Woods will take part in opening cup match

UNITED States captain Tiger Woods will play in the opening fourballs match of the Presidents Cup tomorrow.

Woods and Justin Thomas will face the International Team’s Marc Leishmann and Joaquin Niemann as Australia’s Royal Melbourne course prepares to take centre stage.

“It was important for me to get out there as a player, but also as a captain, I want to obviously see my guys play,” Woods said.

“This is my first time as a captain. I want to be able to enjoy that part of it as well.”

Thomas will be Woods’ 11th different Presidents Cup partner, while Leishmann is among three Australians in Ernie Els’ International select.

Match two sees Patrick Cantalay and Xander Schauffele face Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im, before America’s challenge is continued by Bryson Dechambeau and Tony Finau taking on Adam Scott and An Byeong-hun.

The fourballs continue with Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed meeting Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan, then Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland take on

Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen.

Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar sit out the

American team’s initial fourballs action, with Els not using Cameron Smith and Haotong Li.

Els, meanwhile, paid tribute to Woods as the pair prepare to lock horns in a captaincy capacity.

“He’s one of the best, the best of my generation,” Els commented.

“It was a privilege to compete against him.

“I know I would have had a couple more events under my belt but I am still very proud to have played alongside and against

Tiger. To be friends with him is another privilege.

“Where the game of golf has gone in the last 25 years is just remarkable, and it could not be where it is today if it wasn’t for

Tiger Woods.”

RORY McIlroy has ruled out competing at next month’s European Tour event in Saudi Arabia.

“I don’t want to go. One hundred per cent, there’s a morality to it,” he said.

Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are among those who will compete.