Ernie adds experienced Cup trio

KJ Choi (front) has already gained experience working with Ernie Els and Mike Weir and will be assisted by Trevor Immelman and Geoff Ogilvy as the brain of the presidents of the international team trust.

President & # 39; s Cup International team captain Ernie Els today has the Korean K.J. Choi, Trevor Immelman from South Africa and Mike Weir from Canada as his last three assistants for the 2019 Presidential Cup.

Els was previously named birthplace hero Geoff Ogilvy as his first assistant to the tournament, returning for the third time from 9-15 December to Royal Melbourne.

Choi will be the assistant for the second time after his role as Nick Price's vice-captain when the President Cup debuted in Korea in 2015. A triple President Cup competitor (2003, 2007, 2011), Choi owns a 6-8 overall record and placed a 3-2 point in 2011 in Royal Melbourne, where he collaborated with Ogilvy to win two four-ball games.

"I am very happy and honored," said Choi. "You need great teamwork to win the Presidential Cup. It is our role as captain's assistants to bring players of different nationalities together and let them merge well. It is our role to open them up to us and be a part of to relieve the pressure they may feel. "

Choi's more than 20 professional wins worldwide include eight career US PGA Tour titles, which were marked by his dramatic playoff victory at the Players Championship in 2011 – and has a strong bond with Melbourne with his old coach Victorian Steve Bann.

"As the most successful Asian golfer on the American PGA Tour, K.J. certainly has a lot of respect with our players and I believe he will fire our boys at Royal Melbourne," said Els.

"K.J. has a calm attitude, which will be a valuable asset in our team room and on the golf course during the heat of battle. I count on K.J. to share his vast experience as a three-time International team member and assistant to a captain in charting our strategies. "

Els has also informed fellow South African Immelman, who will make his debut as an assistant to a captain with two berths of the President Cup on his resume (2005, 2007).

In 2017 Immelman was the first international team captain for the Junior Presidents Cup.

"I'm very excited. I really can't wait. I intensely enjoyed the opportunities to play in & # 39; 05 and & # 39; 07, and it was a very enjoyable time in my career," Immelman said.

"I probably know (Ernie) better than all the other people on tour and so hopefully that what I can bring to the team is the fact that I really understand the captain.

"I know his history, I know his record, I clearly understand him highly and so maybe I can be a good channel from players to the team captain."

Immelman is a two-time US PGA Tour winner whose career is emphasized by his victory over the 2008 Masters, where he left Tiger Woods three times. He also collaborated with Rory Sabbatini in 2003 to win the most recent World Cup of Golf title from South Africa.

"I have known Trevor for a long time and fully trust him to know that he will be an integral part of our team," said Els.

"As a co-competitor, Trevor is just as steely as they come and I am sure this feature will pass on positively to our players. When I played in the same team as Trevor in 2007, he was one of our most determined players and I knows that he will contribute to our business in Australia. "

Weir returns for his second stint as a captain's assistant after serving Nick Price at the 2017 Presidential Cup. He has participated in five Presidential Cups (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and was teammate of Els four times .

The eight-time winner of the US PGA Tour is 13-9-2 all-time at the Presidential Cup and one of only five international team members with 10 or more victories in the competition.

In 2007, the Presidential Cup was staged for the first time in Canada, and Weir set up a show for his Canadians fans with a 3-1-1 record that ended with an exciting 1-up victory over Tiger Woods in singles.

"The Presidential Cup has been a big part of my career. I grew up with a lot of team sports and when I made my first Presidential Cup team in 2000, it was really one of the highlights," Weir said.

"So it was special to still be part of the team as an assistant to Nick and now Ernie. We have a long history. We are actually of the same age, we played a lot together so it will be very nice to have this time persuade internationals. "

Of his eight wins in the US PGA Tour, Weir's most triumphant moment came with his groundbreaking playoff win over the 2003 Masters – one of the three titles he collected that season.

"I've played with Mike on the same international team four times and he's one of the most passionate guys I know when it comes to the President Cup," said Els.

"I also worked with Mike as a captain's assistant in 2017 and he brought a considerable amount of experience and input into our team room and had a positive impact on our players. His presence will be invaluable if we strive to become the Presidential Cup regain. "

Visit www.presidentscup.com for more information about the Presidents Cup.