Scott key to Presidents Cup golf hopes

Adam Scott will be the International team's spiritual leader at golf's Presidents Cup in New Jersey later in September.

Australian golfer Adam Scott

Adam Scott will be the International team's spiritual leader at the Presidents Cup in September. (AAP)

Wildcard Anirban Lahiri says the Internationals' generation next will look to Australian stalwart Adam Scott for inspiration to finally topple the American dynasty in golf's Presidents Cup.

India's Lahiri and Argentine Emiliano Grillo were on Wednesday named as Nick Price's captain's picks for the September 28 tournament in New Jersey, while American counterpart Steve Stricker opted for five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and 40-year-old debutant Charley Hoffman.

The four wildcards followed Monday's finalisation of the 10 automatic qualifiers for each team, with the Internationals spearheaded by world No.3 Hideki Matsuyama (3), Day (9), Scott, (20), Louis Oosthuizen (21) and Marc Leishman (23).

Since the biennial teams event's creation in 1994, the Internationals have tasted victory just once (at Royal Melbourne in 1998) and have lost every Cup following a 17-all draw with the Americans in 2003.

But 30-year-old Lahiri believes Scott, who will make an equal-best eighth appearance for the Internationals, can steer a team featuring four rookies to victory.

Among the newcomers are 24-year-old Grillo, Si Woo Kim of Korea, Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas and Canadian Adam Hadwin.

"I think Adam is an inspiration to all of us, especially my generation," said Lahiri, who will return for his second appearance after missing a short putt on the 18th hole in 2015 that proved pivotal in the Americans' one-point win.

"He's absolutely magnificent. Adam and I played in Korea two years ago. When he's in full flight, it's just amazing to watch him play."

Price has backed world No.9 Day to arrive at Liberty National in fine form after the Queenslander bagged a top-10 at the recent US PGA Championship, before a tie for sixth and another top-25 at the first two events of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup play-offs.

"Jason just gets on these streaks. He always has been a little bit of a streaky player. When he's up and not injured, the guy, he can shoot some really low numbers," said Price.

"I think these next two weeks, we could see some wonderful form from him."

The Internationals team consists of the top-10 players in the world rankings not eligible for the Ryder Cup, while the Presidents side is comprised of the top-10 points earners on a rolling two-year FedEx Cup tally.

The 47-year-old Mickelson will be the only golfer to play in all 12 editions of the Presidents Cup.

Fellow captain's pick Hoffman has been one of the PGA Tour's most consistent players in 2017, with two runner-ups and two third places among seven top-10 results.

THE PRESIDENTS CUP TEAMS (Official world golf rankings in brackets)

US : Dustin Johnson (1), Jordan Spieth (2), Justin Thomas (4), Rickie Fowler (10), Daniel Berger (22), Brooks Koepka (11), Kevin Kisner (25), Patrick Reed (19), Matt Kuchar (13), Kevin Chappell (27), Charley Hoffman (24), Phil Mickelson (29).

Internationals: Hideki Matsuyama (3), Jason Day (9), Adam Scott (20), Louis Oosthuizen (21), Marc Leishman (23), Charl Schwartzel (26), Branden Grace (34), Si Woo Kim (36), Jhonattan Vegas (37), Adam Hadwin (45), Emiliano Grillo (54), Anirban Lahiri (75).


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Source: AAP



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