Top Ten U.S. And International Team Players Qualify for The Presidents Cup

The top ten players for the United States and International Teams that will compete later this year in The Presidents Cup were determined earlier today with the conclusion of the PGA Championship. The two team captains, Jack Nicklaus for the U.S. Team and Gary Player for the International Team, will each select two additional players to round out their teams tomorrow.

The fifth Presidents Cup will be contested November 17-23 at the Gary Player-designed Links Course on the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in George, South Africa.

Captain Nicklaus and Captain Player will each announce the selection of their two Captains Choices tomorrow via an international media conference call at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

The Presidents Cup features many of the world's best golfers with 12 representing the United States and 12 making up the International Team of players from around the world, excluding Europe, in team match-play competition.

The United States has won three of the first four Presidents Cups, including a 21_ to 10_ victory in 2000 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Lake Manassas, Virginia. The International Team was victorious in 1998 when the competition was held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia.

Captain Gary Player -- International Team

Ernie Els
Being the number one qualifier and always a reliable player, Ernie will be the backbone of the International Team. I would love to see him and Tiger go head-to-head on Sunday.

Vijay Singh
Vijay plays consistently well everywhere and thrives on competition. You can count on a great performance from him.

Mike Weir
"Gritty Mike." He has shown us this year, especially at the Masters, that he has a lot to offer our team. You've got to love a guy who wears all black.

Nick Price
Nick has made it clear that his goal was to make the Presidents Cup team, and he did. That's a sign of true dedication. His experience will be a great asset.

Retief Goosen
A US Open champion who loves links golf, Retief will undoubtedly be a solid contributor. Don't let his calm demeanor fool you; he is a fierce competitor.

Robert Allenby
A good bloke from down under! His consistency this year has proved he will be both a reliable teammate and individual starter.

Stephen Leaney
Stephen made the team with an incredible runner-up finish at the US Open. I think he wants to show that this was not just a flash in the pan and will bring heart to all the matches.

Peter Lonard
Strong & built like a rugby player, I like his toughness and know that he won't be intimidated.

Adam Scott
Adam Scott's recent winning performance at the Scandinavian Open was evidence of a player coming onto form at just the right time. This young man has a very bright future and will be a strong member of the team.

Stuart Appleby
Stuart is a tough competitor who has withstood tremendous adversity, and I am certain will be a key player in The Presidents Cup as well as add to team spirit.

Captain Jack Nicklaus -- U.S. Team

Tiger Woods
"Tiger Woods is the No. 1 player in golf. He's the best player on the planet today. Need I say any more?"

Davis Love III
"Davis Love has had a fantastic year. He's done it from the first month to the last. If you look at Davis' record in international team competition, you know why I'd love to have Davis on my team, any time. He's a great team player and a great competitor."

Jim Furyk
"What a great year Jim Furyk has had. His U.S. Open victory further validated what has been a wonderful season and a steady career for Jim. He is always a tough competitor and might be the most consistent player on my team right now."

David Toms
"There have been few players in the world the last couple of years who have been better than David Toms. He's an outstanding player and I'm glad to have him on my team."

Kenny Perry
"What a year Kenny Perry has had! He played some great golf in the middle of the year and he continues to play great golf. I'm looking for big things in South Africa from Kenny."

Phil Mickelson
"Phil Mickelson is, obviously, a great golfer and competitor. He's been among the best players in the world for much of the last decade, and has a tremendous amount of experience in international team competition. The golf course at Fancourt should suit Phil very well."

Justin Leonard
"Justin Leonard is a tough, gritty competitor. He seems to shine when the chips are down, and is a wonderful veteran to have on our team."

Chris DiMarco
"Chris has just improved year in and year out, and has made tremendous strides the last four seasons. He is getting better with each year. Chris is a good, solid player I'm delighted to have on my team."

Jerry Kelly
"Jerry is another player who has steadily improved, and is just now coming into his own. He will likely be one of my most excited players. I'm looking for great things out of Jerry."

Charles Howell III
"Charles Howell is among the talented young breed coming along in our game today. He knows how to play the game. Charles is a strong and exciting player, and at 24 and the youngest player on our team, will only get better."