Grady's Presidents Cup advice for Woods

Wayne Grady has warned Tiger Woods against shouldering both the captaincy and playing duties in next year's Presidents Cup clash in Melbourne.

By Murray Wenzel, Australian Associated Press
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Wayne Grady thinks Tigers Woods should forgo his Presidents Cup captaincy if he is to play in the tournament 12 months from now in Melbourne.

Woods will visit Australia later this week on a scouting mission ahead of the biennial teams event, to be played at Royal Melbourne between December 12-15 in 2019.

International captain and four-time major winner Ernie Els, who was in Melbourne during this month's World Cup of Golf, expects his counterpart to shoulder both loads in what would be a rare but not unique move.

The American side will likely feature superstars Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, former world No.1 Dustin Johnson and three-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

Els told reporters while in Australia that Woods' drought-breaking win at the Tour Championship in September was proof he could become just the second playing captain in Presidents Cup history after American Hale Irwin in 1994.

But Gold Coast-based Grady, who won the PGA Championship in 1990, thinks it might be too great a task, even for the the 14-time major winner.

"I'd rather him not, I'd rather him just play," he told AAP.

"He can do just about anything - he's an amazing player - but personally I'd rather see him just concentrate on playing and give it to someone else."

Australian PGA Tour veteran Geoff Ogilvy will assist the international skipper while many others are likely to feature in Els' 12-man team on home soil.

Els has already assured Adam Scott a spot, while tour newcomer Lucas Herbert impressed the South African when they played together in Fiji earlier this year.

Royal Melbourne remains the sight of the Internationals only victory since the Cup's 1994 arrival.

"The Internationals really need to have another win, it's important," Grady said.

"Ernie will be a fantastic captain; he's got some new ideas, will build some cohesion and the Aussies will play their way into the team.

"I just don't want to see any political picks."


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