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Presidents Cup: Meet the International Team

October 2, 2015
Bae Sang-moon, left, is the only South Korean on the International Team for the Presidents Cup. New Zealander Danny Lee was born in Incheon where the tournament will be held. (AP Photos)

Bae Sang-moon, left, is the only South Korean on the International Team for the Presidents Cup. New Zealander Danny Lee was born in Incheon where the tournament will be held. (AP Photos)

By Doug Ferguson / AP 

A capsule look at the International team for the Presidents Cup, to be played Oct. 8-11 at Jack Nicklaus Club Korea in Incheon, South Korea. Listed in the order they made the team:

JASON DAY

Age: 27

Country: Australia

Ranking: 2.

Worldwide wins: 7.

2015 wins: Farmers Insurance Open, RBC Canadian Open, PGA Championship, The Barclays, BMW Championship.

Majors: PGA Championship (2015).

Presidents Cup appearances: 2.

Record: 4-4-2.

Backspin: He can make the argument as hottest player in golf, even though Jordan Spieth won the Tour Championship. Day has won four of his last seven tournaments, including a major and two FedEx Cup playoff events. He hasn’t finished out of the top 12 in four months.

—

LOUIS OOTHUIZEN

Age: 32.

Country: South Africa.

Ranking: 12.

Worldwide wins: 10.

2015 wins: None.

Majors: British Open (2010).

Presidents Cup appearances: 1.

Record: 1-3-1.

Backspin: The South African with the sweetest swing in golf had a chance to win the U.S. Open and British Open. He had to pull out of the Tour Championship with tightness in his right hamstring.

—

ADAM SCOTT

Age: 35.

Country: Australia.

Ranking: 13.

Worldwide wins: 25.

2015 wins: None.

Majors: Masters (2013).

Presidents Cup appearances: 6.

Record: 12-15-3.

Backspin: He went from Masters champion in 2013 to No. 1 in the world in 2014 to winless in 2015.

—

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

Age: 23.

Country: Japan.

Ranking: 14.

Worldwide wins: 7

2015 wins: None.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: 1.

Record: 1-3-1.

Backspin: First year without a win since he turned pro, though he had had six top 10s this year.

—

BRANDEN GRACE

Age: 27.

Country: South Africa.

Ranking: 22.

Worldwide wins: 8.

2015 wins: Dimension Data Pro-Am, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: 1.

Record: 0-4-0.

Backspin: Powerful player who picked up two wins early in the season and was tied for the lead at the U.S. Open until blocking his tee shot out-of-bounds on the 16th hole. Lost all four matches in 2013 and none got to the 18th hole.

—

MARC LEISHMAN

Age: 29.

Country: Australia.

Ranking: 37.

Worldwide wins: 2.

2015 wins: None.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: 1.

Record: 2-2-0.

Backspin: Overcame a harrowing experience this year when his wife nearly died of toxic shock syndrome. Rebounded to get into a playoff at the British Open.

—

ANIRBAN LAHIRI

Age: 28.

Country: India.

Ranking: 39.

Worldwide wins: 7

2015 wins: Maybank Malaysia Open, Hero Indian Open.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: None.

Record: 0-0-0.

Backspin: Played in all four majors this year and tied for fifth in the PGA Championship. First player from India to compete in the Presidents Cup.

—

CHARL SCHWARTZEL

Age: 31.

Country: South Africa.

Ranking: 47.

Worldwide wins: 12.

2015 wins: None.

Majors: Masters (2011).

Presidents Cup appearances: 2.

Record: 5-4-1.

Backspin: Approaching the two-year anniversary of his last win at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2013. Hasn’t made it to the Tour Championship the last two years.

—

THONGCHAI JAIDEE

Age: 45.

Country: Thailand.

Ranking: 32.

Worldwide wins: 16 wins.

2015 wins: European Open.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: None.

Record: 0-0-0.

Backspin: The oldest International player making his debut at the Presidents Cup. A former paratrooper who learned the game by fastening the head of a 5-iron onto a bamboo stick. Seven of his wins on the European Tour, including last week in Germany.

—

DANNY LEE

Age: 25.

Country: New Zealand.

Ranking: 36.

Worldwide wins: 3.

2015 wins: Greenbrier Classic.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: None.

Record: 0-0-0.

Backspin: A former U.S. Amateur champion, formerly the youngest to win on the European Tour, and finally on the Presidents Cup. Gives the home crowd another favorite. Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand to play golf.

—

STEVEN BOWDITCH

Age: 30.

Country: Australia.

Ranking: 58.

Worldwide wins: 2.

2015 wins: AT&T Byron Nelson Championship.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: None.

Record: 0-0-0.

Backspin: Finished 11th in the standings and taken as a captain’s pick. Strong win in Dallas this year with a closing 64 to win by four shots.

—

SANG-MOON BAE

Age: 27.

Country: South Korea.

Ranking: 85.

Worldwide wins: 12.

2015 wins: None.

Majors: None.

Presidents Cup appearances: None.

Record: 0-0-0.

Backspin: A captain’s pick, and the center of attention for this Presidents Cup. Lost an appeal for his extended permit to work overseas and was ordered to two-year mandatory military service that is to start soon after the matches. Has won twice on the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea.