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The place lives up to the hype as one of the world's great courses thanks to the green complexes and bunkering. I studied the first 10 holes of the Composite Course plus several others on the property, but it's impossible not to love some of the features. A few of which I explore in these Tweeted cell phone video snippets.

A look at the transitions from fairway to approach you'll see during Presidents Cup coverage this week.

The 10th at RM (18West), nice subtly explained in shaky cell phone video. Should be noted that Bubba Watson drove it in the fairway bunkers here this week. So much for the strategy!

The 1st hole this week (3 West) will be pivotal this week and has some great hole location-based strategy I try to explain in this short cell phone video.

And on a cooler note, these ommemorative tools were the only mechanical instruments in building of RM.

*******Links should now work. Hopefully the PGA Tour will be kind enough to extend the 24 hour grace period by a few minutes.

********And now I see the host, YFrog, is down. Good times!

Just a few images...

Phil Must Find A New Gin Rummy Pigeon In Michael Jordan's Absence

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Bob Verdi questions Fred Couples on this year's Cup team room atmopshere without asst. captain Michael Jordan, who stayed home to help resolve the NBA lockout.

Do you miss Michael Jordan?

"I know Phil does. They had some nice card games in San Francisco. Gin. But all the guys miss him. And the caddies. He fit in so well at Harding Park. The guys loved having him there. He even gave a little pep talk to the team. And you saw how he helped out. Almost adopted Sean O'Hair."

Planning Your Presidents Cup Viewing...

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I've been a little surprised that there hasn't been more coverage of the coverage. That is, NBC's bold decision to air all of the Presidents Cup rounds live on Golf Channel, and then play the tape later on NBC during normal U.S. viewing hours.

As I noted when it was first announced, this is the first big benefit of the Comcast-Universal merger and certainly one that will hurt the final Cup ratings, but which serves the viewer interested in live golf.

The times again so you can prepare. All are Eastern Time:

Wednesday, Nov 16
 Foursome Golf Channel 9 p.m. -- 2 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 17 
Four Ball Golf Channel 7:30 p.m. -- 2 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 18
 Foursome Golf Channel 4 p.m. -- 2 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 
Singles Golf Channel 6:30 p.m. -- 12:30 a.m.

Replay
Thursday, Nov. 17 
Foursome Golf Channel 9 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18
 Four Ball Golf Channel 9 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 
Foursome NBC 8 a.m. -- 4 p.m.

Stevie: I Should Have Left Tiger Right After Scandal Broke

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In a lengthy interview with Graham Bensinger recorded before controversial remarks in Shanghai, luggage looper Stevie Williams says he should have left his man when scandal broke so he could go out on a high note.

“I think everything you do in life, you’d like to go out on a high as opposed to a low,” Williams said. “Looking back, perhaps after Tiger competed down here in Australia at the Australian Masters, it was a very memorable win. I really enjoyed that tournament. That was the last event he played before all the events transpired. Perhaps I should have, you know, left him then.”

And...

“I didn’t know all was going to happen, obviously. I didn’t know what was about to unfold. Looking back, my gut feeling at some time said that was a good way to finish."

Here's the interview: