Ernie Els immediately feels at home in Royal Melbourne.
Ernie Els gives a crash course in Royal Melbourne to his international team before they even arrive for the Presidential Cup.
Els, skipper for the first time in a team he played eight times, is considered the greatest knowledge of the jewel in Victoria's Sandbelt from a non-Australian professional.
His opening 60 in the Heineken Classic 2004 remains the biggest round on the Composite Course – and his three consecutive wins in that event from 2002 are part of the folklore of Royal Melbourne.
The giant South African today told a global media conference that he would not have the last word on how the famous course would be set for the December 12-15 confrontation with the United States.
But he made it clear that his familiarity with and success at Royal Melbourne would be crucial to give his underdog team a head start.
"It's a great, classic Sandbelt golf course … and I've tried to tell them a lot about the golf course. I'm going to give them more information in the coming weeks," Els promised.
"I have all kinds of different plans to show them how to play each hole, the way I think we can get the best out of it, and then we'll take it from there.
"I spoke to them about how I feel the golf course is flowing, how I feel the best way to attack the course.
"I tried to tell them about the Australian conditions that can be fast and a little windy, also quite hot. That is why short play is very important around Australian golf courses, especially Melbourne.
"I have emphasized to them that they must try to be prepared, which means that every part of their game must be at championship level. Basically, try to prepare as you prepare for a big championship, where you can play the entire game there. are
"Buying a certain way to play the golf course will be very important to us.
"The course set-up, unfortunately I can't help it. You know, the (PGA) Tour staff will set up the golf course and also the flag positions. You know, that's that.
"But I have a lot of experience around Royal Melbourne, of the wind and certain circumstances, and in the practice rounds I will make it my mission to let every player know where to hit it and certainly where the` X & # 39; s are, where you do not want to go.
"I will go through their notebooks myself and take notes and do as much as possible to help these boys understand the course, the circumstances, the wind and so on.
"There may be a lot of work that I have to do on that front, because it can be a pretty tough course with certain flag positions and wind.
"That is sort of my job as a captain to do that and then I have to try to get the couples together as well as possible, and that is my job.
"The rest is happy to the team. I have a great set of boys. I am going to have a great set of 12 players, and they must do the business.
"I'm going to give them as much information as I can, and then we have to play, and then you have to see where it falls."
Els strongly hinted that a large percentage of his team would start the week before formulating their bonding experience with starts at the Australian Open.
Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and probably Captain's pick Jason Day have already confirmed that they are playing at The Australian, but Els said he had heard more positive chatter in the changing rooms.
"Yes, that's the plan. I think we will have a very nice representation at the Australian Open. A lot of guys have dedicated to what I've heard.
"We are going to play a very nice group of players in the Aussie Open, so that will be really great. And then Abraham Ancer, who is the defending champion of the Australian Open … will also get the crowd going. "