Couples, Norman to reprise captains' roles at The Presidents Cup 2011

How/Getty Images

In 2009, when Fred Couples and Greg Norman served as captains, Couples' U.S. Team came out on top.

HUMBLE, Texas -- At a press conference today at the Shell Houston Open, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced that Fred Couples and Greg Norman would be returning as captains of the U.S. and International Teams, respectively, for The Presidents Cup 2011 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at Royal Melbourne Golf Club -- site of the 1998 event. Couples, who is competing in this week's PGA TOUR event, joined Finchem in the media center for the announcement, while Norman joined via teleconference from Europe.

The Presidents Cup 2011 is scheduled for November 14-20, 2011. The Americans currently hold an all-time 6-1-1 lead in the competition.

"There could be no better choices to serve as captains of The Presidents Cup 2011 than Fred Couples and Greg Norman," said Finchem. "Fred and Greg bring not only their extensive experience as Presidents Cup participants to the table, but also what they learned in 2009 as captains. They stepped into their roles last year with a strong passion and commitment to elevating this international competition and handled their responsibilities with ease. I am confident they will once again showcase the incredible sportsmanship, leadership and camaraderie that is the hallmark of The Presidents Cup."

As first-time captains at The Presidents Cup 2009 in San Francisco, Couples and Norman each led strong teams as they competed in front of record crowds at Harding Park Golf Course. The U.S. Team retained the Cup, winning for the sixth time, by a score of 19-1/2 to 14-1/2. The Presidents Cup 2009 marked the first time in The Presidents Cup history that both captains were former participants in The Presidents Cup.

In addition to their 2009 captaincies, Couples and Norman have significant experience in the biennial match-play competition. Couples has appeared four times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2005) and Norman three (1996, 1998, 2000). The two actually matched up against each other at Royal Melbourne in 1998, the site of the International Team's only outright victory; Norman and Steve Elkington defeated Couples and Davis Love III, 2 and 1, in the Day Two Four-ball Matches. Couples and Norman faced each other twice during the 1996 Presidents Cup, with Couples winning both (Day One Foursomes and Four-Ball). Couples compiled a 9-5-2 record in The Presidents Cup while Norman was 7-6-1.

"Serving as U.S. Team Captain in 2009 was an incredible honor, and the week itself -- the entire experience -- was phenomenal," said Couples. "It was one of the best weeks of my life, including those I've competed in as a player. I knew as soon as the last putt dropped on Sunday in San Francisco that I would do this again in a heartbeat if I were fortunate enough to be asked. I'm looking forward to returning to Royal Melbourne, this time as a captain, and to have Greg Norman again as the International Team captain, in his home country, is going to be great for all of us involved, for the fans and for The Presidents Cup itself."

"I've always said that some of my best memories in golf were playing in and winning The Presidents Cup in Australia in 1998," said Norman. "And then after the incredible experience of serving as captain of the 2009 event, that went to the top of my list. So to have the opportunity to be International Team captain once more and to return to Royal Melbourne to do so, it's beyond words how thrilled I am. Freddie and I are great friends, so to have him on the other side as captain on the other side makes it all the better. I think it will be a joy to go to my home country and a golf club that I'm a member and try to finally win the Cup back after 13 years. It will be an honor."

As part of the press conference, Finchem also announced that beginning in 2011, The Presidents Cup captains would each have the ability to name two official captain's assistants, rather than one as it has been in the past. Norman and Couples will announce their choices for captain's assistants later this year.