Presidents Cup - Top 10 Spots Set, Ryo Fans Rejoice

The automatics are in, with ten of the 12 spots on both the international and US teams set... and here they are.  It's now up to the captains to make their two picks.  In fact, US captain Fred Couples has already confirmed that one of his two will be Tiger Woods, leaving room for just one more US player... and it seems that pick is still very much up in the air.  "We still have another week, but that could easily change anyone's mind," Couples said. "I want these guys to know that the Tour Championship is still deciding my second pick."

On the International side, Greg Norman is also studying his options. With the event taking place in Australia, The Shark has the added pressure of on-site fan support weighing on him, but appears to be keeping it in perspective.  "I'm picking the player, not the flag," Norman said. "How they have played in the last 90 to 100 days is important to me. I'll be looking at their scores and the consistency of how they play."

Meanwhile, fans of Ryo Ishikawa were happy to see him get in after recent struggles put him on the bubble.  A captain's pick in 2009, Ryo is the youngest player ever to compete in the Presidents Cup and his debut at Harding Park impressed many.

The 2011 Presidents Cup will take place at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from November 4-11.

Sweet Young Things and a Sexy Campaign to Sell Golf

It was Australian golfer Jan Stephenson who first popularized the idea that LPGA stars should openly embrace a "sex-sells" approach to marketing their game.

A couple of decades later, even though she won many international titles and attained the rank of number one in the world, she is still best known for bringing glamour... and a bathtub full of golf balls... to the ladies game.

Now, the shoe is on the other foot... so to speak... and the normally straight laced PGA of Australia has unveiled photos displaying young male pro golfers wearing... um... precious little in the way of golf apparel. (Those who lament the NASCAR effect will have nothing to complain about here).



Attractive young golfer,  James McLean, pictured above, is one of the poster boys... or should I say, "screen saver" boys for a campaign being called "Pro Golf Exposed".  In some cases it's also being referred to as the "Sweet Young Swings" campaign.

Either way, what's a bit unusual (and rather telling) about this campaign is the audience it's directed at:  Ladies, are you ready to watch these guys play golf?