Marc Leishman has been thrown into a Presidents Cup baptism of fire against world No.1 Tiger Woods but the Victorian refuses to back down.
Leishman, a captain’s pick and one of a record seven rookies in the 12-man International team, has been paired with former Masters winner Angel Cabrera to face Woods and Matt Kuchar in the opening day Four-Ball session at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
“It’s going to be an exciting day for me. It’s definitely going to be a tough match. I think we have got a good chance,” Leishman said.
Leishman refused to be intimidated and figured an upset win could be a real psychological lift for the Internationals.
“Maybe (it’s worth more than one point psychologically), but I wish it was worth more than one on the scoreboard,” he said.
“There’s still pressure on us, because obviously the Internationals haven’t won for quite a few years. But having said that, probably no one is expecting us to win either.
“We feel like we’ve got a really good chance if we can play well, and there’s no reason why we can’t.”
International captain Nick Price put up his Cabrera/Leishman duo second-last, ensuring South Africans Branden Grace and Richard Sterne would anchor the team.
American leader Fred Couples took considerable time deciding who to pitch against them before settling on the Woods/Kuchar pairing ahead of Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner.
Price was not concerned to see Leishman up against the world No.1 and had full faith the Australian, and his other six rookies, could stand the heat.
“If you look at the two captain’s picks, I put them both with experienced veterans, Marc with Angel and Brendon (de Jonge) with Ernie (Els),” he said.
“You know, they are going to have to face the music at a time, any one of the five rounds.
“So it is a baptism of fire for him, but Marc is very capable. He and Angel played very well yesterday together and they make a good team.”
Jason Day will lead off the International team charge paired with Canadian rookie Graham DeLaet against the Americans Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker.
Masters champion and International team spearhead Adam Scott will pair with young Japanese sensation Hideki Matsuyama in the second match against Bill Haas and Webb Simpson.
South African major winning duo Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel come together in match three against another major winning double act in Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
Veteran Els will play with de Jonge of Zimbabwe in match four against Steve Stricker and America’s young gun Jordan Spieth.
The final match of the afternoon puts South Africans Grace and Sterne up against Johnson and Dufner.
“I think we’ve got some great match ups there, I really do,” Price said.
“A lot of long hitters in the groups there, and I think obviously the US has got a little bit more experience than we have, but I think what we lack in experience we’ll make up for in enthusiasm.
“The rookies on my team are all very eager to go. I think we’re in for a real day’s treat of golf tomorrow.”
