Min Woo Lee will make his first appearance in the Presidents Cup this month after being announced as one of International team captain Mike Weir’s wildcard picks.
Twenty-six-year-old Lee finished ninth in the qualification standings with only the top six automatically making the team. However, skipper Weir said it was an easy choice to include the rising superstar in his line-up.
“As one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour, Min Woo is going to be an incredible addition to the International Team,” said 2003 Masters champion Weir. “He is one of the best drivers of the golf ball and I can’t wait to let him cook at the Presidents Cup.”
Along with the Olympics, a Presidents Cup debut has been one of Lee’s big ambitions for the year, with the player admitting he’s fired up and ready to perform on another of golf’s biggest stages.
“What I can bring to the International Team is flair and hopefully some good golf,” he said. “Being on the International Team is very special and obviously being the home side, it’ll be massive to play (well) in front of the fans.”
Lee’s inclusion brings to three the number of Australians on the 12-man International team after Adam Scott and Jason Day automatically qualified. there was disappointment for Cam Davis, though, who missed out on a wildcard despite finishing 8th in the standings.
Instead, Weir chose three Canadians (Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes), South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Korea’s Si Woo Kim alongside Lee to round out his team.
The Presidents Cup will be held at Royal Montreal Golf Club from 26-29 September. It will be the 14th staging of the biennial contest, which has been won by the USA 12 times, with the Internationals winning just once, at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
The US will start as strong favourites once again, with their team containing the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.
INTERNATIONAL TEAM
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Sungjae Im (Korea), Adam Scott (AUS), Tom Kim (S. Korea), Jason Day (AUS), Byeong Hun An (S. Korea), Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes (all Canada), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), Min Woo Lee (AUS), Si Woo Kim (S. Korea)
Captain: Mike Weir
US TEAM
Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman, Tony Finau, Max Homa
Captain: Jim Furyk