Career highlight for Allenby & Baddeley

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 The Presidents Cup | General | 28 Sep 2011

Five Australian, three South African, three Korean and one Japanese golfer make up the team of twelve Internationals to face the Americans in the 9th Presidents Cup encounter at Royal Melbourne beginning on November 17th.

Australian team captain Greg Norman today named Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley as his two additional players during a press conference in which Norman, US team captain, Fred Couples, and all four of the wildcard selections were involved.

Couples was first to announce his selections. “My first pick is Tiger Woods. I am very excited about that. I made that pick about six weeks ago. I am just thrilled that Tiger is healthy and ready to play and wants to be on the team.”

“I just want to thank Fred and am honoured to be part of the team, responded Woods. “I am looking forward to going back down to Australia again and mixing it up with the boys.”

Then it was Norman’s turn. “My first pick is Robert Allenby. And the reason why I picked Robert is his performances around Royal Melbourne over the years have been extraordinary. I do believe one time he won by ten shots.

“His love for the golf course is very, very much evident. He’s skilled at playing the golf course there. He’s a great team player. He has a lot of tenacity in these team competitions. His spirit in the locker room or cabin with the other guys is very, very high, and so he was an automatic pick for me.”

Allenby responded; “Thanks, Greg. It’s an absolute honor to be on the team, and also to be on the team with you as the captain, as well. The last Presidents Cup, you did a fantastic job.

“I think out of all of The Presidents Cups for me, going down to Melbourne and playing at Royal Melbourne is probably one of the biggest highlights in my career to be on that team. Royal Melbourne is obviously a golf course that — it is my No. 1 golf course in the world; it’s my favourite, and I have a pretty good record around there.”

Couples was then asked to nominate his final selection. “My second pick is Bill Haas, last week’s double-winner.

“Bill, for the last two years, has played phenomenal golf, winning three times and losing a couple of times in a playoff and it was a very close race with Brandt Snedeker and Keegan Bradley. But Bill, knowing he had to win last week to be on the team he went out and did it and he’s my second pick”

Haas was asked to respond. “I’m honored to be on the team. Thanks to Fred for picking me. This is a very special thing. It’s something that I’ve worked for, kind of set as a goal from the beginning of the
year.

“For it to happen like this is awesome. Fred is someone I’ve looked up to and been a good friend of my dad’s ever since I was growing up; and to play on his team makes it that much more special.”

Then it was Norman’s role to complete the make-up of the 24 players who will line-up at Royal Melbourne.

“My last pick is Aaron Baddeley. It actually was a very interesting way we came about it. I actually put in a call to both Aaron Baddeley and John Senden at the start of THE TOUR Championship out of courtesy.

“Also on the list was Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas, and obviously Louis Oosthuizen. But knowing that we are playing in the backyard of Australia, I wanted to hopefully load up the team with as many Aussies as I possibly could. And with the way Aaron performed, and John Senden performed in THE TOUR Championship, I put them both on notice that those two were under scrutiny and whoever played the best at THE TOUR Championship would obviously get the final nod.

Baddeley was clearly delighted. “I’m so excited and thankful that Greg picked me to be part of my first Presidents Cup team. It’s extremely special and it’s an honor to play for your country, and because I remember back in ’98 when The Presidents Cup was there last, I have vivid memories of watching the tournament and being there and being outside the ropes.

“And so for this time to be part of the team is something that will be probably one of the most special memories of my whole career. So I’m excited to get down there. I’m excited to be part of the team. Golf is such an individual sport; to be part of a team is going to be a very special week.”

quotes courtesy of Presidents Cup

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