FILE – In this July 20, 2017, file photo, South Africa’s Ernie Els plays a tee shot on the 5th hole during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. Tiger Woods and Ernie Els will duel in the Presidents Cup again, this time as captains. Woods and Els have agreed to be captains for the 2019 matches in Melbourne, Australia, according to two people involved in the Presidents Cup. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the captain selections have not been announced. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)ORLANDO, Fla. – Ernie Els was always the logical choice to be the International team’s next captain in the Presidents Cup.
Tiger Woods at first thought it might be soon for him for the American team.
That changed a couple of months ago when Woods asked PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan about the U.S. captain for next year’s matches in Australia, and the usual suspects were mentioned. Monahan asked if anyone had been left out, and Woods added another name to the short list.
“Me.”
Woods and Els, who both played eight times in the Presidents Cup and were involved in a high-stakes playoff that ended in a tie, were introduced as captains Tuesday. The 2019 matches will be Dec. 12-15 at Royal Melbourne, the latest the event has been held.